I'll stick to physical books for as long as they're still available (which is to say, a few more months). There's just a lot that I don't like about complete digitalization.
I'll stick to physical books for as long as they're still available (which is to say, a few more months). There's just a lot that I don't like about complete digitalization.
Yes I do see the problem and it's inevitable that electronic books will replace the paper variety. When I was a boy there were very few books in the house because I got all of my reading from the local library; which obviated the need to clutter up the place with books. However, if companies are willing to offer great writing for virtually nothing as loss leaders for the likes of Harry Potter etc., people will in all likelihood go for the digitalized format.Originally Posted by Neely
"L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.
"Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.
What article was that? The usability guru Jakob Nielsen has several articles on the Kindle, e.g:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/ipad-kindle-reading.html
Summary - reading speeds are 10% slower. Also, users "disliked that the Kindle featured less-crisp gray-on-gray letters." I've found this when reading "in store", and it put me off taking the plunge. I wondered if it was the lighting or my eyes - nope, it's the Kindle.
Neely - surely you can fit another bookcase in? When that's full give your books away to potential Oscar Wildes in your classes ... can't do that with a Kindle...
Pop down to John Lewis and try reading one for twenty minutes. (or PC World - though they are very unhelpful - I asked one young geek if I copuld have a reading lamp to test the Kindle thoroughly, he mumbled something about not having a reading lamp and rushed away to reboot a PC...) John Lewis has reading lamps and the staff are patient enough to put up with reasonable requests... The screen was too grey for me, even when using a posh JL lamp...
Last edited by mal4mac; 10-12-2011 at 07:17 AM.
It depends on whether someone wants to physically retain the books. I know someone who gets most of his books from charity shops and re donates them when he has read them.
"L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.
"Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.
Neely - surely you can fit another bookcase in? When that's full give your books away to potential Oscar Wildes in your classes ... can't do that with a Kindle...You're kiding I haven't even got space for another pair of trousers never mind another bookcase. I do like the idea of trying one out for a bit to get the feel of one though.Pop down to John Lewis and try reading one for twenty minutes. (or PC World - though they are very unhelpful - I asked one young geek if I copuld have a reading lamp to test the Kindle thoroughly, he mumbled something about not having a reading lamp and rushed away to reboot a PC...) John Lewis has reading lamps and the staff are patient enough to put up with reasonable requests... The screen was too grey for me, even when using a posh JL lamp...
In terms of reading speeds I don't know about that. I've read something suggesting that reading speeds are quicker on the kindle. I bet there are plenty of opposing articles. This is not a main concern though, I'm more worried about dropping it in the bath - no seriously I am.
Woo hoo, I've just this minute placed an order for it!
Edit: oh my god, I'm having a strange feeling about it. Seriously I feel very strange about it. What have I done?
Last edited by LitNetIsGreat; 10-13-2011 at 01:49 PM.
You have talked yourself into taking yet another step into the technology twilight zone.Woo hoo, I've just this minute placed an order for it!
Edit: oh my god, I'm having a strange feeling about it. Seriously I feel very strange about it. What have I done?
I picked up a free paper on a train today and it had an advert for some shiny new bit of technology with the words "You know you want one don't you.?"
I didn't even know what it was, so the answer is: "Oh no I don't."
Hell will freeze over before I let anyone tell me what I want.
"L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.
"Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.
You want to keep posting on this thread.
Well I think it was fairly obvious that I meant 'to buy.'
"L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.
"Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.
In way yes, I have, but in my defence I feel that I had little choice given my space situation. I have been resisting the idea for a while but in the end I had little choice.You have talked yourself into taking yet another step into the technology twilight zone.
Still, I think you have to look to the positives and there are a lot.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Wi-Fi...pf_rd_i=468294
I had an appointment at my local hospital this afternoon and as usual I took my Kindle in case I had a long wait. Sat down in the waiting area, and blow me, another person came and sat beside me and took out her Kindle and started reading. That's the first time for that.
Anyway as I have said in this thread and others covering the same topic, for me it isn't an either/or issue.As a retired academic I have a large library and when I look at my books they seem to me to be my intellectual autobiography. Because of that I don't want to part with a single one. Whereas with Kindle they are most often impulse buys and I have no hesitation in deleting them when I have finished with them.
Long before DOS and Windows, I was working with a teletype machine that transmitted information to the US for storage on a giant computer in Ohio, and I said to the guy who set it up that I didn't like computers because one day they would replace books and he agreed. Now that it has happened, what will become of bookshops? Will we be going into them only to be greeted by rows and rows of Kindles?
"L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.
"Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.
Strange, but I'm not the least bit attached to books on my Kindle and my hard drive(10g worth there).
A few years ago I lost a bookcase in a bad hurricane as my first floor was flooded during the tidal surge. I managed to dry out the others(fairly successful). The whole thing was a trauma drama.
It is desperately sad. I'm afraid many of those bookshops will become chain coffee stores, horrible mobile phones shops and the usual high street stuff. There's still going to be a few of them around for some time but it is the beginning of the end.
Have you not seen the resurgernce of classically produced covers on the classic novels? They're making a comeback - I suspect to counter the e-books. I think there'll be space for both. I still want a kindle.
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