May 4, 2010 11:30 AM

Last month, I tried my first e-Reader. I've read e-books on my PC for a few years, but hadn't tried a portable e-Reader until last month I took a Kindle for a test drive. Reading my comrade Bargainista's blog, she just got her hands and eyes on the latest e-Reader to hit Canada, the Kobo. Check out her blog post for an excellent review of Kobo.

I replied to her post about my first experience with portable e-Readers, which I included below. I'd love to know if anyone feels that my concerns have been resolved with other or newer tech, or any other thoughts about e-Readers.

I'd love to try a Kobo to see if the e-reader technology has improved. I tried a Kindle last month - granted it was a year old (so newer models might be better) - and I was really underwhelmed. I like to read with really high contrast, ie. black type on white is ideal. With the Kindle is was like black on grey. Also, the font size seemed to arbitrarily set a limit that was still not sufficient for people with visual disabilities. Trying to find a range of books (or any) in large print is next to impossible - so I thought these e-book reader companies would capitalize on that (literally - there's definitely money to made from people who need this feature).

The user experience was otherwise okay. I like the ability to add notes as I have never been able to bring myself to vandalize my own books by scribbling notes in the margins or highlighting.

I'm certainly running out of room in our house to store print books. As it is all pulp fiction we buy are given to Goodwill after reading as we have no room to store them. Now with my daughter starting to read, we're buying her lots of children's books. I can imagine it will be a long time (who knows, it'll probably be just five years) before e-Readers can offer full colour as the artwork in young kid's books is probably the most important criteria. Not to mention with comic books. Still, I'd love to have all the books we love without them taking up so much space.

But price is the big stumbling block for me (once readability improves, that is). E-books are roughly the same price or maybe $1 or $2 cheaper. But with print I have something I can share with friends and don't have to worry about the format becoming obsolete (like all our VHS movies).

Most importantly, considering my propensity to spill coffee, drop and lose thing, my accidents are not such a big deal when it's a $10 book vs. $150 e-reader.

I don't want to sound like a luddite curmudgeon or print fetishist, more like a poor-sighted cheapskate.

Originally posted on Webslinger

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Glen's experience in the Internet has covered the full spectrum from coding to content, and from planning to promotion. This gives him a unique ability to help direct a company’s online strategy, while also having the know-how to lead a project to successful completion.

Posted by Sue Ansell at May 4, 2010 11:30 AM

Categories: Gadgets

Comments

carolyn taylor email -

I have yet to try an e-reader, but I know I will one day. I'm postponing it because I write, blog etc all day, and can't imagine myself quitting a screen only to pick up yet another [screen].

I have hundreds of physical books, love them, can't imagine being without. They are my most important and prized possessions.

Glen Farrelly email -

Thanks for the comment Carolyn. I agree that I don't want any additional screen time after working at a computer all day, not to mention I appreciate the flexibility and portability of books. I can throw a paperback or magazine in my messy knapsack and not care if it gets damaged. And reading on a crowded subway is a difficulty that can only really be accomplished with a tiny book or magazine - can't imagine being able to do it with a e-reader. But ultimately the price is the deal-breaker for me, not to mention there is no DRM with print books!

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