The Future of Reading

As an avid reader and internet user, I'm very excited by Bezos' new invention. The static idea we know as a book is due for an overhaul, and this looks more exciting than the past attempts at digitization. No question that I will buy more books at 9.99 than I do now, especially if I just have to click to get them. The book companies are not understanding just how disruptive this technology is. I'll probably read several times as much with this technology because the price is low enough that I can buy every book I want instead of choosing which ones fit my budget this month. Ten bucks is just a couple of fast food meals, easily sacrificed for a new book! This will definitely be my next electronic purchase, instead of a new phone or video pod, as soon as I can afford the initial cost of purchase.

As one of those internet users who reads avidly, usually a couple of books per month, I'm excited by the possibilities of Bezos' invention. The former static idea of a book is due for an update, and all those kids who think," if it isn't digital it doesn't matter," may just be enticed to look at something like this. I can't afford it right now, but It'll definitely be my next electronic purchase, ahead of a new cell phone or video pod!

The notion that the "electronic" and "digital" creates community is an interesting one. Yes, I appreciate the on-line communities that exist and social networking pieces, but books lend themselves to a-- and sometimes even provoke ---conversations. Conversations that lead to insight, heated debate, empathy and a host of other outcomes. With reading already being such a solitary activity, is it a "good thing" to make it more so? If KINDLE can increase the numbers of books read . . . and maybe even discussed . . . that's a contribution. Let's just make sure the writers who create don't get lost in the ecomomic shuffle!

It is an interesting notion to suggest that more e-World and digital will create more community. An on-line community perhaps -- but the human interaction and conversation about what a book evokes and prompts is so powerful. If KINDLE can drive more books being read and more conversations (on-line and in person), that is a good thing. That is progress. Books are already such a solitary activity --- let's create reall community with them!!

Ibelieve

The idea of published works being constantly edited, annotated, refuted and updated sounds like a recipe for abuse and historical revisionism. I wonder, ultimately, who will control this process? \

Perhaps those who control what gets edited, will be those same people who control the current mainstream media, academia, and publishing, and are constantly working to supress ideas they don't want discussed?

Will politically incorrect (yet valid) concepts be sanitized? Will there be fascist/zionist editors, subtly shaping the narrative, a' la Wikipedia? Who goes down the memory hole and what stays?

The Kindle reader seems great, but I'd rather wait for the next round of revisions and clones (hopefully within the next year). Right now, I'd rather get an Eee PC than this thing. It's a full computer for the same price and about the same size as a hardcover book.

I live in a 250 sq. ft. studio, no furniture nor even a car to call my own. My only regret has been the thousands of books that I've bought and given up in my life. I'm so ready to see this device (but can't afford it now). I'm also an educational researcher and am wondering about being able to access academic journals and to save and mark up articles...looking for more info.
Janet
thebestisyet@

I run several online literary sites and I agree with the article that physical books within the next 30 years are going the way of the LP and 8-track. Teen-agers are increasingly comfortable reading online and they demand more than just a one-way reading experience. They now expect a continuous dialog with the author, the opportunity to become involved in the creation of the story, and the opportunity to share the reading experience with others. I don't know if the Kindle will succeeed or if the market is ready for it yet, but changes are coming to the book-world. Just look at all of the kids on Faceook, Myspace, Booksie, etc. to see a preview of it.

Sol Nasisi
www.Booksie.com
www.TheNextBigWriter.com

I've been looking excitedly at e-readers ever since I heard about the Sony Reader. I think the idea is wonderful. However, I just cant bring myself to switch. There is just something so comforting about holding a book. Also - just a guess here lol - they aren't waterproof, and I would so miss reading in the tub. The cost of them is usually prohibitive as well. $299.00 - $399.00 for the device and then $9.99 for each book.

With it being sold through Amazon.com - is there any stores taht will have it on display so that we may see it and try it before we buy it?

Kindle page is up right now on Amazon.com, along with personal letter from Bezos. There's a good summary here: http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/3872/amazon-launces-own-e-book-the-kindle

People laughed at the first iPod too. Apple may not be first mover in this field- but, assuredly they will. The main issue with this device is that it can't do video- and more people watch TV than read books these days.
Give Apple a year- and there will be a tablet iPod Touch- that will do much more.

Aside from not wanting yet another single-purpose device to haul around, this thing is circa 1985 fugly. Maybe it comes with a dot matrix printer.

What is this, circa 1985? The Kindle is so ugly, the missing Tandy logo is implied.

Why should books in the public domain cost, anyway? Not one mention of Project Gutenberg in the article. Tens of thousands of volunteers have worked to make it what it is ??? free???and now to make these freely-available texts readable on a Kindle (in txt or html formats they are readable at present by most digital devices), we???d have to pay?

The killer feature that I would like to see in a reader (and pre-requisite to my purchasing one) is having the ability to toggle from 'Read Text' mode to 'Books on tape' mode. Having the ability to slap on some headphones, mow the grass and continue to absorb my book via audio would be the ultimate. It wouldn't be difficult to implement as Macs (and maybe PCs too, dunno) have been doing it for years.

The main killer feature I would like to see built into a reader ( a pre-requisite for me to buy one ) is having the ability to switch to 'books on tape mode'. If I could easily toggle from 'read text' mode to having a voice read to me while I mow the lawn with headphones on, it would be the ultimate tool I need to absorb books at full tilt.

Books are popular because when you acquire them it becomes a part of you - a vessel of ideas, stories and memories. you clutch them as if the books themselves hold the information but that is actually jut a representation of what is now in your head. Whereas tech, somehow is equated with instantaneous gratification and so instantaneous dissolution-prone to edit and constant evolution. It is psych more than anything, I guess.


Whw