I lust after this, but…
I want one of these, bad. But!
I admit that I’m at the point where I don’t even want to bother with formats and DRM and all of the other crap. I love these devices — the convenience of them, the look of them, the feel of them* — but I’ve entered a wait-and-see mode.
I’m going to wait-and-see if prices come down a little bit more, because as much as I love the idea of a gorgeous e-ink reader, even this inexpensive pocket version is about the same price as twenty-five or thirty mass-market books. And although I have absolutely no room for 25 or 30 more mass market books in my house, I’d prefer to have them than just a reader.
I’m going to wait and see if distributors are going to get their heads out of their asses and settle on one format.
I’m going to wait and see if they can make it so that if my device breaks, if I upgrade, if I decide to buy something that’s not a Sony, I can take all of my books with me.
It is pretty, though. Sigh.
*I’d probably buy print versions of books I really loved, anyway, just because I like the whole book package. Yes, it’s all about the words inside — but I like covers and I love the way a book feels like a whole when it’s contained between two covers, it’s own separate entity. I don’t get that same feeling with a filename** (but for books that aren’t keepers, it’s not like that matters.)
**Even e-pub books that I love, I want to either print them out (can’t do that, sigh) or get them after they come out in print. The words don’t change, but I do like to have my favorites in that This is a lovely, physical item that I can pull off my shelf and hug state.
I am right with you in that wait-and-see hole! That picture you have of the pretty purple Sony is sure tempting but I just know the minute I succumb and purchase an e-reader the industry will FINALLY decide (or be forced to adopt) one format and it *won’t* be the one I have! Visions of Beta vs VHS dance in my head and taunt me. Fortunately I was too young at the time – was so! shut up! – to have first hand knowledge of the Beta vs VHS wars but I remember the fall out. Oh the grumbling, the gnashing of teeth!
I love my ereader (not a Sony) but I still buy plenty of mmpb books. I just can’t help myself! There’s just something about the printed word.
I’m with Tracy although I try my hardest to not buy that print book if I can help it. For me it’s all about saving time (Kindle wireless!), space, and money. After you’ve purchased 200+ books the device has paid for its self in savings compared to buying “brand new” print copies.
The only thing that sucks is that I can’t share my favorite books any more. I can just hype them up and hope others will buy them!
I’m okay with the format offered by Amazon. I will forever be an Amazon fan and should be able to read them on my Kindle, hopefully forever.
The pretty color option is cool too. I bought a sticker cover for my Kindle (see pic) which can be removed and replaced with other lovely designs. Never committed to one color or design.
I agree with waiting though.
I paid $399 for my Kindle, which was pricey but I’m a gadget whore and couldn’t resist. I pre-ordered the Kindle 2 but hubby sneaked on to my Amazon account and canceled it. It was pure impulse buying. 
I’m definitely a wait-and-see person. While I’d love to have an e-reader for all my e-books, the variety of formats is daunting. Like Steph said, I’d be afraid of getting an e-reader that uses one format only to find the industry is getting wise and choosing one format – one that isn’t compatible with the e-reader I would have. lol
I have a Kindle but I still buy my favorite authors and books I really like in paper too. I still love the physical touch and smell and I am concerned about losing access to my electronic purchases. That means I have Demon Forged both in electronic form and in paperback . I travel quite a bit and I love the convenience of an E-book instead of hauling 6 books with me onto an airplane.
Heya, everyone!
I should add that I do have an ebook reader — an Ebookwise, that I like for what it is … which is an ebook reader that reads limited formats. But I’ll put categories, ebooks that I can easily transfer, and my own work on it (very handy for when I want to go through a WIP).
So a Sony/Kindle would be an upgrade for me from an existing ebook reader that simply doesn’t have many capabilities. I like it, I do … but if, in three years (or less), a Sony reader is essentially as limited as my Ebookwise is now, I’ll hold on.
Biggest issue is easily, easily format. I don’t like wireless (it’d be too easy for me to spend money) and I don’t like being locked into one store.
Grr. If they’d just all be epubs, and I could buy them from B&N or Amazon or Sony or Fictionwise or wherever, I’d be a happy camper.
I have that very Pocket, though they call it pink and I say it’s purple. It’s oddly addictive, and what I like best about it is the size and weight. Now I never have to worry about not having a book in my purse.
It’s true that not all new releases come out as .epub but BooksonBoard.com does a great job getting most of the big names in a timely fashion into .epub. Like your Demon Forged, which I was able to preorder and then download on the release date there.
I also quite like their reward system, which – when you buy a lot of books as I do (I’d just otherwise would have bought them in paperback) – really gives a nice payback to put into purchasing more books (obviously it encourages more buying from them).
Re: the reader – with my recurring eye problems this year it has helped enormously that I can increase the reading size until I’m comfortable and that the eInk system doesn’t tire my eyes any more than a book does. I bought a Sony after reading about the experiences with Kindle taking back bought books, etc. – at the time they didn’t sell them in Europe anyway.
I also do a lot of my paper book shopping at Amazon and don’t believe in putting all my eggs in one basket – you might drop it ^^.
Re: drm – I’ve increasingly decided to buy .epub or otherwise a paperback, because pdfs are most often incredibly ugly on an eReader screen. I’ve also gotten software from the web to crack the drm, which I do without hesitation since I buy my books and don’t share them.
The only downside, as has been mentioned, seems to be that you can’t pass the books along or sell them to get money for more book buying. Ah well.
Addendum: And thinking of future formats – I think as long as there are programs like Calibre which let you convert your format of choice into all kinds of other formats, it’s not too difficult to take your books along to new readers, etc. – if you’re not a complete technological newbie, though.
Really, really want Kindle DX w/ 9.7″ display. Intend to mount holder to wall in front of treadmill and read/walk me way to happy thinness.
I am hesitating because:
1. New technology starts out costly then price eventually flattens – $500 for KDX!
2. Technology still dynamic – don’t want to purchase only to be obsolete in 1-2 years
3. Still love paper books – the feeling of flipping a page to see what’s next; sliding book to friend to because I know she’ll love it; then getting book back like seeing a long-lost friend; and I just enjoy physical pleasure of it – the cover, the smell, the solid feel.
Plus, I drop it no problem – I pick it back up and keep reading.
Still, that pink Sony is sooo pretty, new and gadet-y…
You summed up this topic perfectly for me.
I have a Kindle, and I keep my files organized with Calibre, Calibri… gosh, it’s something like that. It converts files, too, so God Bless Amazon, but I strip the DRM as quickly as possible. Calibri lets you do it for your whole library in one click. I don’t pirate and I don’t even pass on my stripped files to others; I just want to be assured that my books will stay my books no matter the company or device, LOL. It’s not even a pain in the neck, because Calibri is such a great way to keep track of my reading and my ebooks and our two readers.
(I bought one .pdf book which is protected, and I can’t read it ANYWHERE except on my computer. I was TICKED! Still bitter, LOL! I haven’t found anything to strip .pdf DRM.)
That said, refurbished first generation Kindles (which I love much better than the second generation) are selling for like $149: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000FI73MA/sr=/qid=/ref=olp_tab_refurbished?ie=UTF8&coliid=&me=&qid=&sr=&seller=&colid=&condition=refurbished