Interesting Article on eBooks

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Interesting Article on eBooks

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

I think it's kind of freaky to think that all of your social connections and potentially very secret information (that should stay that way) is essentially owned by a company and they may do as they please.

Some of the comments on that article said things about using a "personal cloud" creator thing that allows you to store your cloud information right there at home... but what if your internet company decides you aren't going to access it any more? What if the company that allows you to make your own cloud decides this as well?

That brings me to the point of "well why don't we just keep physical copies of our important information?" But like the author pointed out, all of that could be lost in a fire/other natural disaster.

Maybe we're just too attached to "stuff"... ?

Goatgirl · Advanced

I'm a purist - a ludite if you like - but there is something that just strikes me as 'wrong' when it comes to books that don't look, smell, feel like books. But I'm published in fiction, poetry, and was a journalist. I'm also a fanatical reader.

I LOVE the smell, feel, and sounds of books. There is nothing like opening a new book. Electronics don't have the warmth - the soul or heart of a book.

There is something- just. I don't know - where people are being 'bro

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Goatgirl, I couldn't agree more. I've tried to read books online before and it's just not the same. There's just something about books that captivates a person and you can share your energy with it and just get lost in it. It's a feeling no electronic can replace.

ETA: Not to mention books are probably the second best smell in the world! (next to horses of course)

-- Edited by Barnmouser Ash on Wednesday 29th of December 2010 04:28:46 PM

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

I think I read somewhere that a lot of older books (as in libraries) have a mold that is a mild hallucinogen. Can't get that from an e-reader!
Also, used books, I often find books easier to read and understand if someone else has read them first. I have no idea why. And I find it interesting what other people think is important enough to underline.
I love books. I learn better from books. I remember better from books, something about the glare I guess, I think I have the same problem wit glossy magazines.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

LOL Jackie! Very true! I also love finding used books. Here in Portland, OR we have a wonderful cultural landmark known as Powell's Books. Basically you can find just about any book you could ever think of, and the good chunk of them are used books that the store will buy off of you. I love to go there and find old classics that people have underlined the heck out of and written all sorts of notes in, just to see what they're thinking. I bought a copy of Voltaire's Candide once that had notes in it that looked exactly like my mother's penmanship, but she's never even heard of the book. You can definitely find some crazy things in actual books that you'd never find on electronic books!

kite · Yearling

I don't like kindle. I'd prefer paper books and I love the fragrance from books.

justice · Grand Prix

Ditto on the aroma and effects of an old, REAL book. No Kindle, et al for me, either.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

I once found this old book in Powell's called Unchanging Quest. I've never been able to come across much information on it; the cover is just plain blue hard back with stamped letters. The pages are fairly old, brown/yellow from time, and coming a tiny bit loose. The book is set in the 20's I believe, and my guess is it was written in the 40's or so. It's become my "bath time" book. Light a candle, put on the classical radio station on my old time-ey style radio, and crack open Unchanging Quest. Try doing THAT with an eReader! ;)

justice · Grand Prix

I CAN appreciate the value of a Kindle for the sake of archiving the Classics.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Good point. I try to back up most any file onto a thumb drive or something similar just for the sake of "if my computer dies/my papers catch fire/blow away/get damaged/etc", I've got another copy on hand. Really super important stuff also gets burned to a cd. So I can see how archiving classics that would otherwise fall to bits and pieces sitting around would be good.