Before you ask, yes, I am a nerd. I'm aware this may not affect everyone. ;)
It's hard to give an unbiased opinion on this--plenty of people love the convenience of caring a dozen books in their pocket, while others love the feel of real paper in their hands. But no matter your answer, the ebook reader market has taken off and is constantly growing. Part of what helps that is the competition that's developed--Amazon has the Kindle, Barnes and Noble has the nook, and Borders teamed up with Sony and a couple of other independent companies to distribute several different eReaders. Over the last few years, prices have dropped hundreds of dollars on them, and eBook libraries have expanded to hold hundreds of thousands of books. With the major players offering desktop readers and smart phone applications, you can read on the go, in your car, or in line at the grocery store. It's not uncommon for me to whip out my iPhone if I'm waiting at the doctor's office or in for a long ride to Chicago and catch up on my current web development book or Robert Jordan novel. My phone syncs with my Kindle, and I can pick up wherever I left off the last time.
The biggest argument I've heard against eReaders is price. As an avid eReader user myself, let me tell you right now--don't buy an eReader expecting to save money on books, except possibly textbooks. eBook prices are usually slightly cheaper than their paperback or hardcover counterparts, but probably not enough to make back the money you spend on the reader itself.
So, is buying an eReader worth it, then? In my opinion, definitely. You are spending money, but here's what you're getting in return:
Convenience, first and foremost. Sync your books across multiple devices to have access to them at any time you have your device, computer, or phone with you. Carry multiple books with you at once. Search, highlight and bookmark passages within your books. Some devices offer the ability to browse, find books, and download straight to your device on your reader and phone. Bored waiting at the airport? Download a new book to read on the flight.
Easy browsing. See your book collection all in one place and all at once. Much easier to tell if you already have a copy of one and don't need to buy another. (This has happened to me--I was cleaning out my bookshelves and found two copies of the same book. I hadn't read either of them.)
Less stockpiling. This will depend on the person's habits and preferences, but I had a major problem with stockpiling books I wanted to read or was "hoping" to read. Since they were books, I didn't really consider them "clutter," but before I knew it my shelves were full and books were finding their way on to the floor. The internet is a wonderful thing, but it led me to find websites to trade used books online, and since each book was only $2-$3, I wasn't very careful about what I bought.
Part of my deal with my husband was that if I was going to get myself a Kindle, I should cut down on the mountains of books crammed into my shelves and desk. The result? Over a hundred books donated to our local libraries and cleaner shelves in my home. The books I donated were all a) Available on Kindle and ones I liked enough that I wouldn't mind rebuying if I really wanted a copy or b) I had never read them, and when I asked myself honestly if I thought I would ever get around to reading them, my answer was no.
Now that I'm paying a price just short of the "new copy" price for my books (rather than the $2-$3 a book my wallet had gotten used to), I'm a lot more careful about what I buy. I don't spend the money on books unless I am committed to having the time to read them. There's nothing I can do with stockpiled Kindle books--I can't donate them to the library or sell them online. If I'm going to download one, it had better be one I'm going to read, or else I'm just wasting money. But as a result, I'm actually utilizing the books I do spend money on, thus spending my money more effectively.
I do honestly believe that it all comes down to personal preference. And until color and zooming screens are widespread on eReaders, there are some books with lots of illustrations that they will never be ideal for. eReaders aren't perfect, and if you expect them to be, then it may not be time to get one yet. But if you can appreciate the convenience, time-saving, and clutter-saving that they do offer, then it could be a good buy.
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