5 things I can do with my Kindle that you can’t with your dead-tree books.
1. Read things I save for later using Instapaper.
2. Sync highlights and comments to Evernote.
3. Search for a quotation or section in a book.
4. Look up a word in the built-in dictionary or a concept at Wikipedia.
5. Use the built-in 3G to navigate Google Maps via the browser.
Some great points here Doug, I especially hate searching for a quote I’ve read offline. That said I am a stickler for the look of an amazingly stacked book shelf, perhaps more room for CDs… oh no, damn you iTunes 😉
I am actually contemplating getting a Kindle based on some of the reasons you’ve highlighted plus I won’t get wrong of Ver for reading geeky work stuff (but I enjoy it) on holiday haha.
Exactly! People can’t see what you’re reading, and it becomes your personal digital reading hub! 🙂
Do you know – I think you’re actually convincing me to buy a 3G Kindle with all these posts!
Good good! They’re meant to inform debate for a symposium I contributed today at ALT-C, but I’m glad they’re more widely applicable! 🙂
5 things I can do with my dead tree books that you can’t do with your Kindle:
1. Think I can remember what I’ve read with my brain, but then forget them.
2. Remember that I’ve made a note of highlights and comments, but then forget which book I’d put them in.
3. Remember quotations for a few days, but then misquote them to colleagues as my brain progressively leaks accuracy.
4. Discover new words and concepts, but then assume I can work out what they mean and embarrass myself.
5. Walk around without 3G lost, but at least I’ve got a book in my pocket.
Classic! 🙂
Doug,
Okay, I’m sold. A rundown on which device you prefer and pros/cons of your choice would be awesome. You’ve convinced me to buy one, I just don’t know which one to go for now…
Kindle. Because of the 3G and 3rd party integration. Every time. 🙂