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After a long day of working in the garden, on my car or on a home improvement project, I like to relax in a hot bath with a good book. I'm not comfortable doing

After a long day of working in the garden, on my car or on a home improvement project, I like to relax in a hot bath with a good book. I'm not comfortable doing that with my Kindle. I may not be the average book consumer but I buy a lot of books.

derefr 11y ago
That's a problem with the device more than anything. The ultimate e-book reader form-factor (that all the device manufacturers are gunning to eventually get to, with research into flexible e-ink et al) will look like nothing more than a laminated sheet of paper, and would be pretty much just as safe to get wet.
- LordKano 11y ago
  It may well be a limitation of today's technology but it's still a real limitation. It's why reading ebooks on my laptop while I'm in the tub hasn't become my method.
- sltkr 11y ago
  FYI, Kobo already sells a waterproof e-reader today for ~$160.
- delecti 11y ago
  I actually find your hypothetical device very unappealing. I've tried several kindle models somewhat extensively, and eventually opted for a thicker model (2015 Paperwhite) because the thinner one (Kindle Voyage) was much less comfortable to hold. I think that the ergonomics of a piece of paper would be even less pleasant for long periods of reading. I think we're just wired to handle stuff in our hands, whatever that stuff happens to be.
  - ghaff 11y ago
    The Paperwhite is really nice. After I got an iPad, my 2nd gen Kindle (that I spent way too much money on) ended up on the shelf collecting dust. A year or so back, I decided to get a Paperwhite on a whim and quickly decided that it's much nicer for reading text than the iPad. The weight, screen, and battery life just make it a better experience.
TheGRS 11y ago
Its curious why you would feel any more comfortable with a book that would be ruined by water than with a tablet that would also be ruined by water. I actually get why, there's less at stake for your $10 book than for your $60 kindle, but its still curious. I've read my kindle in the bath numerous times :)
- Kevguy 11y ago
  To me, the book wouldn't be ruined if it got wet. It would get wrinkled and a little harder to read, but still useable. I believe the Kindle would actually stop working if dropped in the water. To be fair, I've never tried it to know for sure...
- LordKano 11y ago
  I have Java book that was exposed to a leaking bottle of Apple juice. Most of the pages were soaked and as soon as they dried, it was still a perfectly readable book. I do not believe that my Kindle would have fared so well.
Someone1234 11y ago
Throw it in a zip-lock bag. They're like $1/each and even the touch interface works through them.

derefr 11y ago

That's a problem with the device more than anything. The ultimate e-book reader form-factor (that all the device manufacturers are gunning to eventually get to, with research into flexible e-ink et al) will look like nothing more than a laminated sheet of paper, and would be pretty much just as safe to get wet.

LordKano 11y ago
It may well be a limitation of today's technology but it's still a real limitation. It's why reading ebooks on my laptop while I'm in the tub hasn't become my method.
sltkr 11y ago
FYI, Kobo already sells a waterproof e-reader today for ~$160.
delecti 11y ago
I actually find your hypothetical device very unappealing. I've tried several kindle models somewhat extensively, and eventually opted for a thicker model (2015 Paperwhite) because the thinner one (Kindle Voyage) was much less comfortable to hold. I think that the ergonomics of a piece of paper would be even less pleasant for long periods of reading. I think we're just wired to handle stuff in our hands, whatever that stuff happens to be.
- ghaff 11y ago
  The Paperwhite is really nice. After I got an iPad, my 2nd gen Kindle (that I spent way too much money on) ended up on the shelf collecting dust. A year or so back, I decided to get a Paperwhite on a whim and quickly decided that it's much nicer for reading text than the iPad. The weight, screen, and battery life just make it a better experience.

TheGRS 11y ago

Its curious why you would feel any more comfortable with a book that would be ruined by water than with a tablet that would also be ruined by water. I actually get why, there's less at stake for your $10 book than for your $60 kindle, but its still curious. I've read my kindle in the bath numerous times :)

Kevguy 11y ago
To me, the book wouldn't be ruined if it got wet. It would get wrinkled and a little harder to read, but still useable. I believe the Kindle would actually stop working if dropped in the water. To be fair, I've never tried it to know for sure...
LordKano 11y ago
I have Java book that was exposed to a leaking bottle of Apple juice. Most of the pages were soaked and as soon as they dried, it was still a perfectly readable book. I do not believe that my Kindle would have fared so well.

Someone1234 11y ago

Throw it in a zip-lock bag. They're like $1/each and even the touch interface works through them.