Driving into work this week, I happened to see the oddest thing. Among a group of school children waiting for the bus stood a scrawny child of eight or nine. Her small frame wobbled as she precariously balanced a backpack that looked like it contained four bowling balls. I imagine with a little help, one could empty the bowling balls and have her step in and zip it with ease allowing another child to carry her to school.
Ugh, the back trouble she will face as an adult has my librarian brain stirring. Thirty years from now, she might need exercise books to strengthen weakened muscles, books on spinal health, lists of chiropractics in the area, ratings on the best orthopedic shoes, diet books to keep excess weight off, and peeks into one of our Merck manuals.
What if we could combine all those textbooks into one handy, paperback-size wireless device? The time is approaching with the internet bookstore Amazon’s electronic book called Kindle.
I sound like a commercial, but at this juncture I am not advocating readers run to the nearest computer and order one. I, myself, have held out purchasing the rather expensive $360 e-reader that allows one to download a popular book for $9.99. I am really waiting on Santa.
Electronic books have been on the market for years. I first looked at software which allowed one to download a book onto her computer in 1999. Since that time, Sony has cornered the market with the eReader. The Sony eReader downloads pages through Portable Document Format (PDF) files for $12.95.
There are many reasons to be excited about Amazon’s Kindle. First, it is wireless. Not paid, subscription wireless, but walk anywhere cellular-phone wireless; plus, one need not buy a phone package to use. Second, the display monitor is not backlit like a computer. One actually has to treat Kindle like a real book by searching out a light source to read the text. Third, the size of the font can be changed to six different (one smaller and four larger than default) sizes. An older reader who enjoys large print books now has an unlimited selection from which to choose. Last, one can carry over 200 books within the 10.3 ounces a Kindle weighs.
As a librarian, I am delighted this product is on the market. Just think of all the backs and weary eyes Kindle will relieve. Oh, and the day textbooks become available, the world will change. All I can say is come on Christmas.
Have you tried Kindle?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
E-Booktalk (copy)
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24 comments:
Very cool, I have a sister in Italy and she is missing books in english, this would be a great gift for her, I think! I'll be looking into it!
I've been watching for reviews of the Kindle so I can make an informed decision to buy. It's very tempting for all the reasons you list. I have 2 regular books on the shelf waiting to be read but I keep putting them off because the print is so small. So the ability to change that is high on my list of selling points! I'm also kind of waiting on Santa for this one.
7VillageIdiarts - Is your sister anywhere near Venice? I found a two story bookstore there w/ mostly English language books. I bought Berendt's book, The City of Falling Angels, before it was available in America while there two years ago. We stayed at San Marco Square and it seems the store was two (I want to say blocks but...) nautilus(es) from our hotel. :)
If not, transactions are all through Amazon.com, so if she can get a signal, which is cell phone based, she will have unlimited amounts of bestsellers and classics to choose from.
Mary - Also look at the Sony eReader with it's ability to enlarge print. The reader is cheaper but the books are more expensive. Kindle is way easier, though; especially, when it comes to selection and download. Another neat thing I didn't mention is the cover that comes with the reader. One can slip it in and treat it exactly as they would a trade paperback. Next, year they might release a table size version, too.
I love the thought of a Kindle, but couldn't see spending that kind of money. What I did instead was purchase a notebook (just in yesterday) for about $50 more than the cost of an eReader. This is what I plan on using for my eBooks.
I've heard lots of good things about Kindle, even from skeptics. Yet I remain...skeptical. Maybe I'm just old school; I like paper and bindings and such. Then again, if having a lightweight, techno device gets folks to read, then bring it on.
I am not too excited about the Kindle, though I have to admit I have not seen one. I guess I think that for children's picture books, it just isn't going to replace them.
You've hit the nail on the head, Maggie. Personally, I don't like reading on electronic devices, but I DO see their value for textbooks. It would be so much better for students of all ages to have one device to carry around instead of all those heavy textbooks.
I haven't tried it because of the pricey-ness either, but I'm excited about it as well...and hopeful about future technologies, too!
I'm holding out on purchasing one until the price drops further; however, I have "played" with one. I liked it, and the owner of it was even more sold on it than I was.
Oh kewl J. Kaye. Please write about your experiences after using it, ew, and add pictures please. :)
Anything to get people reading, you are so right Keetha! I was thinking it might warm up as one reads like a laptop. Wouldn't that be nice on a cold day.
Oh, Clair, it isn't for picture books. How awful this could be for all the creative artists out there. Kindle tries hard not to look like a computer monitor, but still yuck!
Thanks Lisa. While I was looking at the different titles I saw an NCLEX test prep. I hope it is just a matter of time. :)
Tiffany - I didn't mention all the pulp saved by using a Kindle, but I'm sure there is some toxins in making an electronic gadget. Book Guilt! :)
Lori - I talked with an owner who purchased hers off ebay for $315. Rare but I guess it happens.
