Discussions: EReaders vs Books

Heidi

I think it all comes down to how particular you are about how you read – for example, if you like to curl up in a blanket with a book nestled tight, then there’s no way an E-reader will have the same impact. On the other hand, if you have a long commute or don’t want to carry a ton of books, then an E-reader makes sense.

Personally I doubt I’ll get one myself, but that may have more to do with my lack of techno-savvy than the intrinsic value in an E-reader. I’d say invest in an inexpensive version and give it a trial run – or better yet, see if you can borrow one from someone you know.

Good luck either way :)

Harry

Like anything else that is new this will take time to take off but the concept is expanding and the manufacturers are pushing…marketing will ensure that it becomes commonplace irrespective of cost.

Me? Give a ‘proper’ book every time, I take pride in my extensive library of over 2000volumes on numerous subjects. While I admit to being a bit of a Luddite in this respect it has to be admitted that paper books will outlast electronic versions that need a machine to read and machines go wrong, this sort require batteries which fail and the technology updates continually. How long does the latest MS system last before it is updated and no longer supported? Some of my volumes are over 100 years old!

In times past folks made marks on clay tablets that were meant to last unlike the modern idea of limited lifetime production. A change in attitude but there again, I am old fashioned in this respect…and proud of being a literary Luddite!

Harry

Bryony

I too love a “proper book”, although I am open to new ideas and technology to some degree. I think it is all about giving the reader out there a choice. My husband actually mentioned at the weekend that he had been in to Waterstones and tried out one of the Sony reader devices they had on display. Apparently it was a pretty good experience and he was pleasantly surprised by the quality and ease of use. The price tag is still way off (£179) for the one he saw but I guess this will only come down once things take off. Like Harry I love the old fashioned nostalgia you get with a book but I think having both formats has got to be beneficial to everyone going forward. I think like Sheri, the E-reader would be a good idea when travelling about on holiday, you take multiple books without adding to the luggage weight too much!

Bryony

Harry

May be a good idea for holidays as the load does build up…books, camera and lenses, binoculars…bottles of single malts, guitar, wife…

Alan

I agree with Harry. The science fiction geek in me loves the idea of having a gadget like the datapads in Star Trek; but as someone once said, the book is already a perfect piece of technology, and the paperback must be one of the most beautiful and miraculous inventions in human history (in terms of price, ease of use, dissemination etc.). And a well-produced book, in terms of jacket design, typography, the feel of the pages as you turn them, the feel of the thing itself … well, there’s simply no substitute, I think. Books are inherently beautiful objects, and I hope they go on forever. And by the way, viewers of Star Trek may note that both Kirk and Picard have impressive collections of old books!

Harry

Hi folks,

Just having a little chuckle at this discussion. Here are Alan, Byrony and I agreeing about the value of the ‘real’ book and communicating via this modern technology that by virtue of extended development is already very near to being obsolete…
Bring back the clay tablets do I hear? Ok, let us compromise, clay tablets and word processors! along with CAD etc etc…

Cheers

Harry

Alan

Hi Harry. Yeah, makes me wonder whether the time is approaching when technology will be ‘improved’ and ‘upgraded’ so rapidly that no one will have a chance to use it before it becomes obsolete! The SF writer Vernor Vinge posited the idea of the ‘technological event horizon’, a point beyond which technology becomes incomprehensible. This is supposed to exist in the future, but I wonder whether we’ll soon reach the point where innovation finally accelerates out of our control or ability to understand, with new versions appearing hundreds of times every second. Hmm … there’s a story in there, somewhere…

Harry

Hi Alan,

Yes definitely a tale to be told…but what I find so annoying today is that ‘improvements’ are frequently made that make no material difference to the product anyway. Innovation costs, hence these R and D folks have to be paid…and the competition cannot be allowed to beat us etc etc…it is rat race with the consumer getting all the kicks and few additional benefits.

But this applies not only to computer type technology, it is rife across the board, we consumers are the target of the latest adverts for products that are virtually obsolete by the time we buy them so why not skip the adds for the next model and go for the one after that? The whole scenario is heading from commercialism to craziness and unless one opts out there is no escape from the corporate greed.

Harry

John

I will never really be interested in having an ereader, at least not for pleasure reading. I find it more difficult to read words on a screen than on a paper page, due to screen flicker and glare. It’s the same reason why I never get round to doing much reading of books online, e.g. on this site.
It tires me out, it tires my eyes in particular, so after a while of reading off a computer screen I am sleepy, whereas reading off paper can be stimulating (if it’s a good read that is!)

Harry

Hi John

I agree entirely but undoubtedly it will take off…I remember similar things being said about computers when they first became popular and even earlier, when as a kid TV was being brought into homes [my folks did not bother, we stuck to radio…and I am glad.]

Hopefully download facilities will enable us to sell more books though. I feel we need exploit the market as much as poss and this seems a good bet as books will be much cheaper to buy. I know of a number who have visited mine, found them interesting but are too damn mean to fork out the cash for a quality product…If I can part with many years of work documented in between 5-600pages for the cost of two pints or so and get a decent return then I shall be happy. If the punters are not prepared to pay that then perhaps I will give up!