I Have A Secret…
11/18/09 | General | 5 Comments
Remember this post I made a while ago? How I fervently decreed that Kindles (and all ebook readers alike) should be used as kindling and burned? Yeah, well, I kind of, maybe, more than quite possibly… erm, want… one.
I KNOW.
Okay, here’s my reasoning. I like to travel, and when I travel I like to bring 5-6 books with me (you never know when you’re going to have a chance to read, how much TIME you’ll have to read, and what you’ll be in the MOOD to read when/if you actually have time to, so you need to bring a variety!), and a Kindle will greatly reduce on my additional baggage fees—or weight overages, however I choose to pack for that particular trip. Also, if you go to the Kindle store, they give away a LOT of free books. And not just the classics. They’re giving away books as promotions from the likes of James Patterson and Steve Berry. And… it just looks to damn COOL.
Granted, the last one isn’t the best argument I have for wanting one, but any technophile will understand. I’ve looked at the Sony Reader and am not impressed with its interface OR its lack of wireless connectivity. Why would I want to connect it to my computer to download books when this is a free wireless service with Kindle? Barnes & Noble’s Nook has also been announced, but I have a problem with that one too. I don’t like the second color screen on the reader. It seems like a very clunky way to browse for books. And does my normal hardcover or paperback have something like that? No. And I’m looking for a book ALTERNATIVE. I don’t want to be distracted by anything while I’m reading.
Also, to be honest, I’ve been slacking in the reading department lately. I haven’t been allotting myself enough time to read books in a reasonable amount of time, so it’s been taking me a lot longer than usual. I think that this’ll help with my reading levels (hopefully).
What ultimately changed my mind? I don’t really know. When I first started looking at digital book readers, it was in the early stages of their development. Screen quality was terrible, prices ridiculous, and they (surprisingly) didn’t have much storage. My faith in them was minimal (or should I say nonexistent?), so I brushed them off. But now… liquid paper displays, 3G wireless connectivity, holds up to 1500 books, and weighs only 10.2 ounces! Think of all the money I’ll save in baggage fees!!!
It’s not going to replace my paper books if I get it, not by a long shot. Most likely I’ll own the paper AND e-versions of the books, because I’m crazy like that. But you never know, either. I swore up and down when MP3s first came onto the market that I would NEVER buy one. I wanted the physical CD! But now, a few years later, I exclusively buy MP3s. But there’s a big difference between music and books, and I don’t think I’m ever going to stop buying physical books the way I’ve stopped buying CDs. I like the way they look against my wall, and I love the feel of them in my hands. My ears can’t tell the difference, but my hands and eyes sure can. My Kindle would only be an accessory.
What does everyone else think about the craze? Just a fad or the future of publishing?
Until next…
Kyle W. Kerr
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Comment by nikki :: Nov 19, 2009
I’m still against the kindle for many reasons, but one of which that I haven’t heard people talk about is how easy it would be to lose. Sure, you can lose a book- but that’s just one book and you can get another one for what $30? If you lose your kindle, that sets you back hundreds and you lose all of the books you’ve downloaded. It’s much like my distaste for the ever shrinking iPods and laptops. I have an iPod mini, which is obv smaller than the original but is probably like three times as big as the little nanos they have now. Also, MacBook air scares me. It’s like a manilla envelope, you could throw it out with the trash really easily! I’d rather have a book, feel the weight of it in my hands, and know that it isn’t the end of the world if I leave it behind somewhere.
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Comment by Dawn :: Nov 19, 2009
I laughed when I read Karen’s response - indeed, she probably does only have my books on her computer
But like her, I’ve TRIED to read on the computer and I hate it. I print off everything, even rough draft manuscripts, edit, transcribe changes and do it all over again if I have to. Heck, sometimes I even print off your blog.
There is no greater feeling to me than a book in my hand.
Nikki - I agree about easily losing technology (my step daughter has now lost TWO of my iPods) but if I had the MacBook Air, I’d wear it like a vest pressed up against my heart
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Comment by Kyle :: Nov 23, 2009
LOL… You guys are funny. I’ve never even considered the possibility of losing one. But then again, I’ve never lost a book, or an iPod, and certainly never a computer! I’m not too worrird about that.
And it’s not like it would completely halt my buying of physical books. On the contrary. I think if I buy a book and like it on Kindle, I’ll end up buying the physical version as well. Just like movies and TV shows I buy/watch online. It’ll still look better up on that big screen, just like a book’ll look better on my shelf.
And plus, there are things I think will happen in the near future that’ll make owning one a no-brainer. Not going to say anything more than that, though…
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I totally hear you on that Kyle!! I love the look of books in a shelf! I have 3 large shelves triple layered for all my books...plus a few smaller shelves through the house that are also full!
I agree...I have tried reading digital copies of books mainly on my computer (mostly Dawns books), but its just not the same as when your holding a book in your hands. So now that I am also considering an electronic alternative to an actually book, I also will not stop buying them!