It mightn't be dead, but this is a step forward - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Reader comment on:
The Book Is Dead; Long Live the Book
in response to reader comment: The conventional book is NOT dead.

Submitted by Katherine Finch, Dec 6, 2006 21:40

I agree there is still a place for paper-based books, but how can encouraging people to consider the environment by not printing out articles and using a device that allows for unlimited numbers of these things to be easily carried and shared be regarded as anything other than a step forward?

And as for the experience being different, yes it is, but I wouldn't argue that it is better. Certainly getting into bed with your laptop, churning through the latest Rushdie or Reichs, doesn't really appeal, but this isn't a laptop and the pages do turn on these readers and I often return to sections.

I have a Palm Tungsten T5 PDA on which I carry 80 books on at all times - I'm never short of reading material, and the reactions of people who discover that I read books on it ranges from "Wow, I had no idea" to "Hey neat", never "What a waste, why would you bother?" My only problem with e-books is that the mainstream publishing houses are by and large very afraid to take the step into releasing their publications for me, even (ludicrously, if you ask me) that it's too expensive and no-one would want to read it like that anyway (methinks they should go look at sites like ereader.com and fictionwise.com and then say that again).

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Wow. What a disparate view. I have had the reader for a month and have read more in that time... [MORE]	Jorge Espinosa	Dec 12, 2006 14:03
It's analogous to the McDonald's system, a highly developed system of delivery, food processing, labor management, franchising and so on... [MORE]	bookduster	Dec 8, 2006 17:36
re Ironically, you can interact far more easily with a paper book, using a pencil or just dog-earing a corner... [MORE]	Rowland Jones	Dec 8, 2006 03:27
I'm a techy and a traditional book person, but would LOVE to see this reader used widely in schools, relieving... [MORE]	Scott Walker	Dec 7, 2006 08:58
I am one who "reads" and "writes" on my PC daily--as a free-lance writer, and I spend at least 7... [MORE]	Nancy Joyce Jancourtz	Dec 6, 2006 10:14
I agree there is still a place for paper-based books, but how can encouraging people to consider the environment by...	Katherine Finch	Dec 6, 2006 21:40
Dear Ms. Finch-- Thank you. It seems to suit you well. However, I shall probably remain inured to the conventional book. Cordially, Nancy... [MORE]	Nancy Joyce Jancourtz	Dec 7, 2006 09:11
I'm with you Nancy!! It is an entirely different and tactile experience, as is writing vis a vis typing! I... [MORE]	Rowland Jones	Dec 8, 2006 03:33
Dear Rowland-- Thank you. With regard to writing long-hand; I can't even read my own notes--so using a keyboard is extremely... [MORE]	Nancy Joyce Jancourtz	Dec 10, 2006 11:45
I agree there are problems with the reader, but I have the same gut reaction to this that I had... [MORE]	Elizabeth McDonald	Dec 15, 2006 22:58