To be or not to be THAT Person with an e-Reader

So lately I've been considering the possibility of purchasing an e-reader. More specifically - a Kindle Fire HD with all the features. But a moral dilemma has presented itself and I cannot ignore it any longer. In these types of situations, I usually make a list. Yes, I'm that type of person.

So here's the wonderful things about e-readers - they are a portable library. Literally. I have the best works of literature for free, and new releases at my fingertips - at 1/3 of the price no less. Dan Brown's newest conspiracy theory extravaganza? Eight bucks and done, at my house, in my bed, on a Saturday morning. Same book at a bookstore in hardback? $21.99 plus tax and the gas to drive to Wichita - bleck! I can also watch Supernatural marathon-style on Netflix anywhere without taking twenty minutes to setup my laptop at Java Break. And I can play Fruit Ninja, hypothetically stalk my favorite celebrities on Twitter (I say hypothetically because I haven't been on there in ages...might need to update my account actually.), and have Facebook update me that all my friends are getting married, engaged, and having kids.
So lots of wonderful things right? It's like a mini computer or a large iPod and they look great right? Right...

So here's the dilemma. As many of you know, I'm a law student. This means I write a lot and study a lot and occasionally still have those Supernatural marathons on Saturdays. I love books - real books made of paper and ink and smell funky after 20 years on a used store bookshelf. I love those things. I like cracking the spine of a new book and feel the weight of it in my hands. I like writing notes in the margins. I love sticking bookmarks in my favorite spots. I like seeing them on my shelf - like a reminder of a great line, quote, or scene. Kind like hearing a song and a long lost memory pops up. I like not having the battery die or charging my "book" to read it. I like that feeling of falling asleep on my book at 3:00 a.m. in a weird contorted position, knowing that I'm not breaking a $250-300 piece of technology. I like watching Doctor Who on a bigger screen, and I have all the apps I could ever want on my iPod.

And dammit, if it's an author I like, I'd rather pay $20.00 on their book because you know what? It's worth it. Every penny. It provides more entertainment than a two-hour movie. And people pay that price all the time for a good movie - even more if its on Blu-ray. And someday, when I'm a published author or screenwriter or whatever, I hope there is still someone out there who thinks my work is worth more than the price of a Venti coffee at Starbucks. So I think I'll hold off for now.