Comments on: Kindle: The Holy Grail or the last gasp of eBooks? http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/ Academic insights for the thinking world. Fri, 24 May 2013 18:48:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: The Kindle: Books Don’t Need Saving | Wordnik http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-273146 The Kindle: Books Don’t Need Saving | Wordnik Wed, 02 May 2012 18:48:15 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-273146 [...] Kindle. Because I’m lazy, I’m just going to quote the obnoxious comment I left on the OUPblog: “The older book demographic won’t buy [the Kindle] because they’re not gadget people, [...] [...] Kindle. Because I’m lazy, I’m just going to quote the obnoxious comment I left on the OUPblog: “The older book demographic won’t buy [the Kindle] because they’re not gadget people, [...]

]]> By: Is It Really As Drastic As All That? « Publishing Industry Consultant – Where books and technology meet. http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-160313 Is It Really As Drastic As All That? « Publishing Industry Consultant – Where books and technology meet. Fri, 14 May 2010 19:33:09 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-160313 [...] when Publisher’s Lunch hit my inbox, I was sort of taken aback at this quote from OUP’s Evan Schnittman: The risk here isn’t just to Amazon. If Kindle fails, the ebook is over, the theory of the [...] [...] when Publisher’s Lunch hit my inbox, I was sort of taken aback at this quote from OUP’s Evan Schnittman: The risk here isn’t just to Amazon. If Kindle fails, the ebook is over, the theory of the [...]

]]> By: Kindle kindles my interest… » Novel Readings - Just another WordPress weblog http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-157037 Kindle kindles my interest… » Novel Readings - Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:06:39 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-157037 [...] Original Post: I love books as artefacts–the look, the smell, the feel of the pages, the jacket designs, the inscriptions on the fly leaves from loved ones, the history of their material existence that old ones carry with them like an aura. Books are also, as many have pointed out, near-perfect technology for their purposes. It has been hard to imagine an electronic device giving as much pleasure, or allowing the same range of uses, even it could deliver the same content. But this week Amazon is launching its new Kindle, and I admit, I’d like to be able to try one out. Mark Thwaite at ReadySteadyBook points us to the write-up at the OUPblog: With the keyboard driving the ability to look up and notate content, the cellular wireless feature feeds the user with instant ecommerce gratification and enables connectivity to the broader world of content. Imagine finishing an ebook while stranded in the airport and not being able to get more content unless you find a bookstore. With cellular wireless connectivity (Amazon is calling their wireless service Whispernet) you can get instant access to the Amazon ebookstore and buy a new book to while away the hours… And if getting more ebooks instantly isn’t compelling enough, getting access to subscription products such as newspapers will be optimal with Kindle. Wake up every morning and the New York Times will be as up to date as the online version, but as easy and convenient to read as the paper version. (read the rest here) [...] [...] Original Post: I love books as artefacts–the look, the smell, the feel of the pages, the jacket designs, the inscriptions on the fly leaves from loved ones, the history of their material existence that old ones carry with them like an aura. Books are also, as many have pointed out, near-perfect technology for their purposes. It has been hard to imagine an electronic device giving as much pleasure, or allowing the same range of uses, even it could deliver the same content. But this week Amazon is launching its new Kindle, and I admit, I’d like to be able to try one out. Mark Thwaite at ReadySteadyBook points us to the write-up at the OUPblog: With the keyboard driving the ability to look up and notate content, the cellular wireless feature feeds the user with instant ecommerce gratification and enables connectivity to the broader world of content. Imagine finishing an ebook while stranded in the airport and not being able to get more content unless you find a bookstore. With cellular wireless connectivity (Amazon is calling their wireless service Whispernet) you can get instant access to the Amazon ebookstore and buy a new book to while away the hours… And if getting more ebooks instantly isn’t compelling enough, getting access to subscription products such as newspapers will be optimal with Kindle. Wake up every morning and the New York Times will be as up to date as the online version, but as easy and convenient to read as the paper version. (read the rest here) [...]

