Not so very long ago I went on at length about the virtue of paper books and why I wouldn’t be in line to buy an e-reader. Funny thing about that pronouncement… I may have gotten it a bit wrong. It’s true that I didn’t get in line for an e-reader, but I did get in line for a device that comes with an e-reader… And I’m finding that I find it a disturbingly easy way to digest my fill of whatever books I happen to be interested in. I’ve been starting off slowly with some of the free public domain titles, but purchased my first $9.99 title last night and so far have enjoyed the flexibility of having a book on my iPad, iPhone or laptop. It’s a convenience at times when a paper book would prove to be inconvenient or simply an added and unnecessary weight.

One thing to understand is that I don’t think ebooks will ever fully replace the printed word for me. I still enjoy the way a book feels in my hands and the way they look on a shelf. It just might replace the collection of books that go on the road with me, though. The way I pack, anything to cut down on what ends up in my carry on is a good thing… And I think the Kindle app might just have won me over as a serious travel partner.

It’s not all sunshine and lollypops, of course. There is the issue of glare and poor visibility in direct sunlight that needs to be accounted for, but on balance I’m finding it to be a reasonable tradeoff between those inconveniences and easy of use/portability. The real test will be how it handles when it’s on the road… So I’ll have my verdict soon enough.

Posted from iPad.