It’s no secret that I am a big fan of the Amazon Kindle 2. However, whenever I write about it (as I did recently here and here), I always have someone who says, “I will never convert to an eBook reader. I just love the feel of a book in my hands.”
I totally understand that sentiment, but imagine this:
- In 1442, “I will never get used to a book. It doesn’t feel right. I just love the experience of unrolling a scroll and the beauty of hand-written words.” Johannes Gutenberg invented movable type and the mechanical printing press in 1439.
- In 1881, “I will never convert to electric lights. It just isn’t natural. I love the smell of candles and the flickering of the light.” Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb in 1879.
- In 1916, “I will never buy an automobile. It’s too dangerous. I just love of the feel of a buggy and the sound of the horse’s hoofs against the road.” Henry Ford began mass producing cars in 1914.
You may never convert to an eBook reader, but what about your children or grandchildren. I’m just sayin.’
Question: What about you? What would it take for you to convert?
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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I am right now reading a fascinating book called "Print is Dead," by Jeff Gomez. Here is an excerpt that highlights the mindset of younger people, whom some refer to as Digital Natives or Generation Upload because they have grown up amidst technology and the internet:
I loved that book. I devuored it. I didn't agree with everything, but I think that directionally he is correct.
When I was just a little boy I would count on my fingers and toes.
Trouble was, I never could figure out how to get past twenty.
One fine day my daddy sent me to the corner store for a pack of
pall mall cigarettes. Trouble! The man behind the counter wanted
more than 20 cents. Salvation! The nice man gave me a pen and
paper. I've been writing ever since. Would you believe it? I'm up to
55 now.
For me its two things.
1. Ownership. When you buy an ebook you don't really own it. Just like when music is purchased via iTunes or Amazon, you don't own it. You just have a license for it. But unlike mp3s, ebooks do not share a well standardized format. This means its extremely difficult to make sure that any ebook I purchase stays with me, even if I switch devices.
What happens when Sony or whoever comes out with the worlds greatest ebook reader? And then the next year a new upstart comes out with the worlds greatest ebook reader? And the next year…
Will I suddenly have to have 4 ebook readers to take with me because some books are available on one, but not the other, and each has its own DRM? Or will I be forced into "pirating" books I've already purchased for one device so I can illegally read them on another device?
Until there is a standard format that guarantees I won't have to repurchase my books and therefore ensures that I "own" what I've purchased, I'm not interested.
2. Sharing. This is obviously closely tied to #1, but its a unique issue as well. I want to share books I love. I want to loan them to my friends and family, I want them to enjoy them. I want to donate them to the library, etc…
Perhaps that will be a good measurement. When libraries are able to offer ebooks on all sorts of compatible devices, I'll be ready to make the switch. Until then, I'll "suffer" with paper awhile longer.
epub is slowly becoming a universal format. Libraries are starting to use it more and more. But Kindle doesn't support it. So it is really all the little guys are banding together to try to force a standard format.
I agree with you on both points but I still bought it and am buying more books than I am really comfortable with. I still want to see a large scale DRM free store. There are a few small publishers, but no one big.
I give away virtually all of my paper books and this is a fairly big issue for me. I am actually looking forward to Thomas Nelson's trial of buying a paper books and getting the ebook for free. I might do that so I can give away the paper, even if I pay a little bit more. But I am not going to pay a lot more for the privilege of giving a book away.
Target and Borders both carry Sony Readers (I think they both just carry the 505.)
It's actually quite convenient, though what if it gets broken or damaged? The worst that could happen to a book is be burnt, and you can get an extra copy (unless it's the last surviving book).
Personally I spend most of the day staring at a screen, be it my PC or phone, a change of scenery is always nice.
I have a good warranty : )
Amazon actually is known for their good customer service. Most of the people that I have heard that have broken theirs have a replacement in 48 hours or less.
That probably applies for people living in the US, what about those on the other side of the world?
I think what you mean is that it is more difficult to make a copy of the intellectual property you have purchases when you buy it digitally. You do not actually "own" the copyrighted material that is in a book, you simply own the format in which that copyrighted material was provided to you. In other words, you can not copy that book and give it to somebody else, legally. You can't extensively "borrow" from the book, without proper attribution and potentially paying royalty. A person who benefits from copyrighted intellectual property without paying for it is, basically, stealing from the company that spent the money to publish it and, most importantly, from the author who produced it.