]]> By: Zacorbul http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-138896 Zacorbul Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:29:50 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-138896 I love the ideea. My Pocket Pc (200$)is not really good for reading so Kindle sounds great. But to be able to read only Amazon books and 400$ ?! Never !!! It is doomed to fail ! I love the ideea. My Pocket Pc (200$)is not really good for reading so Kindle sounds great. But to be able to read only Amazon books and 400$ ?!
Never !!!
It is doomed to fail !

]]> By: J Wallace http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-113881 J Wallace Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:37:58 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-113881 There's sure a lot of misinformation about the Kindle out there-- Just to correct one thing: The Kindle does allow you to make notes, highlights, etc., and print them out, insert them into other documents, or mail them to friends. G Armstrong: It's "descendants" not "ancestors," and you've no idea whether they will still have your books. Print books are susceptible to all manner of loss, as surely as e-books are, not the least of which is that paper biodegrades. Not to mention fire, theft, etc. DRM is no more restrictive than that. It's already going away in the music industry, and it won't be long before it's gone in the publishing industry, too. John: Ha ha. I wouldn't let Apple anywhere near this device. They haven't any infrastructure to provide any content for books, either. Amazon's got it, and knew enough to marry convenience with a pleasurable reading experience. Go try READING on the Kindle, and you'll see. Having a portable book store in my pocket where I can call up virtually ANY classic book anytime I please for free is worth double what they're asking for the Kindle, and that's before you factor in the free web browser, free instant-answers-on-demand service, free dictionary, etc, and NY Times bestsellers for less than $10. The one place I will agree with all of you is that the Kindle isn't for everyone. If you're happy reading on an iPhone or laptop and can put up with the hassle of synching content and downloading and all that-- go for it. But there are LOADS of people who don't want another device to hook to a PC. They will jump all over this. There’s sure a lot of misinformation about the Kindle out there–

Just to correct one thing: The Kindle does allow you to make notes, highlights, etc., and print them out, insert them into other documents, or mail them to friends.

G Armstrong: It’s “descendants” not “ancestors,” and you’ve no idea whether they will still have your books. Print books are susceptible to all manner of loss, as surely as e-books are, not the least of which is that paper biodegrades. Not to mention fire, theft, etc. DRM is no more restrictive than that. It’s already going away in the music industry, and it won’t be long before it’s gone in the publishing industry, too.

John: Ha ha. I wouldn’t let Apple anywhere near this device. They haven’t any infrastructure to provide any content for books, either. Amazon’s got it, and knew enough to marry convenience with a pleasurable reading experience. Go try READING on the Kindle, and you’ll see. Having a portable book store in my pocket where I can call up virtually ANY classic book anytime I please for free is worth double what they’re asking for the Kindle, and that’s before you factor in the free web browser, free instant-answers-on-demand service, free dictionary, etc, and NY Times bestsellers for less than $10.

The one place I will agree with all of you is that the Kindle isn’t for everyone. If you’re happy reading on an iPhone or laptop and can put up with the hassle of synching content and downloading and all that– go for it. But there are LOADS of people who don’t want another device to hook to a PC. They will jump all over this.

]]> By: Book 2.0? at arts / cultures / etc / Notes http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-93872 Book 2.0? at arts / cultures / etc / Notes Sat, 01 Dec 2007 14:58:38 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-93872 [...] Evan Schnittman, OUP’s Vice President of Business Development and Rights for the Academic and USA Divisions, has a review of the Kindle Device up on the OUPblog. [...] [...] Evan Schnittman, OUP’s Vice President of Business Development and Rights for the Academic and USA Divisions, has a review of the Kindle Device up on the OUPblog. [...]

