Hard-Core for Hard-Cover

Author throws the book at e-readers — but could tolerate two … and actually praises one

By David L. Robbins

[Editor’s Note: Technology, having steamrolled most forms of communications, is advancing on the world of books. But do any of the new electronic readers offer a complete reading experience? We asked novelist David Robbins to investigate.]

Let’s be honest about e-readers. They’re not books.

     They’re doppelgangers, mimicry, shadow play of a book. They’re impermanent. Once you finish an e-book, it’s gone without a trace except for the credit card charge. No spines standing on your shelf to recall the imagined world, no picket of titles to mark the territory of wonder, no brotherhood of authors where friends may browse or borrow. Just the book in your head without a book in your hands.

     A tragedy.

     A marvel.

     Darwin told us: That which does not change dies. The e-reader, without the grace of the traditional page, brings a motility to the reading experience that a book cannot. You can be spontaneous, shift from one tale to another in seconds, follow any interest, writer, subject, title instantly. A book is a wheel. An e-reader is a matter transfer booth.

     And no dusting.

     I’ve published 10 novels. My sentiments are planted in the world of the book. When I took a look at e-readers, I expected to dislike what I found.

     I did, in fact, despise most of what I saw. Many of the devices are disrespectful to the art, power and joy of reading. They’re cheap, lowest-common-denominator efforts to grab a piece of the burgeoning e-reader market. Only two devices towered above the others, the iPad and B&N’s Nook. But let me first discuss the bottom dwellers.

 

TINY PHONES AND INTERNET READERS

     First, do not even consider reading a book on your phone. You can, but that doesn’t mean you ought. There’s nothing left of the book but the words, smashed onto a palm-sized screen. I beg you not to experience a book on your iPhone, Android or BlackBerry. The stage is far too small for the book to make you feel, think, ponder, cry, mind-travel. Flicking your finger every 50 words is like trying to read with flies buzzing you, always batting at them. Sit still a moment, read a real page. Savor.

     Next up, the Internet readers. The BlackBerry PlayBook and Samsung Galaxy, both 7-inch tablet readers, were called “DOA” by Apple’s Steve Jobs. He’s not far off. Like the smart phones, these cannot replace a book for the eye or hand. Too small, too glib.

     The king of the Internet tablet readers is, of course, the Apple iPad. Beware — it’s really a computer. It’ll download e-books, apps, programs; it’s got everything but a camera and a phone. The iPad is an incredible experience, but as an e-reader, it’ll run you more than 600 bucks.  Even a basic iPad, sans Internet, goes for $500 or more.

 

THE REAL READERS

     The basic readers are where you want to be. Pass on Amazon’s Kindle. It felt clunky and ancient, unsure of itself, almost jangly. The Sony Reader was worse. Sony wanted in on the e-reader market and tossed up this hairball of a product, flimsy and utterly without sex appeal.

     What caught my eye was Barnes & Noble’s Nook. The matte screen reads better than the iPad’s LCD in any sort of light. The battery has a longer life than Kindle or iPad. Used inside any B&N store, you may read any book in stock free for an hour. You can even check out books from local libraries. The Nook features a touch screen, like the iPad. And the cost? Top of the line for under $200.  The new Color Nook – essential for the imagery of children’s books – can be had for under $250.

     I can’t say I purchased a Nook, or any e-reader. But I can’t say I won’t someday, maybe soon. I love the real page, have made my living in ink and paper. But change is here. It’s not even here to stay. That’s why it’s called change.

     If you love books, buy books. If you love reading, OK. An e-reader will do.

     But don’t ask me to sign one.

 

David L. Robbins is a bestselling author, most recently of the novel Broken Jewel, and is at work on a book about Somali pirates, The Devil’s Waters. He also writes the Native Son column for Boomer.  Visit him at DavidLRobbins.com.

The Specs

(Note: Beware! Prices are subject to change and occasionally to discount. New models are frequently introduced.)

 

BASIC READERS

 

Amazon Kindle

Kindle: Wi-Fi, 6-inch screen, $139

Kindle 3G: Wi-Fi, 3G Internet, 6-inch screen, $189

Amazon.com/Kindle

 
 

Barnes & Noble Nook

Nook Wi-Fi, 6-inch screen, $149

Nook color, 7-inch screen  $249

Barnesandnoble.com/nook

Sony Reader

PRS-650 Touch Edition, 6-inch, $229

ebookstore.sony.com/reader/

 

 
 

INTERNET/TABLET READERS

 

Amazon Kindle DX

3G Internet, 9.7-inch screen, $379

Amazon.com/Kindle

 

Apple iPad

3G Internet, 9.7-inch screen $629 to $829

(also available: iPad Wifi, 9.7-inch screen, $499-699)

apple.com/ipad

Barnes & Noble Nook 3G plus Wi-Fi

6-inch screen, $299

Barnesandnoble.com/nook

 

BlackBerryPlaybook

7-inch screen, price unavailable at press time

Na.blackberry.com

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab

7-inch screen, $399 to $599

galaxytab.samsungmobile.com/