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E-readers- Nook, line and sinker

Some time ago, in this very column, I extolled my love for the printed word, stating, “I love books, the smell of the ink, the feel of the paper, the leather spines. I will never buy an e-reader.”

Well, I was wrong. Yes, that’s right, you heard it here first, I was wrong.

I know when my husband Bob reads this, he will fall off his chair because there have only been a scant few times that I have ever been wrong, and he’s never let me forget them. But here it is. I was wrong.

When Bri started college two years ago she wanted an e-reader. Her reasoning at the time was: “Why should I carry all those heavy text books when I can put them on an e-reader and carry that instead?”

It was a very good point. But like all good points, there is always a better one. And that was to just download the books on her laptop and carry that instead. Of course, this decision came after I went out and purchased a Nook. Oh well, she could always use it for leisure reading. That never happened.

And so it sat in the box gathering dust mites.

One night, several months ago, I got the urge to try and program the Nook. I took it out of the box, all pristine and new, and began the registration process. After several unsuccessful attempts, I called the Nook hot line and spoke to a tech. After she tried several times, all unsuccessful, to register and turn it on, she gave up the ghost too, telling me, “It seems that this one is defective.” You think?

She continued, “Take the original receipt, the confirmation number I provide you with, and go to the nearest Barnes and Noble for a replacement.”

And so I did. After giving the clerk the receipt and the new number, she handed me a replacement Nook all pristine in the box, along with a cheat-sheet of instructions.

I left the store with every intention of cranking it up as soon as I arrived home.

That never happened. Again, the little Nook sat in the bag, all pristine and new, gathering dust mites. Until last weekend, that is.

Wanting something to read, but too lazy to go to the library or to the bookstore, I decided to again face the Nook head-on. Armed and ready to do battle, I took out the sheet and followed it to the letter. Of all the wonders in the universe, within moments, that little Nook whirred and blinked, and was up and running, waiting to be filled with books.

So far I’ve downloaded five.

Not for nuthin’™, but even though I will always love the smell and feel of real books, leather spines and all, this little Nook book is a pretty good invention. Sorry Guttenberg.

Follow me on Twitter @JDelBuono.

Joanna DelBuono writes about national issues — including television — every Wednesday on BrooklynDaily.com. E-mail her at jdelbuono@cnglocal.com.