]]> By: Shane http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-92893 Shane Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:37:51 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-92893 No one appears to have mentioned that the iPod itself is an e-book reader. I have read dozens of portable, palm-sized e-books since I was given an iPod Nano. The Nano (and other models, I believe) sports a "notes" feature that allows the user to read plain text onscreen. A small freeware program, iPod Library*, will convert any text file to iPod format (books must be broken into special, iPod-friendly "chapters"). One loses all formatting, of course, and the conversion is not perfect (special characters are omitted, and at times, normal characters are mistranslated, an "M" becoming "1VI", for instance), but for me, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. A book that fits in a child's palm and that marks one's place automatically is so handy on the subway (and elsewhere) that I find myself growing reluctant to return to reading from pressed wood pulp. But where to get the e-books? Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org) is a good place to start, for the classics. And just about any PDF can be saved as a plain text file. __________ *Download it from: http://www.sturm.net.nz/website.php?Section=iPod+Programs&Page=iPodLibrary No one appears to have mentioned that the iPod itself is an e-book reader. I have read dozens of portable, palm-sized e-books since I was given an iPod Nano. The Nano (and other models, I believe) sports a “notes” feature that allows the user to read plain text onscreen. A small freeware program, iPod Library*, will convert any text file to iPod format (books must be broken into special, iPod-friendly “chapters”). One loses all formatting, of course, and the conversion is not perfect (special characters are omitted, and at times, normal characters are mistranslated, an “M” becoming “1VI”, for instance), but for me, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. A book that fits in a child’s palm and that marks one’s place automatically is so handy on the subway (and elsewhere) that I find myself growing reluctant to return to reading from pressed wood pulp. But where to get the e-books? Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org) is a good place to start, for the classics. And just about any PDF can be saved as a plain text file.

__________
*Download it from: http://www.sturm.net.nz/website.php?Section=iPod+Programs&Page=iPodLibrary

]]> By: Jeremy http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85935 Jeremy Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:52:35 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85935 So sorry - I got distracted by one of my boys! It's EVAN! Again, my apologies!!! So sorry – I got distracted by one of my boys! It’s EVAN! Again, my apologies!!!

]]> By: Jeremy http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85930 Jeremy Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:50:03 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85930 Eric, I thought that this was one of the most level-headed and articulate statements about the Kindle that I've read. I completely agree with your assessment about the model+network idea; as an Apple devotee, I accepted and now thoroughly enjoy the iTunes experience. I have a Kindle on order for multiple reasons - the ability to carry endless reference books and texts, as well as my favorite novels and short stories is a dream come true, to me. And I'm a thirty-something! Thanks again for a great post! Eric,

I thought that this was one of the most level-headed and articulate statements about the Kindle that I’ve read. I completely agree with your assessment about the model+network idea; as an Apple devotee, I accepted and now thoroughly enjoy the iTunes experience. I have a Kindle on order for multiple reasons – the ability to carry endless reference books and texts, as well as my favorite novels and short stories is a dream come true, to me. And I’m a thirty-something! Thanks again for a great post!

]]> By: Douglas http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85601 Douglas Mon, 26 Nov 2007 03:22:58 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85601 I believe you've missed a very critical part of the Kindle/iPod analogy. The iPod was wildly successful not only because of the iTunes content available, but because the iPod allowed you to put *your own* content on your device. In fact, the vast majority of iPods are filled with music they've ripped from their own CDs, or downloaded via peer-to-peer. Certainly the ability to buy new music, or replace old media, is one thing that set the iPod apart. But it *never* would have taken off if you'd been required to submit your files to Apple before they could be downloaded to your iPod! I am *dying* for a good eBook, but you can be sure I will not purchase any device that will not read PDFs, nor one that won't let me drop my own files directly on the device. Amazon's focus on DRM will kill the Kindle just as sure as DRM has killed hundreds, if not thousands, of devices before it. I believe you’ve missed a very critical part of the Kindle/iPod analogy. The iPod was wildly successful not only because of the iTunes content available, but because the iPod allowed you to put *your own* content on your device. In fact, the vast majority of iPods are filled with music they’ve ripped from their own CDs, or downloaded via peer-to-peer. Certainly the ability to buy new music, or replace old media, is one thing that set the iPod apart. But it *never* would have taken off if you’d been required to submit your files to Apple before they could be downloaded to your iPod! I am *dying* for a good eBook, but you can be sure I will not purchase any device that will not read PDFs, nor one that won’t let me drop my own files directly on the device. Amazon’s focus on DRM will kill the Kindle just as sure as DRM has killed hundreds, if not thousands, of devices before it.

