Anyone who has read my blog knows that I love my NOOK ereader.
I watched and shopped for ereaders for abot four years before finally diving in and purchasing one. My brother owned a Kindle. I wanted an ereader. I wanted one very much. I was living in the UK and my only option was the Sony. I just wasn't in love with it though. And I smartly began researching. I learned that Sony is known for great software but hardware that is less than desirable. Upon moving back to the US Barnes and Noble soon released the original NOOK ereader. I compared it with what I had learned of other ereaders and fell in love. I didn't actually buy it till late summer of 2010.
I am absolutely hooked on ebooks now. I find that if I have a choice I choose reading on my NOOK to reading a regular book. I prefer it hands-down. In fact, I have previously purchased the ebook of a title I already owned and was about to read, just so that I could use my ereader instead of the book. My ereader is always the same; same size, same weight. I am used to it. I like that. And I eagerly look forwared to eventually purchasing a color ereader...right now I am leaning towards the NOOK Color unless something else sways me.
I am also not afraid of change. I've homeschooled our kids. I've put some of our kids into school. We moved from the US to the UK and back to the US. I am a seeker of opportunities and embrace change not for the sake of change but for the excitement; and especially when it seems the change will be a good one.
I have to laugh at people who say "Oh, but I love books to much to use an ereader" or those who say "I would miss the smell of a book." Um, really? To me books smell musty and papery/inky. Sure, it's the smell of a book but it's not a smell I am really attracted to. Guess what? My ereader has no smell. And I don't mind at all! My father-in-law was visiting recently and he had exactly the same reaction when he played around with my NOOK. "Why would anyone miss the smell of a book or let that get in the way of...progress?"
I do see ereaders as a change that brings progress. Ereaders prevent the use of trees for books. Here is an astounding fact:
"Each year, approximately 30 million trees are used to make books sold in the United States..."
Note: that's only books for the United States, not the world.
(Source)
Sure, there are reasons for real books to be printed and used and purchased. There always will be. For me, though, it is nice to think that my switch to ereaders is helping the environment a little bit.
And, if you've read this far then maybe you'll be interested in reading another little rant about ebooks versus traditional books. It certainly made me smile when I came across it today. I tend not to judge others for not having converted to ebooks. It's a choice; simple as that. Some will convert, some won't. That's as it should be. I don't think anyone should be forced to embrace change, even good change. I do think it is going to sneak up on some people though. I also think it will eventually sneak up on some of the people who are now so steadfastly sure they love books more than those of us who use ereaders. (That proclamation just comes across as very lofty (I'm better than they) to me.) For anyone who thinks they love books too much to convert to an ereader, I am here to tell them they may be pleasantly surprised if they will only take the time to try out a couple of models.
Here's that other link: BookBeeTheBuzzOnEBooks
