1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Kindles, Nooks, or regular books?

Discussion in 'Books & Publications Forum' started by SaggyWoman, Nov 9, 2014.

  1. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2000
    Messages:
    17,933
    Likes Received:
    10
    Which do you prefer? Why?
     
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Yes...........................
     
  3. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Kindle, for the win! I have an Android tablet and use the Kindle app to read e-books. The advantages are numerous and I can't find any down side.

    I usually read at night in bed. With the Kindle app I can adjust the brightness down to a comfortable reading level without bothering my sleeping wife. With paper books I would need to use a clip-on reading light. While not overly bright, it was not exactly subtle.

    I can adjust the font size to compensate for my eyesight. For reading my eyes aren't too bad, but with Kindle I don't need to use glasses if I don't want to. With paper books I can read without glasses but I must hold the book almost at arm's length, which is uncomfortable.

    I can adjust font style as well. Also font colors--traditional black letters on white background, or white letters on black background, or tan letters on sepia background. By switching between colors you can fend off reading fatigue.

    Using my Android's case I can rotate the device into landscape mode and set it on the mattress hands free, prop my head up in my hand and read. Try doing that with a paper book.

    There is a reading gauge at the bottom of the screen telling you what page you are on, or what percentage of the book you've read and/or have remaining, or can even tell you based on your reading speed how many minutes you have left in the chapter or in the book.

    Since you are reading an e-book, the entire thing is keyword searchable. This is handy if you are reading a mystery and want to review something in the plot to help you solve the mystery before the author reveals it. Also handy if you forget facts about minor characters that show up later in the book. Just search for the first appearance of their name. No way you can do this with a conventional book!

    If you don't know the definition of a word or how to pronounce it, simply highlight the word and a dictionary pops up.

    My library system has lots and lots of e-books available for checkout, including new releases. Also, there are numerous places to get free or inexpensive e-books. Amazon will have free books on a frequent basis. I haven't been inside a library for several weeks now and it used to be a weekly occurrence. I have a paper book I bought over a month ago, part of a trilogy, that I haven't cracked open yet because it's not an e-book.

    I can carry around the equivalent of a bookshelf full of books on my device. I might read for half an hour, then read and/or post to BB, then back to reading. Or I can listen to music with earbuds while I read.

    So yeah, I'm a Kindle and e-book convert. Can you tell?
     
  4. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    Kindle Paperwhite, no question. For many of the same reasons as InTheLight but the Paperwhite has it's own internal light and it's SO perfect for reading in the dark that my husband who can tell that a light is on at the other end of the house can't tell that I'm not able to sleep and so I'm reading. :) The battery life is an additional benefit to the e-ink Kindles and I can get about 2-3 weeks of battery life with a LOT of reading on it. Finally, the fact that I'm downloading at least 5 books a week for free makes it a no-brainer to me. OH! I forgot one more! The fact that all of your Kindle apps will sync as long as they are connected to the internet. So I can leave my Kindle at home and read my book on my iPhone, having it open the book to where I left off on my Kindle and then when I get home and read on my Kindle, it will know that I read further in the book and it will take me to that location. LOVE that!
     
  5. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,286
    Likes Received:
    3,547
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Depends. Most of the time I prefer electronic media (this is a big change from last year…I guess I’m getting used to it and it is easier for me to read at times than “real” books). For reference I still like paper books. For some reason they just seem easier for me to use.
     
  6. Gib

    Gib Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2003
    Messages:
    27,256
    Likes Received:
    14
    My wife likes paper. She buys books on a regular basis. I've suggested she use my Kindle, but she prefers the other.
     
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    JonC - I agree. For reference books, I want the real thing. I will sometimes get it first on Kindle to see if it's a worthwhile book to have on hand though. If it's one I think I will refer back to often, I will get the hard copy.
     
  8. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2014
    Messages:
    3,557
    Likes Received:
    625
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I have a serious question here about the Bible. Should we use digital media to replace the Bible as a book? I am not so sure since when we actually handle the Bible as a book that we respect and honor it. I am of the opinion that a kindle etc. actually might undermine the significance of Scripture.

    Any thoughts on this?