]]> By: G Armstrong http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85334 G Armstrong Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:34:53 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85334 What happens in 5 years when the format changes or the license expires? My ancestors will still have my print books in a beautiful and delightful format 500 years from now. With the Kindle, you can’t print out a passage, e-mail it to a friend or copy it into a document, thus negating any advantages an e-book might have. You can’t lend a book to someone, or sell it after you’re finished. Your book is tied to your Kindle and its e-mail account. Good luck to you when Amazon or whatever data provider changes its business model or goes out of business. What happens in 5 years when the format changes or the license expires? My ancestors will still have my print books in a beautiful and delightful format 500 years from now. With the Kindle, you can’t print out a passage, e-mail it to a friend or copy it into a document, thus negating any advantages an e-book might have. You can’t lend a book to someone, or sell it after you’re finished. Your book is tied to your Kindle and its e-mail account. Good luck to you when Amazon or whatever data provider changes its business model or goes out of business.

]]> By: Oxford University Press on Kindle and the Future of eBooks — Platform Agnostic http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85200 Oxford University Press on Kindle and the Future of eBooks — Platform Agnostic Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:34:05 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-85200 [...] Evan Schnittman’s entire post. H/T to Dr. Weinberger for the link. Also read his excellent article about eBooks (he thinks they [...] [...] Evan Schnittman’s entire post. H/T to Dr. Weinberger for the link. Also read his excellent article about eBooks (he thinks they [...]

]]> By: The Reader Online » Thoughts on the Kindle http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80926 The Reader Online » Thoughts on the Kindle Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:34:41 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80926 [...] The people who like ebooks most of all are publishers. They are much cheaper to produce than the real thing and if you load them up with DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) software you can sell the same file to the same person several times over. Over the last few years there have been signs that publishers have been losing control of the distribution channels. Self-publishing is growing fast and just as bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails have been able to escape the grip of their record companies, so the day is fast approaching when writers will want to do the same. Deals with companies like Amazon help lock the new digital distribution channel to the major players and offer the chance to control it. [...] [...] The people who like ebooks most of all are publishers. They are much cheaper to produce than the real thing and if you load them up with DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) software you can sell the same file to the same person several times over. Over the last few years there have been signs that publishers have been losing control of the distribution channels. Self-publishing is growing fast and just as bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails have been able to escape the grip of their record companies, so the day is fast approaching when writers will want to do the same. Deals with companies like Amazon help lock the new digital distribution channel to the major players and offer the chance to control it. [...]

]]> By: Danielle Marsden http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80846 Danielle Marsden Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:17:08 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80846 Does Kindle have a user friendly index? If it can contain say 200 books. It ought and the very least to have an index so that one can make cross references between books. Also when is it going to become available in Britain? At the moment it doesn't seem very user friendly in that respect. I haven't heard anyone mention an index at all. Does Kindle have a user friendly index? If it can contain say 200 books. It ought and the very least to have an index so that one can make cross references between books. Also when is it going to become available in Britain? At the moment it doesn’t seem very user friendly in that respect.
I haven’t heard anyone mention an index at all.

]]> By: Patrick Ewing http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80814 Patrick Ewing Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:09:54 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80814 No matter the advantages that the Kindle has over other e-readers I am still convinced that the e-book market will grow along the lines of the audio book model. There will be a strong market for certain groups (students, business travelers, technophiles under the age of 30, etc...) but with a general audience it will have a limited appeal. Most readers who read regularly for pleasure will still want the aesthetic experience (and practical logistics) of a printed and bound book. I don't think the Kindle, or any e-reader for that matter, will increase the number of casual readers out there. No matter the advantages that the Kindle has over other e-readers I am still convinced that the e-book market will grow along the lines of the audio book model. There will be a strong market for certain groups (students, business travelers, technophiles under the age of 30, etc…) but with a general audience it will have a limited appeal. Most readers who read regularly for pleasure will still want the aesthetic experience (and practical logistics) of a printed and bound book. I don’t think the Kindle, or any e-reader for that matter, will increase the number of casual readers out there.

]]> By: Raz http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80222 Raz Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:05:00 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-80222 If they can get textbooks on this thing, then they might be on to something. I would pay, if I could carry all my textbooks around in a thing that size. If they can get textbooks on this thing, then they might be on to something. I would pay, if I could carry all my textbooks around in a thing that size.

