Franklin eBookMan - feeling nostalgic

 Franklin eBookMan - feeling nostalgic. 

I was feeling nostalgic about my first e-book reader; the Franklin eBookMan. I bought it many many years ago (feeling really old). I don't remember how much I had paid for it. Having had newer e-book readers and now using e-book reader apps, I remembered my first e-book reader. I think it went the way of my Palm Pilot and Palm Pre phone; lost in time and memory. 

It had a cradle (if I remember correctly) that one used to connect it to the computer. It is through the computer that one download or transferred e-books from a compact disc (CD) that had many books on it. I believe one used an app or program on the CD to find the book one wanted then download it then transferred it to the e-book reader. It was simple yet effective. 

The screen was monochrome; one color. It was not really big. After reading for awhile, I would look up and try my best to refocus since my eyesight was a little blurry. It used two double batteries (IIRC - it has been awhile since I had or even used one). 

e-book readers in general:

I think one of the benefits of the e-book and e-book reader is that one can download books to read without having to carry around a lot of books. I think this way of reading books is great for schools since one can get newer textbooks without having to sell the old ones. One just has to delete the old one (assuming one wants to get rid of the older one). It would save a lot of paper; IMO; making it very green. 

Another benefit is that one can carry a lot of books to read without taking up much space; unless it is the space on the e-book reader. There are a lot of books available to read on an e-book readers; that can read a big variety of formats.

I think e-book reader is not good for all books. 

There are times one needs a recipe. One can easily get to a recipe on a printed book. One just turns the page to that recipe. With an e-book, one has to search for it on the device then hope not to mess up the e-book reader. 

There are some books that are just better for printed books. If one has a picture book, or a book with maps or really nice photos or paintings that are better view in a large book that cannot truly be appreciated on a small screen of a tablet computer or a phone. 

Early book readers were or had monochrome screens. It was not easy to appreciate the photos and artwork with such screens. The newer e-book readers have better screens but large printed books are still (IMO) much better in view those photos and artwork. 

In Conclusion

I think there is a place for both e-books and e-book readers and printed books. I hope and pray that book stores and libraries never go out of business. I think they are a great resource for books. There are some that are also a great resource for e-books and e-book readers too. 

Amazon and Barnes and Noble are great places for both printed books and e-books. There might be other bookstores that have both features but these two are the ones I know of. 

There is a local bookstore I really like. It is local - not far from where I live. It is the Jobberwocky Bookshop at The Tannery Mall in Newburyport MA. Their Facebook page. 

I might do a separate post just on this really cool store. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 09 / 23