There have been a number of blogs here about our various devices, esp. since Christmas (several of us -- not me, sigh -- got new devices for Xmas either from other people or as gifts to ourselves). And several of us are shopping now for devices. Some devices that support eBooks also support audio (I think both the Kindle and Sony but don't hold me to that . . . and defintely PDAs and PPCs, although you might have to buy something extra to have it).
So, those discussions plus my dh being home and reading our January issue of MacWorld magazine prompted this blog entry.
What I thought was great about the Kindle when it was introduced was what it might do to that segment of the industry. DH was reading one of the "looking ahead" blurbs and at least one person at MacWorld expects Steve Jobs to announce some kind of eReading device. I was only half listening to dh -- I think it will be more like a small computer -- smaller than the cool new one they announced last week but bigger than a Pocket PC or PDA and not a DEDICATED device but something that supports eBooks nonetheless. I could be wrong b/c well, I was only half-listening. But would't that be INTERESTING? Imagine what the competition between these companies will do . . .not to metion the publicity. If we got more people reading eBooks we might get more people reading books period and that's always good.
Another thought that crossed my mind was the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Laptop. I've forgotten what the laptop is actually named . . . but it has a screen that can be seen in full sunlight. One drawback to my PDA (okay, dh's PDA) is that in strong light it's hard to see the screen. Between the technology for the OLPC laptop and the Sony and Kindle readers, don't you think that we'll start seeing something that's easier on the eyes in more than just dedicated eReaders and that one laptop?
I look at my last couple of posts and you'd think that I'm all for eBooks and audio books exclusively! No, but they have their places in my life and isn't it interesting to watch what's going on?
As Masterpuppeteer said a couple of years ago (paraphrasing here as I don't have a photographic memory), "Publishing houses are in the business of selling STORIES." Which means those of us addicted to books are perhaps more accurately described as addicted to good stories and we don't care how we get them -- ears or eyes, print or electronic text.
Thoughts anyone?
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Interesting
I figured it won't be too long now that some of these other companies will pick up the gaumet and join the race... and I do think it will help get more people reading... which no matter I how I look at that... is good. Its just another forum to read. Making it more accessible. And I like that. I do like paper, and I do like the feel and smell of it and do hope to ultimately have a book I wrote printed in paper. But I also like the versatility of being able to read in more than one way.
Great post Penn!
Cole
Nicole Reising
www.nicolereising.com
www.nicolereising.com/blog
Imagination... the magical whispers from within.
a device that can do it all
a device that can do it all would be wonderful. And even cooler would be if you could convert ebook to audio with a click of a button.
Of course though, something like that will come about right after I buy different devices for each different function. LOL I already have several - laptop, Pocket PC, MP3 Player (2 actually though I don't use the one anymore. I should sell it) and a cell phone. Only thing i DON'T have is a dedicated reader.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies