Amazon.com Kindle Wireless Reading Device Thingy

[larryhead]

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1213281845&sr=1-1

I was talking to someone the other day who loves the Kindle.. the fact that you can download books wirelessly from anywhere for cheap is pretty nice!

"Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot."

Also, we tend to buy $200 in books every few weeks.. and then end up lugging boxes of them to goodwill. I don't think it will truly replace holding a book, but if you're a quick reader who tears through pages, it seems like the Kindle makes more sense. Any book that I really like I'd probably still want to have the physical version though.

[larryhead]

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/amazon-kindle-review-4.jpg

[mrjohnchimpo]

I love the idea, but I think it's ugly and it costs about 250 dollars more than I'm willing to spend.

[False Alarm]

i just don't get the point. how much smaller and more portable than a book can they really be? i guess it'd be nice if i were going on a longish trip, but even then it's not that big a deal to pack a handful of books. dunno if i'd wanna pay $360 to avoid the hassle.

i think i read that you can make comments in the text and shit. i guess that'd be kinda neat if you're the type of reader who highlights shit and makes comments in the margins, but probably very few nonstudents do that.

in your case larryhead i guess it makes sense since you find yourself donating so many boxes of the books you buy, but i'd suggest an even cheaper alternative: a library card.

[Ag Au]

i like to keep my books, which means that i have a lot of full book shelves and it sucks to move. it is rare that i read something that i could easily part with. so i have not much interest in this form of consumption.
i also like them as physical tactile objects. the book i just read on essence and alchemy was a beautiful object with nice images. and whenever i return to one of my books, i like to see what bookmark it left in it as a reminder of when i read it or where it came from.
plus, this kindle thing doesn't seem very beach ready, which is where i do most of my trash reading anyway.

[slam]

don't buy a kindle!!

the books you 'buy' through the service are crippled by DRM. sure, you bought it and all, but what if the amazon servers go down and it can't verify that you bought it? what if you get some new incompatible ebook reader in a few years, and want to transfer your books over? too bad!

buying a kindle is locking yourself into amazon for the life of those books.

don't buy DRM media!

[cuscus]

I enjoy the feel and smell of a real book. i don't know if I am weird, but nothing beats the smell of a new book, or even better yet a book store. I spent some time looking at a Sony reader at a target, and it just didn't seem right at all.

[False Alarm]

i too enjoy the tactile pleasures of the papercraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercraft) kindle.

[larryhead]

in your case larryhead i guess it makes sense since you find yourself donating so many boxes of the books you buy, but i'd suggest an even cheaper alternative: a library card.

what.. and read those dirty used books? :upsidedown:

honestly, i haven't been in a library in over ten years... i think i would probably get lost if i even managed to find my way to one today. that said, can you get get new books there pretty easily? does anyone use the chicago public libraries?

when i think of libraries i think of card catalogs, and musty old books that have been out of print for years and are covered in boogers.

[larryhead]

don't buy a kindle!!

the books you 'buy' through the service are crippled by DRM. sure, you bought it and all, but what if the amazon servers go down and it can't verify that you bought it? what if you get some new incompatible ebook reader in a few years, and want to transfer your books over? too bad!

buying a kindle is locking yourself into amazon for the life of those books.

don't buy DRM media!

yeah i get that.. but do you think that a "free" book format will come out and take off like the .mp3 format did? i'm skeptical...

[larryhead]

also, i'm a little disappointed that none of you die-hard liberals have talked up environmental benefits and energy resources savings.. think of the trees you'll save! :drumfingers:

[slam]

that said, can you get get new books there pretty easily?

yes, yes you can.

when i think of libraries i think of card catalogs, and musty old books that have been out of print for years and are covered in boogers.

you should perhaps go visit one again. they have their catalogs on teh internets now: http://www.chipublib.org/search/catalog/

remember that whole library convention thing larryhead? where you spent that day sitting at my booth with me? did you learn nothing that day? :drumfingers:

[slam]

also, i'm a little disappointed that none of you die-hard liberals have talked up environmental benefits and energy resources savings.. think of the trees you'll save! :drumfingers:

in 50 years, all of the books you buy will probably still be sitting around, somewhere, being read.

all of those kindles will be leaking poisonous chemicals into a garbage dump somewhere in southeast asia.

[larryhead]

hahah.. yes, i'll never forget that day we spent at the library convention with all those hot librarians, i guess i should've taken better notes or at least gotten some directions :D

[Soul Queen]

I go to the library pretty frequently. I use it mostly for books that I'm sort of interested in checking out, but know that I will probably never want to read again. Also for reference materials. I bet Chicago has a great library system. I think San Francisco's is pretty nice. Libraries have pretty sweet book sales every now and then. You can get some great deals on some used books.

I don't think I could ever read for pleasure using a machine. I hate reading stuff on the computer. I feel the computer white screen is burning my retinas.

[False Alarm]

what.. and read those dirty used books? :upsidedown:

honestly, i haven't been in a library in over ten years... i think i would probably get lost if i even managed to find my way to one today. that said, can you get get new books there pretty easily? does anyone use the chicago public libraries?

sure dude. it's like a video rental store but for books (http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/fail-book-rental1.jpg).

[mrjohnchimpo]

I don't think I could ever read for pleasure using a machine. I hate reading stuff on the computer. I feel the computer white screen is burning my retinas.

they got some kinda weird "electronic paper" screen that takes care of that i think. basically looks like it just gets rid the screen flicker.

libraries at least around me are pretty modern now...but I do have trouble finding new books. usually they gotta be out for a couple of years before they show up in the libraries from my own personal experience.

