The eReader Debate

By: Meradeth Houston on 1:59 AM

I've been thinking lately that I would really like to purchase an eReader. They've come down in price substantially and I think I have a very good reason for purchasing one: I read a helluva lot. It would also be nice to have a place to keep all the friggin' academic papers I have piled around my place, so they weren't, ya know, piled around my minuscule apartment in some vague kind of organized manner. Never being able to find said papers again is also becoming a problem. So, in a hope of becoming more organized and having some kind of portable means of dealing with all my library, I'm seriously considering buying one.

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm really just looking for an excuse to buy an iPad. I'll admit it. I want one. Badly. And I'll never be good enough for Santa to bring one to me.

There's just one problem with buying an eReader. I can't get used books on it. I mean, that's pretty much how I support my habit of books in general. (Library book sale this weekend! The dates for such are posted on the fridge--hallowed ground for things to do in my place--and hubby and I wake early on Sundays for $5 a bag books. Oh, it's glorious. And we have WAY too many books.) So, yeah, even paying $10 for a book is much more than I generally spend. What can I say? The University pays me just above minimum wage to teach your lovely children about evolution. With the way things are going in Cali, I'm frankly surprised I get paid at all.

(This isn't strictly true--I mean, I do get paid peanuts to teach at the university--but I do buy regular books frequently, too. But, the vast majority of my library is used. Someday this will change, like, ya know, after I sign that mammoth book deal that allows me to quit my job. *Insert hysterical laughing here*)

So, that's my issue with buying the new kindle that's coming out, that I really want, is actually totally affordable (thanks to my in-laws and their b-day gift of a gift card to amazon--totally the way to my heart, trust me!). It would still answer the conundrum of all the freaking academic papers though, so I might still do it.

So, the question is, do you have an eReader? Do you like it? What kind do you have?