I’ve always been a bookaholic, and the iPhone isn’t helping. Phone, schmone…I use my iPhone mainly as an e-book reader.
It’s great to be able to carry the equivalent of several shelves’ worth of books in my pocket.
When I’m looking to update my collection, there’s definitely no shortage of material. In addition to the many books and other written material available in the public domain, online e-book stores like Fictionwise offer new titles. In my experience I’ve found that prices of e-books tend to be much cheaper, though this can vary, depending on the publisher and how recently the book was released.
With current economic woes looming, publishers have been desperately looking for ways to survive, and many have been turning their attention to digital initiatives. The growing popularity of the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader have also been gradually boosting the interest in e-books.
Penguin and Random House just announced new mobile phone programs. Random House, for example, has been giving away free books for the iPhone, made available through Lexcycle’s Stanza Reader. HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Simon & Schuster already have mobile phone initiatives.
I mainly use eReader but the Random House announcement has prompted me to check out the most recent version of Stanza; I’ll post an updated e-book reader comparison soon.
A few months ago, I would have scooped all the free titles without a second thought. With so many e-books already available, however, I find that I’m able to be much choosier in my selections. Still, I currently have about 50 books (!) on my iPhone — and it’s been a long time since I’ve been caught having to wait in line without anything to read.
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How’s the display? What are the pros and cons?
I ask, because I love my Kindle so much and am curious as to how the iPhone would compare as a book reader.
(e.g. Kindle is pretty much a single-function device, does that one thing well, but doesn’t slip into your back pocket. The eInk display is lovely but the delay/flicker when you turn pages might annoy some people. The buttons needed to be redesigned, and were for the Kindle 2. Also, they badly need a folder structure…)
I have no trouble reading books on my iPhone but I know that some people have trouble because the screen is so small. Having a small screen means that I have to turn pages more often, but this is just tapping the screen.
Advantage: I can read a book on my iPhone with one hand, which is handy in a packed bus or subway car. Plus it’s easier/lighter to carry around that a regular book.
BUT I’m salivating over the Kindle 2. I’d love to have a larger screen!