Amazon just announced they're selling Kindles via the .co.uk site for 279 US dollars plus shipping, import duty, tax, etc.
Am an avid reader and love my iPhone --
But not sure about this.
Don't think it could ever really compare with a good old fashioned hold it in your hand and turn the pages book.
What do you reckon?
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8 comments:
I think paper based books will face the same challenges the newspaper industry is facing today.
Which are the same problems the music industry has had to deal with over the past ten years....
Its simply a matter of time before technology comes up with a great e-reader, but I've not seen one yet.
If you drop it in the bath would it still work?
Also, it'd be a killer to run out of juice on that last chapter.
Plus, nothing beats being surrounded by lots of books - something inspiring about a library of books.
RM neuroscience research suggests our brains are better geared to recieving info on paper than via a screen.
I'd say books will be around for a while yet.
True, there's nothing better than a book. The look, the feel, the smell. But what these inevitably will be able to do soon, which is very handy, is give you word meanings at the touch of a button. Plus, they should have study guides built in for books from the likes of Shakespeare. If all that is just a simple click away, then they become invaluable.
Yes, the research would compare paper to current screen technology... certainly e-ink solutions I've seen have been way off the resolution and clarity of printed paper. But that is only a matter of time...
It wasn't so long ago people believed that the quality of image produce by film would never be replaced by digital technology.... so, erm.... how many professional photographers are still using film?
A friend in San Francisco's just written --
"Hearing lots of rumors about Apple's supposed Tablet, which - if it's real - will surely be amazing."
Indeed -- though still couldn't imagine a life without books.
I agree with Kevin (who hopefully will post his insight any minute now) and feel that there is room for both. Aren't we barking up the wrong tree saying this means the death of novels? The experience of reading a novel is more than the text.
I am the kind of book reader that judges the book by its cover. An I can honestly say Elephants On Acid looks way better than the Kindle ever will.
And surely if you are in the scorchio midday heat on some tropical island digging into an awesome book the kindle would feel like a frying pan; it is going to sting like the metal buckle of a seatbelt in a car that has been sat in the midday sun. Book for me.
With regards to Kevs comment re context (which Caitlin has asked for Kev to post on here)
I would still rather have a ‘real’ text book or book on the tube. Books are more interactive and require no juice to charge up. So while the context that we use technology like Kindle is important I still find each to their own just as relevant.
J
You know that thing we do called defining the audience and looking at customer journeys? So the sweet spot for the kindle was never sitting on a tropical beach but as a much easier way of reading the FT on the tube (no need to turn pages when there's not room to move), and for students (no need to carry bags of heavy text books around to lectures).
Context anyone?
:-)
Kevin
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