E-readers and tablets are becoming a common sight in all sorts of places, whether on public transport, holiday beaches, lunch time cafes or beside the bed.
In many people's eyes these are as important as carrying a mobile phone, or their wallet.
If you have not yet decided if one of these is for you here are a couple of reasons that might help you consider a move to e-books (or put you off completely).
Over and above the obvious use of being able to carry a library of books where ever you go and always have reading material to suit your mood.
When I go walking I take a tablet ereader with me loaded with field guides, as an avid birder and general nature watcher now a days I always have an appropriate guide to hand for anything I cannot identify or want more information on.
Not only that I can record sightings or make general notes as I go along and all in one small device about the size of a paperback book.
For years I have carried a field bag with a bird guide and a general reference book for everything else as well as note book and pens. Now not only do I have comprehensive information on almost every area I can think of, the weight of the bag has decreased, even though I am carrying a dozen books or more.
More than that according to Lucy Siegle, of the Observer on 6th January this year quoting the work of David Reay, the CO2 produced in the construction of the Kindle Fire that I carry is the same as producing 30 books.
I have downloaded and use well over 30 books so not only have I made life easier when I am out and about, I have reduced my impact on the environment, a win win situation in my eyes.
My commute to work in the train was an hour each way every day, not anymore I have just retired. But during that time it was easy to catch up with the daily newspapers, these take a couple of minutes to down load at the start of the day, easy if you use the free calibre e-book management programme as it knows which ones you like and gets them with the press of a couple of buttons.
Of course you still have your books to break up the journey, or most readers will down load documents in word or PDF formats so essential reading for your day ahead is easy with no need to lug a laptop around - most ereaders fit easily in a pocket or small bag.
A difficult day at work can be transformed by immersing yourself in a book over your lunch break, most can be read easily in sunlight in the park or in your favourite caf©.
Of course going on holiday with your ereader saves both weight and space in your luggage and sitting on the beach with an ereader with e-ink is just like reading paper, except the pages don't blow around and it keeps your place when you fall asleep or go for a swim.
Dropping it in the sand is not going to do it any great harm, although the same can't be said if it goes in the pool or the sea, but even with that I have heard of ones that have suffered this fate and survived!
If you are on a budget you will find there are enough free or very reasonably priced ebooks out there to keep you going a lifetime, these include quality books not the dross that cannot be sold.
There are dozens of websites with books available for download. When e-books first hit the market the cost of these was often greater than the paper equivalent, this is becoming less and less of an issue as ereaders and tablets gain a greater foothold, in a number of areas e-books now outsell traditional paper books so as with most things demand drives the market place.
If any of the above reasons aid your decision to get yourself an reader then dozens of sites can help you choose one that suites your needs, have a look, have a try you might just enjoy it.
Happy reading!
In many people's eyes these are as important as carrying a mobile phone, or their wallet.
If you have not yet decided if one of these is for you here are a couple of reasons that might help you consider a move to e-books (or put you off completely).
Over and above the obvious use of being able to carry a library of books where ever you go and always have reading material to suit your mood.
When I go walking I take a tablet ereader with me loaded with field guides, as an avid birder and general nature watcher now a days I always have an appropriate guide to hand for anything I cannot identify or want more information on.
Not only that I can record sightings or make general notes as I go along and all in one small device about the size of a paperback book.
For years I have carried a field bag with a bird guide and a general reference book for everything else as well as note book and pens. Now not only do I have comprehensive information on almost every area I can think of, the weight of the bag has decreased, even though I am carrying a dozen books or more.
More than that according to Lucy Siegle, of the Observer on 6th January this year quoting the work of David Reay, the CO2 produced in the construction of the Kindle Fire that I carry is the same as producing 30 books.
I have downloaded and use well over 30 books so not only have I made life easier when I am out and about, I have reduced my impact on the environment, a win win situation in my eyes.
My commute to work in the train was an hour each way every day, not anymore I have just retired. But during that time it was easy to catch up with the daily newspapers, these take a couple of minutes to down load at the start of the day, easy if you use the free calibre e-book management programme as it knows which ones you like and gets them with the press of a couple of buttons.
Of course you still have your books to break up the journey, or most readers will down load documents in word or PDF formats so essential reading for your day ahead is easy with no need to lug a laptop around - most ereaders fit easily in a pocket or small bag.
A difficult day at work can be transformed by immersing yourself in a book over your lunch break, most can be read easily in sunlight in the park or in your favourite caf©.
Of course going on holiday with your ereader saves both weight and space in your luggage and sitting on the beach with an ereader with e-ink is just like reading paper, except the pages don't blow around and it keeps your place when you fall asleep or go for a swim.
Dropping it in the sand is not going to do it any great harm, although the same can't be said if it goes in the pool or the sea, but even with that I have heard of ones that have suffered this fate and survived!
If you are on a budget you will find there are enough free or very reasonably priced ebooks out there to keep you going a lifetime, these include quality books not the dross that cannot be sold.
There are dozens of websites with books available for download. When e-books first hit the market the cost of these was often greater than the paper equivalent, this is becoming less and less of an issue as ereaders and tablets gain a greater foothold, in a number of areas e-books now outsell traditional paper books so as with most things demand drives the market place.
If any of the above reasons aid your decision to get yourself an reader then dozens of sites can help you choose one that suites your needs, have a look, have a try you might just enjoy it.
Happy reading!