eBooks v. Paper

I have been tempted by Kindle since its debut — I read reasonably avidly: books, magazines, and newspapers; I am comfortable with gadgets; I have enough discretionary income; I travel frequently; and I don’t shelf read books (they go into a box in the garage).

Paper touch and ink smell do not particularly appeal to me. But I like doodling on the margin or title page. I was always delighted to re-acquaint thoughts and feeling that were so intimate long time ago.

Recently I re-read a book bought more than 20 years ago. As I finished it, I wondered if any of the eBook format or reader would survive even five. What’s going to happen to my collection when the format changed or the reader broke? Do I care? Really?

I read a fair amount of Chinese books, in both simplified and traditional Chinese. Are they available? I keep several classic around and re-read them all the time. Those are books published several thousand years ago. Would I find them on catalogs? Would I need to pay for them?

On my recent trip, I saw a fellow traveler buried in her Kindle and another in a hardcover The Lost Symbol. I was tempted to strike up a conversation with the book reader (but did not). So the paper version is more a social tool. I am sure the Kindler has been so annoyed by the same line, “So, how do you like the this gadget?” Or other usability inquiries.

My nightstand has my reading list and the queue size is four now. I wouldn’t consider any eReader until I have cleared my paper inventory. In the mean time, I will wait for the price war between Amazon, B&N, and Sony.