You don't own the intellectually property but you do own the rights to use that property, including the right of sale. That is part of the problems with DRM is that there is a legal right of sale and DRM is preventing that legal right of sale. Borrowing a book, or giving one away is not theft, it is a part of the purchase.
I agree with some previous posters that the Kindle price hurdle will deter people from ebooks for some time…HOWEVER, with that said, two things will counter that very soon. First,the Kindle is now selling books on the iphone, so who needs a Kindle if you prefer to read on your phone? And also, with Apple and Barnes & Noble getting into the reader game along with Sony and Amazon, I hope to see prices for these devices go down considerably! Here's to an ebooks future! : )
Wow! You have 93 comments already! My vote: I'm a hold-out. I love physical books.
You might be Amish if …
Personally, I hate DRM. Inhibiting sales doesn't protect authors or publishers. I am not nervous about piracy either. I don't have time right now to elaborate, but I hope to do so in a future post.
I look forward to reading about that. I believe DRM actually hinders purchases for some purchasers. I am not able to insure that I am going to be able to read it later, then what I am doing is renting. If I know I can read it later I am more likely to purchase.
The Kindle is much easier to reader—bigger page, less glare, and not backlit. The e-ink technology is designed to mimic the printed page.
Unfortunately, I am under a non-disclosure agreement, so I can't reveal the name(s) of the companies. But this will be standard in the next 12-24 months on most devices.
I feel like a hoarder grabbing up all my favorite books for the coming day when there will be none.
Who am I saving them for? My kids and grandkids won't care.
I know this is the wave of the future as is "no more newspaper." I'm just not ready. But the truth is my back would love to break when I travel. As an avid reader I carry way too many books…It's quite a sight. I'm sure my husband thinks I'm a bit off. That's okay. I appreciate a good word at my disposal when I need one.
A Kindle might be my answer!
No one will know I'm traveling with so many good books.
Apple Media Pad with ebook software, phone, etc.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/ap...
Price–both the cost of the reader and the cost of the books. The books are in electronic format, so no paper cost. Yet, I was talking to a friend who has a Kindle, and she's buying eBooks for $9.99 apiece–more expensive than a paperback. And the Kindle itself is almost $400. That's a lot of money, especially when cell phones are selling for $50.
I don't know where you are finding paperbacks for $9.99, unless they are mass paperbacks. Trade paperbacks usually have a retail price of $14.99 to $16.99. Hardcovers are $22.99 to 29.99, sometimes more.
I too choose books, however, I have five grandchildren and they are learning to read books on their phones and ipods. The Classics are available for free for the ipod and iphone and they are already downloading a $15 book for only a few $'s(3-5). They only read them once and then discard them in paper but they can keep them longer in the ipod. They are all under 14years old and their minds won't have the same memories about books that we have. By the time they reach 62, as I am, their grandchildren might say " PaPa, what's a paper book?"
I bought one for my husband for his birthday…he loves it. Maybe I'll get one for Christmas or Mother's Day :)
Sign me up! eBooks all the way! I just need to make that Kindle purchase. As i travel i see them popping up everywhere and I carry a few too many books in my bag as it is! So… it will take nothing but a purchase for my conversion. Great post!
I am looking forward to getting a Kindle soon, but my question is How long until the bookstore I manage is obsolete because of Kindle/ebooks?
I don't think this means bookstores will be obsolete, but I do think they have to figure out what their value proposition is. The question is, what can I get in a bookstore that I can't get online or digitally? I think there's a lot, but not unless they understand it and emphasize it.
not really interested at the moment, i think its a great innovation.
You've almost got me convinced, Michael. Almost.
Candles and buggies are awfully romantic and highly prized items.
Consider Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future. Kirk's favorite gift is always…a good, solid antique book. And he reads them.
Granted, by the 24th century, it's a…uhm…pardon me…novelty.
I think that until they can get rid of the problem with eye strain from the back light and reflections on the screen, and the inability to hold it whichever way as you lie on your side or back or whatever while reading, ebooks and their devices won't do anything for me. I can only read about two pages of text in a sitting at the computer screen before I have to get up and walk away, but I can read an entire novel without moving in paper form. I do think the convenience of electronic books is amazing, and they cut down costs, and you can carry more books, and there are a lot of advantages, but at the moment comfort isn't one of them for me and when I read, I want to be comfortable.
The kindle is funadmentally different from an LCD screen. It is not back lit and and has a very low reflection rate. It can be read in direct light. It is lighter (in weight) than most paperbacks. I think it is as comfortable if not more so than a paperback.