    I am truly torn on this issue
     
  9. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2006
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    698
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Dr. Donald Whitney, Associate Dean of the School of Theology of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:

    Fox News
     
  10. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    I am so grateful for my digital versions of the Bible. I don't see anything wrong with it whatsoever although when I'm doing most of my studying, I prefer the hard copy with the iPad with apps right next to it. This way I can hop to a verse quickly to see a cross reference but the main passage I'm studying is still right there in my paper Bible.

    I'm also grateful for a company like Crossways who puts out the ESV - and makes sure that the ESV is free in digital format. Now I can show an unbeliever how they can get a Bible without spending a penny and where to start reading (usually in John). :)
     
  11. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2014
    Messages:
    3,557
    Likes Received:
    625
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Thank you for that!!

    Greatly appreciated

    Bill

    Romans 5:1
     
  12. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,286
    Likes Received:
    3,547
    Faith:
    Baptist
    That is an interesting assessment. Some of the comments are, however, unqualified. That “there is an inherent respect given to the print version of the Bible” is assumed (and is it the binding and paper or the Word of God we are speaking of here?). It is also assumed that this inherent respect is a healthy respect (I’ve known people who look at the Bible as an idol).

    I wonder how much is generational (I have no problem approaching my electronic versions of Scripture with the same reverence I do with print). But I understand the concern with a new medium. I wonder if this also applies to “speciality Bibles” (you know…Bibles for golfers, hunters, belly dancers…).

    The bottom line for me (regarding this article) is two points. First, I think I do show a bit more reverence towards the printed page than pixels on a screen. But that increase in reverence concerns more the medium than the message. I also show more reverence to hardback books over paperback (regardless of the topic)…it’s the feel and the texture of the binding and turning the pages. Perhaps it’s a bit nostalgia … or eclecticism…I don’t know. But it is definitely not that I reverence God’s Word more in printed form. Second, it is not the reverence shown to a particular medium that is important. It is which form is more efficient and effective in communicating God’s Word. That, perhaps, depends on the individual.
     
  13. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2000
    Messages:
    17,933
    Likes Received:
    10
    I was given a Kindle touch. I am hoping to get acclimated to it some day. I like paper.
     
  14. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2008
    Messages:
    4,395
    Likes Received:
    2
    I had some little old ladies get upset because I used my Toshiba to read scripture from. "Preacher, it's just not like reading from the Bible" they said. I just giggled on the inside because the words and message are the same whether in digital or printed form. And, since it is not a hill to die on I went back to the printed version. I wonder those same little old ladies would have reacted when the printing press was invented and their preacher went from using a hand written version to using a printed version?
     
  15. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Noticed the other night that I now have font color of black letters on pale light green background. Must have come in a recent Kindle software update.
     
  16. blessedwife318

    blessedwife318 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2014
    Messages:
    2,358
    Likes Received:
    445
    Faith:
    Baptist
    For fiction nothing beats my Kindle Touch. I can take it with me anywhere, don't have to worry about losing my place, can be reading multiple books. It was so nice when I spent 8 weeks in NY having my entire library with me. Not to mention all the free books you can get. But if I'm reading a non fiction book I would rather have a hard copy because I find it is easier to flip back and forth and reference things in a hard copy.
     
  17. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2000
    Messages:
    17,933
    Likes Received:
    10
    Yeah,I need to figure out how to download a free book or two.
     
  18. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    Do you have an Amazon account? You can go here: https://kindle.amazon.com/

    You will need the information on the Kindle you have as far as the serial number, I believe.

    Once you have an account set up and the Kindle connected, I can hook you up with books. :)
     
  19. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Are you familiar with Amazon? They have many free e-books, every day. Go to amazon.com and learn how to download e-books. Then give it a whirl. Once you are set up, do a search on Amazon.com for 'free kindle books". They have hundreds of them. The quality is inconsistent, but there are some good ones in there, especially the classics.

    The most exciting thing I've learned is that I can borrow e-books from my local library, even newly released books. It turns out when the library asks me what device I use to read e-books and I tell them "Kindle", when I click to borrow the book it sends me to Amazon.com and I "buy" the book for 3 weeks for $0.00.

    I find this truly amazing.
     
  20. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,286
    Likes Received:
    3,547
    Faith:
    Baptist
    And you can always "borrow" from the library
     
Loading...