[False Alarm]

i imagine it varies from town to town some, and i actually hardly ever use the library, but i was pretty impressed with the range of new (ie, released within the past several months) titles on display the couple of times i went to the algonquin library.

and i'm sure you can get most new shit on interlibrary loan pretty easily (especially in chicago). i bet you can reserve em all online and go in and pick em up at the desk, actually, so you wouldn't even get lost larryhead!

[False Alarm]

Libraries have pretty sweet book sales every now and then. You can get some great deals on some used books.
mos def, and quite a few of em aren't even used. peeps donate new (or fine-condition [ie, as new]) books to library sales all the time. it's also fun to find good first-edition hardcovers for like $1, if you're a half-assed collector like me.

[Soul Queen]

I usually have not run into the problem of libraries not having a newly released book. You may have to wait a week or two if you put it on hold and it is popular.

Its standard for libraries to get the best sellers right away. When I worked at a library, they handed out a list of best sellers every week.
Librarians are very open to suggestions. If you ask for them to purchase a book for stacks they will do it. They often run out of ideas of new things to get and like input from the public.

The Columbia Public Library now has the Sandman Collection that it wouldn't have had otherwise if it wasn't suggested (ME!). Same for music. I know slam and I gave the dude who orders the music an extensive list of things to get.

[mrjohnchimpo]

mos def, and quite a few of em aren't even used. peeps donate new (or fine-condition [ie, as new]) books to library sales all the time. it's also fun to find good first-edition hardcovers for like $1, if you're a half-assed collector like me.

i think it's hilarious that you and chukesy wouldn't invite me to book sales so that you'd have a bigger chance at first dibs on books we'd all want :lol:

[mrjohnchimpo]

I usually have not run into the problem of libraries not having a newly released book. You may have to wait a week or two if you put it on hold and it is popular.

Its standard for libraries to get the best sellers right away. When I worked at a library, they handed out a list of best sellers every week.
Librarians are very open to suggestions. If you ask for them to purchase a book for stacks they will do it. They often run out of ideas of new things to get and like input from the public.

The Columbia Public Library now has the Sandman Collection that it wouldn't have had otherwise if it wasn't suggested (ME!). Same for music. I know slam and I gave the dude who orders the music an extensive list of things to get.

hmmm...in reading this thread i didn't know that there was a system in place for even asking to get something stocked. i don't think i've ever even talked to a librarian except when i'm returning the books. it's good news. also the library by me is undergoing like a 5 million dollar renovation to be done in a few months so i'm gonna be checking that out!

[Ag Au]

i love my library. its a good place to check out books on tape/cd for lengthy car travel as well. mrs. jones regularly checks out videos for her 5 year old so that they can be easily returned (so no one in the house is subject to too many repeats of the same thing). i think that is a great idea.

as for the environmental aspects of paper, well there is a lot to that. but it would be easier to find a paper alternative than forgo the current format. there is a book out "cradle to cradle" which is printed on plastic. it is a type of plastic that they advocate for in the book, that is designed to be actually recycled without detriment to the materials or the humans that come into future contact with it. take that for what you will, but it is an option. not one i particularly like though. i'd prefer a tree free paper that is sustainable for my books. not to mention that the plastic paper, while good for reading in the rain or tub, is heavy as hell. not fun for the average subway commuter.

[slam]

Same for music. I know slam and I gave the dude who orders the music an extensive list of things to get.

yes, it pleases me to think that someone might now check out some aphex twin without having any idea what they're getting themselves into!

[Talking Sandwich]

I enjoy the feel and smell of a real book. i don't know if I am weird, but nothing beats the smell of a new book, or even better yet a book store. I spent some time looking at a Sony reader at a target, and it just didn't seem right at all.

I personally enjoy the taste of a delicious paperback.

[The Girl]

I find I am seriously torn over the virtual readers. One the one hand, I love the "low-techness" of a book - the fact that I don't have to turn it on or charge it up. I like that I can read it on the couch, in the bathtub, inside, outside, hanging upside down, etc. However - I also spend A LOT of time in airports. Reading is a great way to pass the time and maintain sanity. The problem I have with books on the road is they take up a lot of space in the briefcase, are often heavy, and if I finish one in Podunkville I'm stuck reading whatever looks the least noxious at Hudson News (I cannot tell you how many horrible books I have suffered for this reason). Beacause of all these factors, I am thinking of possibly, potentially, maybe, buying a virtual reader. I don't think it will ever replace books for me completely, it will just help me out on the road a bit. It's not unusual for me to read more than one book at a time, so I can use the reader on the road and keep a real book at home. (Larryhead loves it when I try to read in bed past his 8 p.m. bedtime.) I don't know - I'm still not a peace with the idea, but I'll keep you posted.

[larryhead]

(Larryhead loves it when I try to read in bed past his 8 p.m. bedtime.) I don't know - I'm still not a peace with the idea, but I'll keep you posted.

Hey, I need my beauty rest :D

I'll start saving my pennies... you never know, maybe a lucky girl will get an early birthday present :upsidedown:

[slam]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chicago-library-online-web-jun25,0,1450203.story?track=rss

my biggest gripe about chiago public libraries is now fixed. we can finally renew our books online!

[mrjohnchimpo]

apparently they just lowered the price to 359. still way too expensive.