A reader commented last week, rather eloquently, on the deterioration of the reading experience that can be expected should book ATMs become prevalent. I agree that a world without bookstores and libraries would be miserable but I’m not sure that the book ATM will ultimately lead to this.When it comes to the potential loss of the bookstore, what worries me more than book ATMs is Amazon. In fact, Amazon seems to be singlehandedly trying to rid the world not just of bookstores, but of physical books themselves. It started when they launched their on-line bookstore in 1995. With the flip of a switch, readers could now browse through an electronic library of titles, read reviews, search on genre, topic or author, make a purchase and then wait for the book to show up in their mailbox. What could be more convenient?
The Kindle. When this Amazon product first came out in late 2007, it quickly became the gadget that everyone had to have. I truly thought it would be a fast-burning fad. While I could see the convenience aspect of the Kindle, I couldn’t imagine that scrolling down an electronic screen would ever replace the satisfaction of holding a book and turning pages as you made your way to the end of the book.
Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case as evidenced by the fact that the Kindle DX is slated for roll out this summer, fast on the heels of the Kindle 2 which came out in February. It appears that instant access and portability is beating the tar out of the more leisurely and enriching reading experience that begins in a bookstore or library.
Why does this bother me? Imagine a world where people never have to leave their houses - all work, communication, entertainment, interaction of any sort is accomplished via electronic devices in your home. Isaac Asimov envisioned such a world in 1983 in Robots of Dawn – an entire planet populated by humans who choose to isolate themselves and avoid all physical contact with other people. The entire place is operated electronically by robots and computers. Humanoid robots are even used for 'companionship'. Is this where we're headed?
Even more concerning, why do I want a Kindle??
3 comments:
Add to that list newspapers. What am I going to do without my morning paper to read and flip through while I "ease into the day"? Kindle is not going to give me the same sense of reading the newspaper although I understand the NYT and other print media are joining with the Amazon guy to put editions on Kindle.
I beg to differ on the "never leaving the house" idea - I actually use my kindle MORE out of the house than I do in it! I take it with me while to read in the car (no, not while I'm driving!), at the doctor's office, while I'm getting my hair done...the possibilities are endless.
However, having said that - I do not read newspapers on it (just doesn't work for me), and I only occasionally read magazines. I also have a substantial library of *actual* books that I don't plan to abandon to a random fate. I still enjoy reading books outside of the kindle, but my kindle just makes my reading elsewhere that much more convenient. Now, instead of trying to decide what I'm going to want to read next, I can just take my pick from several titles already loaded. And if, heaven forbid, I should want to read something else (different genre, a book I just saw someone else reading...), then I can download it and begin reading immediately. My favorite place is still my local bookstore - but I only buy *half* the books from them instead of them all.
To an extend it depends on how you read. As a heavy business traveler I was constantly dragging around a stack of paperbacks in my travel bag. I always had one in my pocket when I was on a plane or out at a restaurant dining alone. It’s not unusual of for me to finished 3 or 4 books in the course of a single trip.
(I only buy paperbacks; I never liked the size of hardbacks for reading or storing)
After getting a Kindle 2 as a gift it’s become indispensable. I can carry more books and get the book I want at any time as opposed to reading something from the limited selection of the local chain bookstore (granted that’s been replaced by the limited number of books released in digital format but at least stock is never an issue). I’ve also started reading quite a bit more just due to accessibility. Quite often I’ll head out to a coffee shop or a park and read as opposed to being in the hotel watching television or working on my laptop. Granted there’s the new gadget factor but I’ve had more book conversations in the last few months that ever before.
I still have a large number of books sitting on shelves back home, mostly paperbacks picked up at used bookstores, but even when I’m there now I tend to grab the Kindle instead of the books. It’s a different feel but I find I like the feel and ease of the Kindle now.
To the point of newspapers I’ve just never been a huge fan of the form factor which I can only attribute to a generational issue. I always found reading easier off a computer screen that an oversize stack of paper that needs to be constantly readjusted.
The Kindle newspaper subscriptions I haven't really enjoyed mostly due to the lack of content. I can grab my coffee the get access to a much wider range of content sitting in front of my computer with much less padding than the average newspaper story.
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