]]> By: Maud Newton: Blog http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-79457 Maud Newton: Blog Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:30:14 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-79457 [...] can’t wait to try out Amazon’s Kindle. But for now I’ll just thumb through Perrault’s fairy tales, page by beautiful page. [...] [...] can’t wait to try out Amazon’s Kindle. But for now I’ll just thumb through Perrault’s fairy tales, page by beautiful page. [...]

]]> By: kindle - e book reader | Nothing to write home about http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-79097 kindle - e book reader | Nothing to write home about Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:21:52 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-79097 [...] has unveiled Kindle - an ebook reader which is being praised as the holy grail and condemned as the last gasp of [...] [...] has unveiled Kindle – an ebook reader which is being praised as the holy grail and condemned as the last gasp of [...]

]]> By: Scott Belyea http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-78970 Scott Belyea Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:05:41 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-78970 "In Monty Python and the Holy Grail (source of all wisdom), remember the guy who says, I built a castle, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built another, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built a third castle, and it burned down, fell over, and then sank in to the swamp, but the fourth one stayed up! Thats Kindle." Yes, but you've missed a key point. Even after all that effort leading to success, his son and heir just wasn't interested! Kindle may not be quite the last gasp for e-books, but the breathing is getting noisier ... “In Monty Python and the Holy Grail (source of all wisdom), remember the guy who says, I built a castle, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built another, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built a third castle, and it burned down, fell over, and then sank in to the swamp, but the fourth one stayed up!

Thats Kindle.”

Yes, but you’ve missed a key point. Even after all that effort leading to success, his son and heir just wasn’t interested!

Kindle may not be quite the last gasp for e-books, but the breathing is getting noisier …

]]> By: Bob Martinengo http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-77341 Bob Martinengo Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:33:26 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-77341 Kindle is <i>designed<i> to fail. Thats right, Bezos knows this turkey is overpriced and outmoded, but thats the point - you have to start somewhere. In Monty Python and the Holy Grail (source of all wisdom), remember the guy who says, I built a castle, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built another, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built a third castle, and it burned down, fell over, and then sank in to the swamp, but the fourth one stayed up! Thats Kindle. Kindle is designed to fail. Thats right, Bezos knows this turkey is overpriced and outmoded, but thats the point – you have to start somewhere.

In Monty Python and the Holy Grail (source of all wisdom), remember the guy who says, I built a castle, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built another, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built a third castle, and it burned down, fell over, and then sank in to the swamp, but the fourth one stayed up!

Thats Kindle.

]]> By: Pamela Benjamin http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-77232 Pamela Benjamin Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:24:53 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-77232 $400 for a book reader? I can get Lasik surgery for that price and read my books the old fashioned way. $400 for a book reader? I can get Lasik surgery for that price and read my books the old fashioned way.

]]> By: John http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-77144 John Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:41:16 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-77144 DrXym's got it right. The older book demographic won't buy it because they're not gadget people, and young readers (yes, young people do read books) won't because it's fugly, and they're already lugging around an iPod, smartphone, and laptop. On top of those devices, the Kindle is a redundant piece of crap. Once again it's going to be left to Apple to get this right. Schnittman is correct that any media device has to be networked, and have easy access to an enormous reservoir of content. But it has to be beautiful, or at least attractive, and it has do more than one thing. The iPhone is beautiful and multifunctional, for the same price. Speaking of price, who in their right mind is going to pay $14/month for the New York Times, in this emasculated, black and white, linkless form? Or $2/month for a bunch of otherwise free blogs? If they get 17 subscriptions, I'll be shocked. The Kindle is going to go down like the Lusitania. DrXym’s got it right. The older book demographic won’t buy it because they’re not gadget people, and young readers (yes, young people do read books) won’t because it’s fugly, and they’re already lugging around an iPod, smartphone, and laptop. On top of those devices, the Kindle is a redundant piece of crap.

Once again it’s going to be left to Apple to get this right. Schnittman is correct that any media device has to be networked, and have easy access to an enormous reservoir of content. But it has to be beautiful, or at least attractive, and it has do more than one thing. The iPhone is beautiful and multifunctional, for the same price. Speaking of price, who in their right mind is going to pay $14/month for the New York Times, in this emasculated, black and white, linkless form? Or $2/month for a bunch of otherwise free blogs? If they get 17 subscriptions, I’ll be shocked.

The Kindle is going to go down like the Lusitania.

