# What's the point of tablets/e-readers, and why might I enjoy having one? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 23, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548 "2011-10-23T16:34:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/21 "2011-10-24T16:32:55Z")
Another advantage is that your friends can’t borrow them. Solves that problem. And the libraries don’t have to worry about archiving books since they disappear after 26 borrowers. Meantime, what would I do with all the unread books that I mean to get to “sometime soon”? ---
**Author:** ![Toffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@Toffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toffe)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/22 "2011-10-24T19:11:32Z")
Thanks a lot, all of you, for your experiences, tips, and info. Very helpful! **Silver Tyger** , thanks for the links: I’ll post a question on the forum there later this week. I’ve read several of the reviews from that site, and I should get all the technical info I need there. **Nava** , thanks for the info. Kindle’s not an option then. **Blackberry** , I have several library cards from overseas… will check with the libraries themselves if I’ll still be able to check stuff out from here. Since I already have space issues with books, it looks like an e-reader would be a decent investment for me. Maybe a separate tablet or new netbook for the wife. We’ll see what I find with a bit more research 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/23 "2011-10-24T20:05:39Z")
For me, it was all about battery life. My laptop is my entertainment source and most of the time I’m just reading so the Nook is a good, long-lasting substitute when power or space is limited. I catch myself expecting tablet/laptop performance out of my little e-reader. When they make a tablet that has 12-15hr battery life, I’ll probably opt for a tablet instead. Bottom line: E-readers and tablets both seem like entertainment devices to me, I figure I’ll always want and need a laptop. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/24 "2011-10-24T20:22:43Z")
I just pre-ordered the Kindle Touch 3G for my mom. They are scheduled to ship Nov 20. I looked at the Kindle Fire. It plays movies and surfs the web. I may get that myself. But my mom only wanted a book reader. **Question** : Kindle was purchased through my Amazon account. Can my mom order her books on her own account? It would be a pain if it came configured on my account. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/25 "2011-10-24T23:11:03Z")
**aceplace57** , the Kindle will be preregistered to the account that purchased it, but it can be changed easily. Go to manage your Kindle on the Amazon site. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/26 "2011-10-24T23:43:22Z")
ok, I’ll be sure to switch the kindle to my mom’s account. I’ll help her get it created. thanks Kiwi Fruit 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/27 "2011-10-25T07:00:33Z")
> [@Toffe](#): > > **Nava** , thanks for the info. Kindle’s not an option then. I didn’t express myself correctly. One of my reasons to choose the Kindle was that it could read more formats than other types: IF i want to buy from Amazon I have to go to [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) rather than any other branch (the only ones who buy “local” are Americans and British), but I’ve also got books from gutenberg and Baen’s library, as well as used it to read work-related pdfs. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/28 "2011-10-25T22:40:21Z")
They’re more portable than a laptop, and provide a better reading experience than something the size of a phone. That’s my rationale - I have a Nook. But I could do just fine without it - I can read my ebooks on my iPod Touch or on my phone. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/29 "2011-10-25T23:14:03Z")
I already mentioned that I enjoy my nook. I’m considering asking for a tablet for Xmas, but even if I get one, I think I’d still use my nook, because it’s a pretty convenient size. That’s what it boils down to, for me. Even without the capacity to buy books wherever I go, the nook is just about the same size as a very slim trade paperback…and it can contain a gazillion books. Before I got the nook, I was in the habit of carrying at least two and as many as five paperbacks in my purse (yes, it’s a big purse). Now I STILL carry at least one PB, in case I forget the ereader, but my purse is lighter these days. And I suspect that I’d be just as happy with about any of the ereaders out there. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/30 "2011-10-25T23:18:06Z")
Regarding library books: I have found that the selection of ebooks in my local library system (a very large and reasonably well-funded one) is truly awful. If I go looking a specific book I have at best a 10% chance of finding it there. Sigh. I wish Amazon and/or B&N had a way of _renting_ a book for a week or so vs. full-on purchasing, they’d get more of my money that way. eBooks are _not_ always cheaper than dead-tree versions, especially if it’s a new book that originally came out in hardback, but has just gone to paperback. The ebook might still be at hardback-realm prices. And with a little (ahem) hacking, you can tweak a book from B&N to be readable on a Kindle and vice-versa - basically convert either to epub or PDF. That would also free it to be read on a third-party tablet, though most tablets will have both Kindle and Nook apps also so it’s not strictly necessary to hack the file. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/31 "2011-10-26T00:07:25Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I already mentioned that I enjoy my nook. I’m considering asking for a tablet for Xmas, but even if I get one, I think I’d still use my nook, because it’s a pretty convenient size. That’s what it boils down to, for me. Even without the capacity to buy books wherever I go, the nook is just about the same size as a very slim trade paperback…and it can contain a gazillion books. Before I got the nook, I was in the habit of carrying at least two and as many as five paperbacks in my purse (yes, it’s a big purse). Now I STILL carry at least one PB, in case I forget the ereader, but my purse is lighter these days. > > And I suspect that I’d be just as happy with about any of the ereaders out there. That’s my story. If I’ve got a plane/train/subway ride, I can bring a gazillion books with me in one, lightweight gizmo. That way, if I don’t like the book I’m reading, feel like something different, finish one, etc., I can move on without lugging a bunch of books around. This may not help the OP since he doesn’t have wifi at home, but being able to buy a book from my couch has been great. When I was stuck inside for days due to a snowstorm, I could quickly and easily get new books all from my living room. You don’t realize how good that is till you’re going stir crazy on day 3 of stuck in your house! ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/32 "2011-10-26T01:08:55Z")
At work, my iPad holds a pile of documents that each year would stack about five feet high. A good bit easier to carry. At home I have all my sheet music, which takes up about three four-inch binders. Much easier to take to choir practice. I have started to get into ebooks - but only public domain books. So far, I haven’t purchased a single one, although I am tempted by the Dresden Files. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548/33 "2011-10-26T01:36:47Z")
Having an e-reader frees you from needing to find a bookstore. I don’t own one (I’ve used my father’s in the past) but if I ever go out on tour or travel extensively for work again, I’ll get one. When I was on tour previously (six cities a week), I never had time to find bookstores, especially used bookstores where I could find something other than the latest bestselling _Twilight_ knockoffs. In Brazil, you might find that you have much more access to English-language books. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-tablets-e-readers-and-why-might-i-enjoy-having-one/600548.md?page=1)