A few thoughts on my ebook reading experience
I have been using eReader on my iPhone since August now and have read a handful of books. All the books I have read are from the Fictionwise website. Thus, I decided to write this post that will give you a few of my impressions about reading ebooks. This will mostly apply to reading on the iPhone specifically, but I have also used Sony’s Reader device as well, so I’ll make some general observations.
I love reading ebooks on my iPhone! It’s easy, convenient and I think I actually read them faster than I would a regular print book (if anyone has any theories about why this is, please enlighten me). With that said, here are a few general impressions I have about ebooks:
- There is still a "novelty" factor. This means I still am thinking "Hey! I’m reading a book on my iPhone" while I’m reading, rather than being totally engrossed in the story as I would be with a print book. As ebooks become more common and I read more of them, I’m sure this will go away.
- Turning ebook pages not a big deal. On both the iPhone and Sony’s Reader, turning the pages is not distracting and/or annoying. I have heard this complaint from people more than once, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker for anyone considering experimenting with ebooks.
- Ability to adjust text size is a must! This especially applies to the iPhone, which has a much smaller screen than the other "dedicated" ebook readers out there. It’s essential that you are comfortable while reading. But I’ll admit, for people with poor eyesight, reading on the iPhone may not be the way to go. Even after I read for a long time, my eyes tire more easily than with print books.
- The backlight can be problematic for a few reasons. First, on the iPhone the backlight is a real drain on the battery. Second, it’s not as easy on the eyes as E-ink technology so eye strain is also a problem after reading for long periods of time. This only applies to the iPhone. Sony Reader doesn’t have a backlight, although I found a glare from an external light source (ie. the sun) could be just as annoying.
- I find myself reading in more places. Let’s face it, I always have my iPhone on me. So if I’m waiting at the doctor’s office, in an airplane (this is where I put my iPhone through its paces as an ebook reader on a trip I took back in August – loved it!), and pretty much anywhere else I have a few minutes to spare. Hmm, this might explain why it seems like I’m reading books faster.
Overall, reading ebooks, whether on the iPhone or another dedicated reading device is great. Perhaps the biggest thing I notice is that reading ebooks is different. Not in a bady way. But it does give reading novels a different feel than holding a mass market paperback in your hand. I think this goes back to that "novelty" factor I mentioned above.
Sometimes, as I’m reading, I think it’s odd I’m reading fiction on my iPhone! However, I also read emails, blog posts and other digital content without thinking twice about it, so an ebook isn’t that far of a stretch. I think for a lot of people who dismiss ebooks entirely (for whatever reason), or don’t just think they will catch on, forget about all the other digital content most people consume in their lives.
What has your experience been with reading ebooks? Positive? Negative? What device/s do you use? Give us your thoughts in the comments below!
