I do. I don’t know how long it will take. You know, we love stories and we love narrative; we love to get lost in an author’s world. That’s not going to go away; that’s going to thrive. But the physical book really has had a 500-year run. . . But no technology, not even one as elegant as the book, lasts forever.
That’s Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos, mastermind behind that eReader gadget known as Kindle answering the question posed by Newsweek magazine: Do you think that the ink-on-paper book will eventually go away?
Now I ask you -
Will the traditional paper book cease to exist?
Is technology that powerful?
Are we so addicted to our electronics that the eBook will send the paper book into extinction?
And do we care?
image: scrapetv.com
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I can’t imagine that the e-reader will really kill the paper book.
In any case, it’s far too early to tell.
I think that there will always be the core of people who believe that nothing matches curling up with a real book that involves flipping pages and touching paper.
Electronic Bibles have been around for many years, and although I nearly bought one ten years ago, I don’t see them anywhere around.
To an extent, this looks to me like the fads that always come and go … the Giga-pet was supposed to replace the stuffed animal, and that didn’t work. I think (and desperately hope!) that this is the same kind of thing.
I am anxiously awaiting Kindle 2.0 and I’ll tell you why – ergonomics. I really, really wanted to like the Kindle. The concept of having your entire library in a small, searchable electronics device that didn’t melt your eyes like staring at a computer screen does really appealed to me. I’m an avid reader of novels, computer books, and lots of other things. An electronic reader with an E-Ink screen made sense. The Sony E-Reader looked good, but lacks the content that Amazon’s Kindle offers. I think that almost everything about the Kindle is great, but – the ergonomics are terrible!
Twitter: WriterMommy
No, I don’t think so, not at all.
Reading a book is more than just skimming your eyes over the words and digesting them. It’s an entire sensory experience: the crisp paper under your fingertips; the smell of an old leather-bound cover; and all the external sensory input that comes from curling up in a warm corner with a good read.
BTW – love the new theme around here. And I just got (3) more homeschooling books from Amazon. Just sayin….;-)
Marianne´s last blog ..In the Company of Friends
I was delighted when I got a Kindle for Mother’s Day last year – especially for travel – I thought it would be so convenient. No doubt the e-book will have it’s niche but I haven’t used it as much as I planned because so far, the available titles tend toward NY Times bestselling popular books rather than the more literary things I like to read.
No way. I was just having a discussion today about e-readers. A device will never replace the feel of a book in my hand or the texture of the pages.
There will always be people who enjoy building a collection of books, like so many friends waiting on the bookshelf.
I think it’s important to make progress and have options to make reading accessible to as many people as possible. But in my opinion, printed books are here to stay!
I came here from Mo Reader’s comment challenge. I imagine eventually something will replace the paper bound book, but not any time soon. I think it’s a tempest in a teacup at this point. JMHO. I like your blog and I’ll be back!
Androm´s last blog ..Snow and Shadorma
I think the e-readers are bringing books to new readers. Folks who previously did not head to the bookstore or library are now ready to try downloading and are discovering more authors and reading. Big readers are finding the e-readers convenient for travel as mentioned here while they still look at print books. Another way to read can be no bad thing.
Twitter: monicabrand
amy, do you really think so? I can’t see the non-readers suddenly getting passionate about reading because of a gadget. I’d be happy to be wrong, tho’.
No Way!!! Least if I have anything to say about it.
I love holding a book, and even buy purses big enough so I can carry one with me. You never know when you might be in a long line, a doctor’s office, or just catching a bite to eat. Out pops the book.
Now I realize that you can carry the Kindle too, but turning pages is a thrill, seeing the beautiful art work the publisher has designed.
Still, if this will get people reading more then it definitely has a place in the market.
I hope not. I love books. The way they look, feel, smell. I have a really hard time getting excited about any of the readers out there. I know they’re great for some people, but I’m just not jazzed about them. They feel plastic and impersonal and uninviting. There’s something social about reading a book. When I see someone reading, I try to see the cover, to see what they’re reading. When I read a good book, I pass it along to friends. When I see someone reading from a device, it strikes me as anti-social. And I can’t share a Kindle with friends.
No thanks. I prefer a book.
Amy Nichols´s last blog ..Twelve Posts on Writing, Day 11: Break my heart! (Please?)
I don’t think it will disappear in our lifetime, but then we are not natives of this technology. Our kids however, are digital natives, so it might be a different story for them. Also, you might get a kick out of this link: http://smellofbooks.com/
madelyn´s last blog ..Whenever there’s an earthquake
Twitter: monicabrand
Ha. Too funny. My eldest loves the smell of books. I’m always catching her with her nose jammed into the pages taking a huge whiff.
Twitter: uxshark
Paper books are not dead and will outlive us all. I would argue that they’re even technologically superior to the iPad. I’m a user experience designer and I’ve been thinking a lot about e-Readers lately, and just wrote an article for my blog (http://uxshark.com) about this very topic. Check it out and join the discussion.