I’m in the market (finally) for an e-reader – got suggestions?

By Linda VandeVrede on November 29th, 2009 In Hype!

I was waiting to buy an e-reader until the technology settled down, but now that I’m flying back and forth to the east coast so often, I’m scaling back mycarryon luggage each time.  I hope to get it down to just an ebook reader, my reading glasses, my laptop, and a couple of tootsie pops.    Everything else I need is already in Rhode Island.  

But now I’m completely flummoxed.   I know my fellow Valley PR Blogger Len bought one of the very first e-readers a couple of years ago – he’s definitely an early adopter.   It SEEMS that I should get the Amazon Kindle 2.0, since I want to download books no matter where I am, and I want internet access as well.   Barnes & Noble’s new Nook has received a lot of positive coverage, but is experiencing a shortage  - they are apparently telling people who pre-order it that it won’t be available until Jan. 4th - after Christmas.   The Sony reader also isn’t guaranteed to ship by Christmas.    My flight to RI is Dec 9th – I’d like to have it by then, but don’t want impatience to overrule logic.   I don’t have an iPhone and I’m not crazy about the idea of switching service to AT&T, so the iPhone is out for now.  

It’s roughly a $250 investment, and I don’t want to blow it.   Any tips from readers out there who have an ebook reader?   Or are you as reluctant as I am to spend your money until you see where the market takes it?   I don’t want to buy something in a format that becomes outdated soon – I remember 8-track vs. cassettes all too vividly.

I’m in the market (finally) for an e-reader – got suggestions?

Comments

francine hardaway Says:
November 29th, 2009 at 5:17 pm

Be serious. You need a Kindle. it’s international, it will not be an obsolete format, and you can download anywhere there’s a wireless network without connecting to anything. And it’s a book buyer’s dream.

Tyler Rathjen Says:
November 29th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

I’ve had my eye on the Kindle for quite awhile, but finally got one last week. I have to say that it is one of the best gadgets that I own. Not only does it have great battery life, I’m also saving a lot of paper considering how my books I go through. Kindle all the way…

Marketing $ociologist Says:
November 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

Okay, I don’t own one but I see the future. Here’s what Amazon says, Kindle books on your iPhone or iPod touch, http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000301301

I say it so much, if I had a dime for every time, I could own Apple by now, your next computer will be an iPhone. I’m holding out for the 4G version.

Dan Wool Says:
November 30th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

I’m still gonna wait but have my eye on a Kindle. I agree with Francine in that I believe this will be a primary technology in the future, something we’ll all carry around.

Ron Matejko Says:
December 1st, 2009 at 3:24 pm

If you can, hold out for the Apple Tablet when it comes out next year. It is a laptop, e-reader and more all in one. That will be a game changer for e-publishing and tech in general.

Linda VandeVrede Says:
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 am

Update – after reading some articles readers of VPR blog sent me, including this one, which also mentions the WSJ article, I’m going to hold off. This article summarizes the gut fear I have about buying right now. Kudos to those of you who have taken the plunge. I’m going to wait it out some more. This article references the 8-track comparison I mentioned in the post, and says that the 1980 video game crash of 1983 is an even closer comparison.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/02/e-readers-can-the-kindle-avoid-repeating-the-video-game-crash-o/

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