Barnes & Noble:

Okay, I have the following (it's a short list). If you express interest, I'll contact you at profile addy and do my thing.

Shatter - Michael Robotham

This is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper

The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly

Road Dogs - Elmore Leonard

Hollywood Moon - Joseph Wambaugh

Grr. I just noticed that there's a Nook app for Android, and realised I couldn't download it. Because it's for Android 1.6. And I have 1.5. Which sends me bouncing around the web, and apparently the Cliq goes EOL Monday. And they haven't committed to a 2.x upgrade date yet!

I'm pissed beyond belief at being so behind the curve on the OS here. My purchase decision was based largely on provider and keyboard availability (I think it came down to two phones), but I still feel shafted. It's not the first app I've not been able to install, and I'm sure it won't be the last.

All of this talk makes me actually want to open the sony e-reader that I got for Christmas. It seems like it would be a good gift for me, but I like paper. And I like owning books, it's why I don't generally go to the library. If I read a book and I like it, I generally want to own it. But, if I've already read it, I don't want to spend money on it. So, I'd rather buy it and roll the dice. My issues, let me show you them.

I can relate to this. I felt the same way. But for stuff like "Hunger Games" and "Shit My Dad Says" and "The Passage", I know I don't want to own the hard copies (and the library wait list is too long for my impatient self). And so many of the books I treasure in my collection (classics) are available free on the Kindle. So I can own the lovely books, but if I hanker for Dickens on the road, it's 1 minute to download all of "David Copperfield" and I don't have to lug it around.

If nothing else, does the Sony eReader offer samples? Just that alone (being able to download the first few chapters of a given book) can be awesome. You can just use it for that and you'll know if you want to buy the book. I read the sampe for the new Henry Aaron biography and could tell immediately that I want to own the actual book.

I was pretty shocked at how much I enjoy reading on the Kindle. I don't miss the "book" feel nearly as much as I thought I would.

So far, I don't miss wrestling the book. No porn intended, but it's pretty simple to read with one hand.

Yeah, I was afraid I'd miss the book feel, but I loved reading on my Kindle, and I love reading on the iPad now. I actually prefer the iPad for reading since I like the backlit screen and like having access to iBook, Kindle, and Nook as well as easy PDF ready and the ability to do full markup on PDF content. I get most of my work content in PDF now and can mark it up and make comments right on the iPad.

The thing is, I know I would NOT read on the iPad. There are too many bells and whistles. The thing about the Kindle that makes it so successful for me is that it's *just* about reading.

The thing is, I know I would NOT read on the iPad. There are too many bells and whistles.

Heh - that'd be my worry too. That I'd settle in to start a book...and then check email...and then check B.org...and then check Pocket Frogs...

Heh - that'd be my worry too. That I'd settle in to start a book...and then check email...and then check B.org...and then check Pocket Frogs...

Exactly!

ETA: which doesn't mean that I don't think iPads aren't totally cool and neato. I just know I wouldn't read on one.

I'll tell you what I do on an ipad that has my full attention:

reading pdfs. I use iAnnotate and that is pretty good for annotating pdfs (highlighting, comments, etc.). I don't get too distracted doing that.

I haven't tried reading a whole book, I still like other means for that.