Tolkien on the Kindle

[Mister Underhill]

Guess what I got for Christmas?

Tolkien on an e-reader feels sketchy somehow. It doesn't seem to square with the illusion that, for instance, the LotR is the Red Book of Westmarch. With Tolkien more than other writers you feel like you should have a physical book -- a tome, a codex if you will -- in your hands.

On the other hand, e-editions save trees. Tolkien could hardly object to that. Not to mention that it would be pretty sweet to have at least the core texts (no HoME yet it looks like ) in a handy little gadget that I can cart around with me and whip out whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Does anyone have any Kindle editions of Tolkien? Any comments on them, or comments in general about reading Tolkien electronically?

[Nogrod]

As a new owner of a "smartphone" (htc) I'm interested in the batteries - the Achilles' heels of all electronic gadgets... How many hours (minutes) can you read it without reloading? My oldtime cellphone got on fairly nice for four-five days but my new one needs recharging every other day.

I mean one doesn't have to reload a book.

On the environmental note... what other environmental problems the expanded use of electricity - or making of these gadgets - creates? I'm not sure how fond the prof. would be.

[Mister Underhill]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

On the environmental note... what other environmental problems expanded use of electricity - or making of these gadgets - creates? I'm not sure how fond the prof. would be.

Shh! Save trees!

Battery-wise, I've been fooling with this thing since Christmas morning, including lots of wi-fi, which I think is where you can really burn up the batteries, and I'm still at over 50%. Supposedly you can get 10 or 15 days moderate use out of this thing before having to recharge, so it's not too bad.

[Galadriel55]

Personally, I prefer reading physical books. I don't know why, it's just... more real for me, I guess. Especially for Tokien (not that I ever tried reading Tolkien online ). As for saving trees, most of my books were either one of my family member's, or my friend's. You could call them second-hand, if you wish .

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

Battery-wise, I've been fooling with this thing since Christmas morning, including lots of wi-fi, which I think is where you can really burn up the batteries, and I'm still at over 50%. Supposedly you can get 10 or 15 days moderate use out of this thing before having to recharge, so it's not too bad.

How can they do that on an e-reader (which means hours of use and a big lighted screen) but not on a ten (or five, anyway) times smaller 3G-phone?

I smell a conspiracy-theory here...

[Mister Underhill]

Actually the e-ink display is not like the screen on a regular smart-phone or an iPad or what have you. In fact you need to have some light on the screen to read it, just like a paper page. Just from a pure gadget perspective it's a fascinating device. However it works, it obviously uses less battery power.

Galadriel55, I prefer a physical book too, especially when it comes to Tolkien. But I have to say this thing is making me a believer. It's a great mobile alternative to lugging heavy books around when you're out of the house.

[Bêthberry]

Esty and I were discussing the pros and cons of kindles last fall. We wondered how large the screen is--it would seem to involve a fair bit of constant scrolling for those who read a page quickly. Does it?