I love ebooks. So does my husband! Our poor house was becoming overrun with all the books I've collected over the years. I love taking my ereader with me to the doctor, to work, and on trips. No longer is my luggage weighted down with four or five books. I am really ready for a Kindle. I may treat myself when I finish my current manuscript.
It wouldn't take much to get me to convert to a Kindle 2. I started researching it about a month ago and am currently reading a ebook on my laptop. With the ability of Kindle to bookmark where you left off, it would make it much easier than using my laptop.
Right now I have not spent the money for it, but I can see that in the future that I would have 4 of them in my house, one for each family member.
I disagree. Yes they are not now color but picture reproduction isn't too bad. I think you are confusing the reality of past ebook devices with all ebook devices. There will be commercially available color ebooks by the end of 2010.
Yes children love holding books. And I prefer my 19 month old niece read paper until she is a bit more gentle with books.
Books are about content not the reading method. The reading method does changed some things. But by your assertion, audiobooks are not books either. Many people would disagree with you.
Check back in 30 years. I think you will be surprised.
Right now you can only buy the Kindle in the US so it is a moot point until they start international sales. But I believe that they will make similar warranties available internationally as well.
You should go look at a Kindle or Sony ereader (they both have the same screen). There isn't a backlight on the Kindle. It is designed to be much the same strain on your eyes as reading a paperback book.
I am considering buying the Kindle 2. In the meantime I have the Kindle for iphone app and have two books – 1 fiction, 1 non-fiction – that I'm reading on it to warm me up to the idea of electronic reading.
I'm with you, Michael. It's hard to believe that books as we know them will go away, but history suggests that they will.
That is a more precise way of putting things, correct. The challenge simply is that when intellectual property is in digital form it is much easier for copyrights to be trampled and the materials distributed to thousands of people, not merely one person to whom you give/lend/sell your book. That's the conundrum all publishers are facing these days, particularly niche publishers who depend on sales of their books, even if only 3,000 copies, to enable to make a go of it.
The Kindle has no backlight nor reflections, to speak of. It is as easy to read as is any trade paperback, or as difficult. Low light? Can't read the paperback, can't read the Kindle.
I appreciate your thoughts Mike, but I'm not ready to equate the Kindle or an e-reader to the assembly line for mass production of cars or the electric light bulb, or the printing press.
And in truth, wagon makers didn't fear the car. They didn't foresee the world becoming motorized.
In general, people don't like change.
Can you state how a Kindle will advance society in the same way as say, the telephone or the inventions you mentioned? I don't see it yet. :)
Our eyes get so exhausted from looking at "screens" all day. A book is easier on the eyes IMHO.
However, I'm not naive enough to think more and more books won't become Kindlized. I hate to think of print books going away. Should there ever be a national disaster where we don't have power, it will be good to have books in our hands.
I am leery of everything going electronic. Just me. But, I'm sure I'll adjust if I have to. ;)
Try looking at an eink device. The page is much like a printed page. MUCH less eye strain than a normal LCD screen.
I don't doubt that the "e-book thing" will catch on. But I think it's too early to predict that the Kindle will dominate… or even survive.
Digital delivery of content (i.e. e-books and e-book readers) completely bypasses Amazon's extensive distribution system, which cost Amazon billions to build and has been vital to their success. The Kindle is Amazon's effort to achieve lock-in of a proprietary standard so that they can still deliver books that don't need their warehouses and distribution centers. Nothing wrong with that. But there are rumors that Apple has a prototype of an extra-large iPod Touch, with a display roughly the size of the Kindle's but in full color, that can read standard e-book formats (Adobe Acrobat, Acrobat e-book, etc.) in addition to the other iPod Touch features. Books, music, videos, etc. That could be a Kindle killer.
I just don't think the Apple device as the rumors portray it would really compete much with a Kindle. They have very different screens and that is the central benefit of the Kindle. You can read on an Ipod touch and watch video and play games, but the eye strain on a Kindle is much, much less. The Kindle device is for reading and not much else. A large ipod touch would be more on an all in one device (but not that great for reading).
Thanks for your posts on this topic, here and previously. I have been following the opinions on Kindle 2 closely. Amazon has this link to register interest in books that have not been Kindled. Have you found that that helps? Do you know how Amazon, or the publisher, decides whether or not to Kindle a book, and what the process is?
