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Kindle-ing My Interest
November 20, 2007

Yesterday Kathy M. asked in this blog the question that I've heard from a couple of dozen friends, family, and colleagues: "Have you tried the this Kindle that we're hearing so much about?"

Well, no, not yet. No one at Amazon thought to send me one for a test drive. I'm sure they sent some to other folks at PW, as they should have. But Amazon, what about the bloggers? We don't write the trenchant news analysis, but we do opinion pretty well. 

I've been trying e-reading devices for several years, now, and am really intrigued by them. I don't think they'll every replace the ease and aesthetic pleasure of a printed book, but I do think they could potentially be wonderful tools for teachers, students, business travelers, and many others.

For the curious, here are some links:

The Future of Reading: The Newsweek cover story features a slightly sinister-looking Jeff Bezos, who says "Books are the last bastion of analog," and explains how he means to change that. 

Hands-On First Impressions: CNET untangles the question of whether or not this is just one more device to drag around with you...

Blogger Reactions: Ah-ha! They did send the Kindle to bloggers... but to tech bloggers. C'mon, Amazon -- the lit bloggers are the real readers. 

Are you planning to try out a Kindle when you get a chance, or not?

Posted by Bethanne Patrick on November 20, 2007 | Comments (7)


November 20, 2007
In response to: Kindle-ing My Interest
Christine commented:

There is so much I can do with $400, it's ridiculous - take the cats to the vet, pay 1/3 of my car insurance, buy something other than lentils and rice for groceries. Beyond the cost - and I admit I haven't seen one of these things in real life yet - it probably isn't the kind of thing I could cozy up to. Besides, what happens if you drop it in the bath?




November 20, 2007
In response to: Kindle-ing My Interest
Charles Hodgson commented:

In a heartbeat! …but… I run podictionary (an etymology podcast) and I need to read both for inspiration and for research. This device would make both easier. Searching for research is obviously easier but when I'm inspired during a read for pleasure being able to bookmark the spot would be great. The price doesn't daunt me, I spend that much in books pretty regularly & Kindle will make those purchases cheaper. But so far no news on availability for me up here in Canada.




November 20, 2007
In response to: Kindle-ing My Interest
Diana commented:

This is the first e-device that looks genuinely reader-friendly to me and I am interested. I think Amazon may be on to something...




November 20, 2007
In response to: Kindle-ing My Interest
Amy Wachspress commented:

E-readers are the wave of the future and I think they will go a long way to getting young people reading more. I applaud them. But I'm old school so you won't catch me with one, I like to curl up in bed with a book. If I curl up with a laptop, I would be writing not reading. (Of course the best curl up is to curl up with my husband. But that's very old school.) (You can visit me at wozabooks.)




November 20, 2007
In response to: Kindle-ing My Interest
Tony Ritchie commented:

The Kindle may be the greatest thing ever, but until they can duplicate the smell of a book, I will stick with the bound versions. Sleeping with a Kindle on your face can't produce the same dreams.




November 20, 2007
In response to: Kindle-ing My Interest
Bethanne commented:

Tony, ahhhh, the smell of a book... it's unmistakable and even if Amazon could manage to embed Kindles with it, it wouldn't be the same as sticking one's nose in a binding. Amy, it's interesting to ponder how the e-reader age divide will fall... one of the features that some early fans seem to like or at least tout is the ease with which a user can change fonts to accommodate vision challenges. Maybe gadget-guru male boomers will like that? While I'm with Charles Hodgson and Diana in being intrigued by the Kindle, I laughed out loud at Christine's comment about what happens when you drop it in the bath? If they could make a book that held ITSELF up for me to read in the bath -- THAT would be a techno-marvel for which I'd pay retail.




November 20, 2007
In response to: Kindle-ing My Interest
Patrick Ewing commented:

I agree that books will never be replaced by e-readers for all of the aestetic reasons stated previously and many more. However, as with audio books I think they will have a strong market with certain types of readers, like students (especially anyone under 25), business travelers, and people wanting to do research. But I don't think that publishers need to worry about going out of business anytime soon because people who read for pleasure are going to flock to e-readers. Patrick Ewing Boonebridgebooks.com





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