Comments on: Bibliophibians and Kindling

By: butoygirl

butoygirl — Sat, 23 May 2009 05:37:14 +0000

I am very open to the idea. I may not have the money to buy the reader just yet (since it is outrageously expensive!) but I would appreciate it just to prevent my back from misalignment as caused by carrying heavy things (like books) in my bag. We would also save a lot of trees.
However, I would have to agree with the others that nothing compares with the experience that comes when you are reading the organic material. It is just different. As Jessica described it, it’s more sexy. Hehehe You feel and smell the pages. Plus, you can boast to anyone discreetly that you are an intellect by carrying a book, more aided by the title and the author on its beautiful cover.
In the end, what we really want is for people to read. I seriously think that this is the main objective of this issue. Innovations are made to help everyone get interested in reading. I don’t care what happens next as long as the objective is met. Educating the world is a colossal effort and we direly need any help we can get.

By: joycalo

joycalo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:47:51 +0000

I own a Kindle 2 and I’m very proud of it. I don’t understand this “snobbish” view that bibliophiles HAVE to hold a book in their hand, touch it, feels the pages, etc. Having the Kindle makes it easier for me to read the books I’ve always wanted to read, without having to lug several pounds of books around, and the ability to download it directly to the device without going to the bookstore to look for it is awesome. Think of how much it’s saving the environment! It diminishes the murder of trees just to make your precious books! Plus, it decreases your carbon footprint because you don’t have to get in your car to go to the bookstore to buy books! It’s a win win situation for Mother Earth.

By: rO.ot

rO.ot — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:40:41 +0000

i prefer the physical book. i have downloaded tons of e-books for academic purposes and leisure reading (haven’t fully read one), but they’re a pain in the…. eyes. feels different. with paperbacks, you could toss and turn with them, and they age with you..

By: details maybe later

details maybe later — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:32:06 +0000

Shucks, this is also how I feel about music albums. The art of the album cover, the liner notes, feeling the CD/vinyl in your hands that contains a person’s solid work for a period of time.

But I guess it’s too late to turn that back. Virgin Megastores are gone, Tower Records gone too, and you’ll have to buy an actual CD/album from a fringe specialty store. (No more browsing?!)

Hopefully, books will survive this, for all the reasons you stated.

By: cdlaclos

cdlaclos — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:39:28 +0000

The book was a mature technology when it was born. There’s no need to tweak it. Prost for Gutenberg!

By: fried-neurons

fried-neurons — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:22:11 +0000

“If people read Kindles instead of books with cover art, I wonâ€™t know what theyâ€™re reading so I canâ€™t judge them.”

LOL. I’m sure that’s what every anti-Kindle bibliophile thinks but refuses to say out loud.

“We wonâ€™t even start on what your library would look like. . .”

I agree wholeheartedly. That’s why, if I ever do jump on the ebook bandwagon, I’ll probably spend more money because I’ll buy the electronic AND “real” versions of the books I really like.