I'm looking forward to ebooks, although I love the feel of paper books. However, I'm waiting for Apple to produce a book reader. The Kindle doesn't have the aesthetic look of my imaginary Apple book reader, so I'm going to wait. (Do they have one in the works? I have no idea!)
Rumor is they have a device that some are saying is the right size to be a competitor to the kindle. Likely they are really after different markets because the rumors say the apple device would have an LCD which will be color and backlight (not good for reading) and probably also be usable for video and music.
I lugged a heavy suitcase and computer bag through airport security recently. As I dragged my book-rich bags, I was seriously thinking about owning a Kindle 2 (or something comparable) some day.
The price for a Kindle2 is not attractive. If I can figure out how to make it a business expense and write it off, I may take the leap soon.
Based on what I saw of the Sony eReader, I may want to wait a while. I've not seen any others myself, but if they all have the refresh handled the same way, it will be one to two generations before I even think of shelling out any 3 figure amount when I can still get a cheap laptop that supports color and even more utilities/application.
Yes to eBooks and no to 'it's-my-cheese' stance of eReaders that allow only their versions to play (prime example – Kindle). But of course this kind of restriction won't last and the world will take its own course for the best of all. I am eagerly looking forward to the day when kids will carry a sleek thing in their pockets instead of a bagload on their backs.
I love the Kindle Dx, but am concerned about Amazon limiting the number of times a purchased book can be downloaded, so will refrain from large investment in Christian reference books for my Kindle. Needless to say, nothing can beat the smell and feel of a real book – especially one with a leather cover!
For me it is all about the price. I would buy the Kindle 2 in a heartbeat if it wasn’t so expensive. All the WOF have gotten me hooked on wanting one…they talk about them all the time.
I guess the other thing holding me back would be availability of all the books I want to read. But I am sure that will change over time.
Michael, I agree with your post completely. The convenience of getting a book immediately is just too good! I like to make notes in my Kindle for a particular book and then I can see all the notes at once in sequence instead of flipping through the pages of a book to find the page I made a note on and then looking for the next note.
I read your post that included the recommended book in your Life Plan blog on Becoming a Coaching Leader. I had the ability to download it immediately and begin reading.
Forgive me for going all Fahrenheit 451 on ya, but we'll be a both printed and ebook home. I think if we really value the message of the text, we'll probably end up buying a hard copy of it! There's something about knowing that those books haven't been censored or edited as they've sat on my shelf for the past 5, 10, or 55 years.
"I will never listen to digital music. It sounds too crisp. Cassette tapes are more universal and can be recorded onto."
"I will never carry around a cellular phone. It's too snobbish. Why would I need a device that I already own at home?"
"I will never convert over to electronic mail. It's too impersonal. I can't imagine contacting someone without a hand written letter and signature."
"I will never use a digital camera. There's not enough control. I enjoy the labor of developing film within the magic of a darkroom."
"I will never read news on my computer. It's too unnatural. There's nothing like opening the front page news over breakfast and coffee."
Convert to an e-book reader? Wow, that's hard to believe I would ever do. I'm one of those who loves the look and feel and smell of a book. However, I have started using my iPhone to read nonfiction. But, my collectibles? I can't imagine replacing my collectibles with e-books.
For me to convert, the e-book reader will have to improve its visual appearance. It has to be in color so I can see the pretty colors of the cover – I like the new iPad for this. Next, it would have to have some way to present my collectibles in a special way. I love leather covers, beautiful illustrations, and special papers. How could an e-book make one book more special than another so that I would want to collect it?
I've seen a few iPhone apps that are beginning the process. One is called "iBookshelf," which is actually a database for your library. It presents the books in the same way as music albums in your iTunes library. You swipe through the covers and they flip by showing all the beautiful covers. That's ok for a start, but not enough to get me to switch. Another app, called "Classics" has a beautiful wooden bookshelf that displays the beautiful covers of the books I've downloaded. I like that a lot. It gives me the impression I have a collection of books.
But what about the inside? I'd need to see the appearance of textured paper that looks like velum, beautiful illustrations, and exquisite fonts. It would need to be easy to use, as well as easy to bookmark and pick up where I left off. (The Classics app features a nice red ribbon bookmark that's pretty and works well. I like the sound effects and page turning effect of the Classics app also.)
If I had the visual gratification, that would go a long way to get me to switch. The other thing I would have to have is the ability to lend and resell my books. I refuse to pay $9.99+ for an e-book and never be able to share it or sell it. An e-book just doesn't feel like my property.