I have been looking at the Kindles for a while now and it is something that I would love to get one day. I am hoping that perhaps they get a bit cheaper down the road. Though nothing beats a real book - I am one of those fanatics that just enjoys the look and feel of a book - this would be such a handy way of storing many books at once, having magazines, newspapers and all sorts of excellent reading material at the tip of your fingers anywhere at any time. Very convenient and portable! I have recently moved into the audio book age, so am looking forward to one day soon getting to move into the Kindle age, lol!
I think the time has come to download textbooks. I hear that college ones can range from $100 to $300!
I've tried out the Kindle, and I'm convinced that it has its place as a reading tool. I still prefer the "real thing" with an attractive cover and paper pages, but I reallllllly want a Kindle. I won't buy it--but I would accept it as a birthday or Christmas present--both coming up in the near future :) And I would pay $10a pop for books (on the Kindle) that I could pack into my carry-on bag when I fly. Not that I necessarily fly that often, but if/when I do, I would have the option of taking lots of books with me to read on the plane, in the airport, on the beach...
The Kindle certainly has the WOW factor for now, anyhow.
I got my husband a Kindle because he travels a lot. It is definitely easier than lugging books around. The thing that totally surprised me is that it doesn't look "on" in the way I think something electronic should look. There is no glare and the quality is great. I didn't think I could curl up in a comfy chair with it, but I totally can.
I've been watching and waiting on the Kindle, but not ready to jump in yet. I can imagine it would be good for travel, and I hadn't even thought of textbooks--you're right, it could be a boon to students! Maybe when the price goes down :)
I haven't seen the Kindle but I am in love with printed books too much to switch. I love everything about paper books, the smell of new pages or old ones, the feel of a book in my hands. . . I rather carry around my textbooks than a Kindle. I do have to admit that fall semester starts Monday for me and my eight books probably weigh a total of 40 lbs. At least I don't have to carry them all the same day!
Me too, April! Cheaper is better; unfortunately, Amazon charges for newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Do you think anyone would pay money to read my blog!?!
I waited on a traveller today and my thoughts the whole time was 10.3 ounces versus 10.3 pounds. :)
WW100 - Amen! Textbooks are so hard to sell and as a librarian I hate placing them on our shelves where space is at a minimum. Plus, the guilt of knowing whatever edition I put in the collection is outdated.
The real thing has finally got a little competition, Stella. :) We mailed 12 lbs of books home during our vacation two weeks ago b/c we were dog tired of toting them around. Like I said to April, 10.3 ozs vs. 10.3 lbs... My question, will we be asking authors to autograph our Kindles. ;D
Tricia - The Kindle isn't a computer monitor, and this has to be the best selling asset of all the e-readers. How smart the engineers to realize real book readers seek ambient light to read by. The pages of our books turn to the light like a sunflower in the summer. :D
Gentle Reader- I feel the textbook companies might fight this progress, but if they think it through they will realize this could be a boom. Less money spent on material and printing might produce a cheaper text selling to more students. :)
Vasilly - Can you imagine a world where a book is considered a classic not for its content but format?!? Do take care of your back and have a nice semester.:)
I've been intrigued by the Kindle too. Like you, the price is a bit daunting at this point, but one thing that makes me think I'd like it is that I have the eReader on my iPhone, and have been reading Tarzan of the Apes - one of the books that came free with it.
It marks your page for you, I like turning the page with a finger flick and the text is clear and easy to read.
Speaking of iPhone, Diane, I just got my iPod up and running from a year and a half ago. Bout Time! I guess I can put an iPhone on my list to Santa, too. :)
So, you get a paragraph per page?
Hi Maggie,
I don't have a Kindle, but have been curious about them. The were way too expensive for me to consider buying without ever holding one. I hope to glean some more info from people here who have one!
This would be a great thing for text books, but I can't see schools putting out that much money on equipment that, for a significant part, wouldn't be taken care of by the students.
Practical thinking, Sharon!
I didn't think it through. College students could easily handle a kindle. I'm dreaming, in my perfect world where money isn't an issue. ;)
Now, if there were some way to circulate Kindle books, I'd be much more ready to put down the money to buy one. Is there a way for me to loan a Kindle book to another Kindle-owner? Or could a library have a bunch that could be loaned out and returned?
We see this technology available for e-books available online, but once it's available for the Kindle... then I'm really all over it. (Or is it available all ready? Have my dreams already been answered and I now know it?!)
Yes, Jennie! Making the owner a library is the way to go. Instead of using a credit card for the account one uses a gift card with a set amount. Otherwise, a patron could download books on the library's credit card all day long. Change a book, add money to the gift card for one purchase...
Now, this is theory. I haven't actually checked one out myself, but I read this on Amazon's question page, and it makes sense. I have also heard it is being done at some libraries already, but as to how, I'm purely speculating.
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