Haven't you just substituted one computer for a smaller one in this case?

I throw nearly that many in my bag every time we go visit the relatives. There's about 30 hours in transit and once we are there numerous meals with her relatives where all the conversation will be in languages I don't speak.

Indeed. But surely you don't represent the majority of population, right? :)

Isn't that the point of ebook readers?

The Kindle is designed for reading. Intuitive placement of next page / previous page, light enough to hold in one hand, portable enough to throw in a bag and not even be able to notice its size/weight. You begin to notice little conveniences like not needing to make any movements to turn pages.

So yes...I've substituted most of my reading from a computer that wasn't designed for reading, to a "computer" that was.

Fair enough. I guess it's just not for everyone. For instance, I don't mind the inconvenience of having to turn pages. ;)

Don't get me wrong, by no means am I saying turning pages is inconvenient.

But it IS convenient to get into a comfortable position in bed or on the couch, and not have to make any movements to turn pages. It's something that you probably wouldn't give any thought to, but once you've experienced the difference it makes, you have a "hey, this is pretty cool" moment.

I'm sure it is. For me, though, I'm not sure that moment is worth $300.

Seriously. You quote part of what I said and leave out the part where I said - twice - that I didnt know about the device format that will succeed and then cite as examples of me being wrong outmoded formats. Yes, anyone that isnt a moron can see that I was right in what I said, just as I would have been right had I said that Im not sure about the format but playing movies in your house is the future when VSH and Betamax came out.

I guess I'm a moron then, because I think you're wrong. I don't think ebooks are the future. In fact, I think they're a gimmicky fad. But we'll have to wait a few years to determine who is right. ;)

Agreed, that's not worth $300 for me either. But everything else is.

I can't handle reading long documents on my computer. Kindle reading is much friendlier on the eyes and mind. Reading on the Kindle is closer to reading printed text on paper. At least in my experience.

When I go on a trip longer than 1 week, I used to take multiple books (4or 5)...now I take one kindle. When I want to buy an English book in China...log on to Amazon and download to the computer.

Its worth it for me.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9630/4.7.1.40 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

The majority of the population is unlikely to buy a book this year. The eBook readers are not targeted at that market segment.

In looking at the price tag it is also useful to consider the discount that books sell at in the electronic format. It mat take a hundred or so to make back the initial investment, but that can happen surprisingly quickly in a family where reading is a passion. And while I don't think we ever got up to 20 on a single trip, I know that my wife and I have been into double digits. There very much is value in the format for some people. The fact that you apparently are not one of them doesn't mean that you represent everyone else.

That's a strawman if I ever saw one. I never said that I represent everyone else. I said I think they're gimmicky. And I said that I think they'll eventually end up in the dustbin of technological history.

But I'm glad you enjoy yours!

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Think about what is involved in printing and distributing books electronically versus on paper. With that in mind the future is obvious. It is already happening with such things as scientific journals. That has made a huge shift towards electronic at every step of the process. And then of course there is the music example.

Nothing about the future is obvious and I really have to question anyone who says that there is. ;)