Digital Readers
Posted Thu Dec 31, 2009 in
Computing
I cannot remember how many times over the last few months I wrote something about a digital book. In my search of digital book Nirvana, I think I read just about everything that was available — many reviews, opinions, hands-on descriptions — I read it all.
Ultimately, however, it is getting a device in my hands, manipulating it, and using it that is how I learn. At the beginning of the month, the local Best Buy had a shelf full of Sony Readers. They end-cap had both the Pocket Edition and the Touch. They offered a bonus of sorts — a discount on a case and an A/C charger (about a $30 discount, which is nothing to sneeze at). But, I was unconvinced that the time was right and passed.
They frickin’ sold out of Readers over the next two weeks. I read that Amazon sold a buttload of Kindles and content over the last few weeks. There is definitely something going on here.
I went to Best Buy a few days ago to check out the computer games (I guess I was a little bored) and look at a set of flight controllers. As I walked past the end-cap where the Readers had been displayed, a lonely open-box Reader Touch unit sat on the shelf with a $30 discount. I was tempted, but restrained myself.
A few days later I was at the local Best Buy to purchase a new mouse (I wore out my Logitech G5 gaming mouse — go figure) and decided to purchase a lighter headset as well. I like the Clear Chat headset for Skype, but it’s too heavy for gaming use. Moreover, the G5 gaming mouse is discontinued and had none (except the display unit) on the shelf. So, I picked up the G9x gaming mouse and a light headset. The lonely Reader Touch was still on the shelf. I was tempted, but resisted.
I left the store with my purchase and drove to Borders to retrieve Wife, who was shopping there. Yes, we have a weakness of books. I found Wife chatting with Daughter on the phone, made a few snide remarks, and wandered off. Borders has a Reader display and I puttered with the display units. I really like the size of the Pocket Edition (and the price), but it is not expandable. The Reader Touch will accept Memory Stick or SD media.
Wife finished her talk with Daughter, picked up her things, and made her purchases. We left the store. On the way past the Best Buy, perhaps as an impulse buy (but not really), I decided to pick up the remaining Reader and play with it. I didn’t know if it was the machine for me or not. But, I’m not going to learn anything about them if I don’t spend some time with one. So, the open-box return followed me home.
I will relate my experience with the device in another essay. I figured out how to create content and move my content to the device.
Dear Dr. Thompson
— Bahareh 1 January 2010, 14:08 #Happy new year.
Happy New Year, Bahareh. I hope this year is a better one for you. Keep after the dissertation! :)
— ruminator 1 January 2010, 19:33 #Thank you.
— Bahareh 2 January 2010, 14:05 #