To eRead or not to eRead: that is the question

I wrote the following on a post talking about books and eBooks at Sermo on 2/21/11,

“Browsing in the libraries or bookstores or holding a book in hands is a joy in life, and that is why I am still resisting eReaders. But, I know in the bottom of my heart, its onslaught is inexorable and irresistible; for me to fall for it is when, not if. Rumor had it that my daughters are conspiring to get me an eReader whether I like it or not. They’re confident that I may hook on NOOKcolor, or the Kindle may kindle my interest of reading other stuff; but my eyes are on iPad; more versatile, I guess. . . .”

It didn’t take long for me to fall for eReader (of which iPad is one); It happened last week.  Not only are the Apple iBooks a click away, but also the eBooks for Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes&Noble’s Nook can be accessed by using the respective apps.  Many of the old classics (“the ones people praise and do not read” so defined by Mark Twain) are practically free.  I once checked out Moby-Dick from the library and just couldn’t finish it, so I paid $4.45  to get a paperback from Barnes&Noble online last December, but it is a free iBook.  So it turns out Moby-Dick is my first eBook.

eBooks are highly addictive; you’ll be hooked on it in no time.  No longer would I need a dictionary besides me while reading (I use it numerous times every day); as it is just a tap away; highlighting is easier than on print books; one can bookmark, search, copy, and paste into the Note, an Apps that comes with iPad.

To download an eBook is just a click away; I couldn’t tell whether it takes two or three seconds to download it.

To eRead or not to eRead; there is no question; that is the way to go, the right thing to do.  This is not to say that I will forsake my print books—I simply will have the best of the two worlds.