How Long Do You Expect Your E-reader To Last?

I got my basic, no-frills Kindle e-reader for a gift the Christmas before last. I think the Kindle retailed for around $75 plus tax. When you're selling your latest ebook collection of short stories (in case you're interested, it's Smoking on Mount Rushmore: 16 Selected & New Short Stories) for $2.99 each, $75 amounts to a lot of moola. Of course it was a gift, but my wife bought it, so the same difference. Anyway, knock on the nearest wood, my Kindle is still functioning as well as advertised, and I've had no major complaints to make about it. Even so, while I was in the shower (where I do some of my sharpest thinking), I wondered just how much longer my Kindle would keep displaying the ebooks for my reading pleasure. I plan to hold on to it because I'm not one of those buyers who feels compelled to rush out and grab up the latest and greatest of a product. Ideally, I'd like my Kindle to last for the rest of my life with my only having to replace the original battery. That expectation seemes reasonable, given my Kindle's high cost. That's probably not a reasonable expectation, but why not hope for the best, right?
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Published on February 09, 2013 05:08 Tags: amazon, e-readers, ed-lynskey, fiction, kindle, nook, reading, writing
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message 1: by Marti (new)

Marti I haven't the foggiest. I have a nook, Simple Touch, and now a Nook Tablet HD+. I am hard on electronics--my original Dell and HP Mini are both awaiting euthanasia--the computer guy charges $20 apiece to cannibalize for usable parts, and then he said that he shoots them. Was he kidding? I don't know. Marti


message 2: by Ed (new)

Ed Marti wrote: "I haven't the foggiest. I have a nook, Simple Touch, and now a Nook Tablet HD+. I am hard on electronics--my original Dell and HP Mini are both awaiting euthanasia--the computer guy charges $20 a..."

Shoots them. Love it. I got a laugh out of your comments. Thanks, Marti.


message 3: by sarg (new)

sarg I have mixed thoughts about my kindle Fire. It may pass on to the junk drawer not because of any mechanical disaster but for the lack of use. I really miss the feel of the printed form. The only saving grace of the e reader is its ease of purchasing rereading material.


message 4: by Marti (new)

Marti Sarg,
Perhaps you could find a friend or relative to adopt it. Lately I have read two books on my husband's Kindle, then he bought me one, and ordered a freebie for me.


message 5: by sarg (new)

sarg I will keep it. Its to easy to down load a book instead of going to the book store. But I like the feel of a hard copy.


message 6: by Marti (new)

Marti Good decision. I am thinking of trying to find a nice hardcover version of The Hobbit--preferably leather bound. I have a paperback copy which is starting to look a little tattered.


message 7: by Ed (new)

Ed Marti wrote: "Good decision. I am thinking of trying to find a nice hardcover version of The Hobbit--preferably leather bound. I have a paperback copy which is starting to look a little tattered."

I was at CVS earlier and saw the paperbacks displayed on the racks. There's still nothing like picking up one and riffling through its pages.


message 8: by Harv (new)

Harv Griffin Hey, Ed!

When home I keep my kindle in the high-humidity bathroom for toilet reading. Hey, it's better than toilet tweeting, isn't it? Anyway, it died. I've also learned that digital picture frames die when I put them in bathroom or kitchen environments that are high humidity. Threw the kindle in a drawer of tech junk for a few weeks, then before replacing it, tried it once more. It asked me to charge the battery. Well, that was a change! Charged it up, and now it works fine, again. But I am storing it in a bathroom drawer, which should cut down a lot on the humidity problem. Cheers! @hg47


message 9: by Heather (new)

Heather I have a Pandigital e-novel and so far after just over a year it still works like it did when it was brand new.


message 10: by Ed (new)

Ed Harv wrote: "Hey, Ed!

When home I keep my kindle in the high-humidity bathroom for toilet reading. Hey, it's better than toilet tweeting, isn't it? Anyway, it died. I've also learned that digital picture fr..."


Hey Harv, Right, moisture wrecks the electronics. Yeterday we passed a car in the parking lot with no hood. The rain can't do the exposed engine much good.


message 11: by Evalien (new)

Evalien I've had a Kobo Glo since October 2012. It's been great until recently. The battery's empty after a few days instead of every few months like it ought to. Very frustrating since I read a lot. No idea if this means it's ripe for the dumpster or if it can still be saved... or back to good old paper.


message 12: by Thaís (new)

Thaís Bertholino I just know that my Kobo, making 6 years now, is broken and I don't think it seems good to get someone to fix it.


message 13: by sarg (new)

sarg Ive had the fire for about 6 years only complaint is battery is starting to require a charge more often. I really like paperbacks they are easy to hold .


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