]]> By: Kontra http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-76978 Kontra Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:24:49 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-76978 While Kindle did a few smart things, it may be fundamentally flawed. Newsweek says Amazon's looking at it as "the iPod of reading." I explained why it won't be here: "Why is the new Kindle eBook reader from Amazon and not Apple?" http://counternotions.com/2007/11/19/kindle-vs-iphone/ While Kindle did a few smart things, it may be fundamentally flawed. Newsweek says Amazon’s looking at it as “the iPod of reading.” I explained why it won’t be here:

“Why is the new Kindle eBook reader from Amazon and not Apple?”
http://counternotions.com/2007/11/19/kindle-vs-iphone/

]]> By: Chris Wills http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-76905 Chris Wills Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:52:10 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-76905 The key is not the under 25s - how many books do they read? The key is the over 40s who read a novel or more a week and have done so for 20 years or more. I read voraciously and everywhere; on trains, buses, planes, the beach in full sunlight and on park benches in the snow whilst waiting for a friend at lunch. I can see advantages of the ebook - my loft and garage are full of boxes of books I have read - but I'm not convinced the ebook will ever replace them. Does it have that new book smell when you turn the pages? Does it evoke memories when you pick it up and a playing card falls out with a scrawled note from a loved one. Can you line all the books up on a shelf by genre then by author then by size? How will it replace the joy of going to a bookshop and browsing and finding something you didn't intend to read? Yes I buy from Amazon but I still go to bookshops because they are such wonderful places. Anyone who comes up with some electronic babble about the wonderful things this ebook can do that real books can't clearly doesn't read a lot and doesn't understand the lure of real books. I'm sure the ebooks day will come but only when the book reading generation start dying off and is replaced by the many under 40s who don't read. One day the ebook will become the latest fashion accessory. 'Oh I've got all the top 20 New York Times list books for the last 10 years on my ebook.' 'Have you read any of them?' 'Don't be silly....' Long live the real book. The key is not the under 25s – how many books do they read? The key is the over 40s who read a novel or more a week and have done so for 20 years or more. I read voraciously and everywhere; on trains, buses, planes, the beach in full sunlight and on park benches in the snow whilst waiting for a friend at lunch. I can see advantages of the ebook – my loft and garage are full of boxes of books I have read – but I’m not convinced the ebook will ever replace them. Does it have that new book smell when you turn the pages? Does it evoke memories when you pick it up and a playing card falls out with a scrawled note from a loved one. Can you line all the books up on a shelf by genre then by author then by size? How will it replace the joy of going to a bookshop and browsing and finding something you didn’t intend to read? Yes I buy from Amazon but I still go to bookshops because they are such wonderful places. Anyone who comes up with some electronic babble about the wonderful things this ebook can do that real books can’t clearly doesn’t read a lot and doesn’t understand the lure of real books. I’m sure the ebooks day will come but only when the book reading generation start dying off and is replaced by the many under 40s who don’t read. One day the ebook will become the latest fashion accessory. ‘Oh I’ve got all the top 20 New York Times list books for the last 10 years on my ebook.’ ‘Have you read any of them?’ ‘Don’t be silly….’
Long live the real book.

]]> By: stephen.lustig http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-76830 stephen.lustig Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:50:07 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/kindle/#comment-76830 I am not yet convinced. The etch-a-sketch Sony Reader loading of a page was quite slow, and unless the Kindle is instantaneous, it won't replicate the experience of turning the page of a p-book, and being able to start reading that page instantly. The key is, surely, what the under 25 age group make of it, and, even more importantly, how much this bit of kit cost? Looking up words in a dictionary, or a reference title - yes - but reading 800 pages of Harry Potter, or a book about philosophy, or any novel - I am doubtful. I am not yet convinced. The etch-a-sketch Sony Reader loading of a page was quite slow, and unless the Kindle is instantaneous, it won’t replicate the experience of turning the page of a p-book, and being able to start reading that page instantly. The key is, surely, what the under 25 age group make of it, and, even more importantly, how much this bit of kit cost? Looking up words in a dictionary, or a reference title – yes – but reading 800 pages of Harry Potter, or a book about philosophy, or any novel – I am doubtful.

]]>