iPad = Kindle = Who cares
My dad has a Phd in religion, he has read about things most of us don’t care for and has packed the house he lives in full of books. The living and family room are wall to wall full of books. When I chat with my dad about his Phd, I ask him about his research, and he points to many books. This one I learned about Soubhi ElAsha ( I am like, who? why does anyone care about this creature? ) This one I learned about this and this one about that…. And this one, with a big smile, well that is a real rare book, it was blessed by an Archbishop. Hey let me show you this book he said once, pulling out a dusty old book that was well hidden. This book is so rare, only 100 where ever written, it was hand written, take a look, and I have number 57, this book is worth a lot of money.
I will never read my fathers books, but I have my own collection and have some rare books myself, that I hunted down over the years.
There is nothing like reading a book, it has such tradition, and I don’t know, something about it that make you feel that you are about to unlock knowledge. The smell, the turn of the page, etc… Mind you I have to admit that I have seen many books recently that are not worth the paper they are written on, seems like every one is an author these days.
I never was into the digital book thing, I think its limited in its reach and dont get what the big deal is all about. I guess I was never into it for many reasons some of which are.
- A reader is hard to cuddle up with in bed and sure will poke the heck out of you all night if you fall asleep, that is if you dont crush the screen
- A reader may run out of power at the exact time the book is starting to draw you in
- A reader will never let you flip around to see if there are pictures
- A reader can never be sold for 25 cents one day at a book fair to raise money for a local charity
- A reader can never be used to balance a table
- You can never share your reader
- A reader has no smell
- A reader will never age or be rare
- A reader will never be a point of worthy conversation about learning
- A reader will never look cool if you read it at the beach
I don’t get the digital reader business and sure dont get why iPad warranted such buzz, its a reader that’s dressed up, so what, who cares, do you? Do you like reading digital books? why or why not?
I don’t like the eReaders either. Sure they’re cool and are easier to carry around, but I like to be surrounded by books, especially books that I have spent money on and have enjoyed countless times over and over again. So I feel you when you say “there is nothing like reading a book”.
I would never use a digital book, I’m all about the paper.
I’m still mad that the French teacher told the grade 4 class they can do their dictee practice, on the Nintendo DS!
I’m sure an iPad will end up in our house – but not as a replacement to books.
I never saw myself as an ereader type person. Like you, I enjoy the feel and scent of a book, the ability to flip through certain sections (esp when re-reading a book) and all that great stuff, and I swore I would never be one of those people to read on a “plastic” book. Well, I was wrong. I got my Nook (Barnes and Noble’s eReader) in Dec-2009 and it is the greatest thing I own.
-It is my commute companion (I don’t even bring the iPod anymore) for the 20 min on the train, and my business traveling companion (and I don’t have to worry about running out of stuff to read)
-While i cannot trade or sell an eBook when done, I can however, get free ebooks from the NYPL all wirelessly done in minutes, and I can share certain ebooks likewise I can borrowe from friends as well.
-The display is easy on the eyes and due to accessibility of so many books, I’m reading a lot more than I ever did before.
Note, I’m talking specifically about an eReader not an iPad which in ny opinion is not quite an eReader.
So yes, I’m a very happy Nook owner. You should try it before you criticize it.