Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Is Mr. Books stuffed?!..
As Leonard Cohen once sang: "I have seen the future and it is murder!" Well I've just read an article about the new Kindle in today's Telegraph which amazon are launching in the UK soon. Essentially it is an electronic book reader and their vision is of course to have every book ever printed, and every newspaper at their at your finger tips. Will it catch on? Are the printed book's days numbered? Is Mr. Books stuffed?! I'm still not convinced that it'll be that popular after the novelty value has worn off but then I would say that wouldn't I. Don't get me wrong there is some merit in these devices but I still don't think that they'll replace paperbacks and newspapers any time soon. They are part of who we are. Can you imagine being worried about getting your Kindle wet and full of sand on the beach? Or not being able to rustle your copy of The Times or be able to hide behind it on the train into Town. Then there are collectable books; how can you collect a first edition if it's virtual?!..
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11 comments:
It's a great idea, but it'll never catch on. It's like, do you read the Guardian on-line for free, or buy the physical paper? Buy the paper of course.
I do like the other idea being muted, of going to a machine, typing in any book, and then after 5 mins or so of printing, out pops completed book.
But...I do sometimes see a book I think looks interesting, but if it's long and hardback, I then tend to think "but I don't want to carry it around on the train". I'd be tempted by the gadget for that kind of thing I'm afraid.
This is no threat whatsoever to you. Looking at a screen for hours and trying to read is hopeless. I love having the physical book on my shelves at home and so do others - no competition in fact I think this new gadget would have a real positive effect in social terms. Highbrows would show off their books more. And what on earth would people do who want to wear books as a label and hope that it mirrors their identity. No worries Mr. Books - the paper version is as safe as houses.
ps the only thing that is 'stuffed' is your bookshop - with books!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That last comment was Delia's
A book can be so much more than the words within its covers. To me books are a bit like music in that they relate to key moments in your life and I find I have quite strong emotional attachments to some of my books. There is something quite reassuring about having your favourite books nestling in your bookcase, a bit like having good friends around for dinner.
I am not a book collector, but I do have a number of hardback first editions. Some of these are beautifully bound and designed and are a work of art in their own right. I am also lucky enough to have a few signed books and these are treasured posessions, not because of their value (what value!), but because of the emotional attachment.
I think there is plenty of life in the book trade for many years to come, so no need to return to The City just yet Mr Books!
Mr Books I am shocked. It's National Poetry Day today and I really thought you would have given it a mention considering your interest.
Oh thou disappoint!!!!!!
Yes, that reminds me. Thank christ the Ivy House shut down. Put the kaibosh on all the bloody idiotic 6th formish prose.
The other correspondents are right TB, there's no need to worry about books being consigned to the dustbin of history. There is something tactile about holding a book, turning the pages, or even just stuffing it into one's jacket pocket. As several commentators have already remarked, there's something satisfying about building up a small library at home that one can refer to whenever one needs to look something up.
It seems rather strange for Amazon, of all people, to be launching this gadget - as books are their main business. One beer magazine that I used to subscribe to has taken the decision to stop publishing in paper form and become a purely "on-line" publication. The result, hundreds of subscibers, including myself, have cancelled their subsription and asked for a refund.
Trying to read something huddled in front of a computer screen just isn't the same as relaxing in one's favourite armchair with a good novel. MR Books is quite safe I think!
Mr Books you are right to be worried, but just not now. However devices like the new Reader from Sony are a major advance from reading on a computer screen. It uses an E Ink® Vizplex™ screen which means it’s just like reading a paper page. It has high contrast, high resolution and a wide viewing angle. What’s more there’s no backlight and no flickering so it’s gentle on your eyes and you can read for hours even in bright sunlight. Well thats what the blurb says and for those that need large print books, the font size can be changed to suit.
Mixed views on this subject then. I suppose the biggest worry is that the technology moves on at a pace in which case it could all happen quicker than everyone thinks...
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