sarahintampa

When Amazon announced their new e-book reader, the Kindle, earlier this week, I scoffed. Now that the buzz has died down and I’ve had some time to review the details, I have to admit my reaction is…still a scoff. That’s not to say that the Kindle is bad. In fact, if I was in the market for an e-book reader, I might even consider purchasing it. So why the scoff? Let’s review…

Kindle Features:

• Uses an e-ink display that provides a sharp, high-res screen
• Wireless connectivity over a EVDO network let’s you shop the Kindle store from anywhere and download a book within a couple of minutes
• Displays formats like basic HTML, Word .docs, and PDFs
• 88,000 books, top U.S. Newspapers, top international papers, 250 tops blogs all available
• Free book samples - try before you buy
• Lighter and thinner than a paperback (10.3 ounces)
• Can hold 200+ titles
• Long battery life - only recharge every other day; charges in 2 hours
• Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle

Paperback Features:

• Uses a print technology that’s easy on the eyes
• After purchase, paperbacks are available to read immediately just by opening the cover
• You can loan a paperback to a friend without losing 200 of your other paperbacks in the process
• Never needs charging
• Supports color
• Can get wet, dropped, stepped on, thrown, etc. and will continue to work

The thing is, like many readers, I doubt I will ever be in the market for an e-book reader. For me, reading for pleasure is a visceral activity. I love
paperbacks - the feel of the pages, the smell of the paper, the way you
can bend the cover all the way back to hold the book at just the right
angle to block the sun as you relax on the beach. You can drop a
paperback in your beach bag where suntan lotion leaks on it and grains
of sand coat its pages and it’s still perfectly fine. You can dog-ear the pages and write in the margins. I also love
hardbacks; looking at their shiny covers look lined up on my bookshelves, I see the books that I couldn’t wait to
own. These are my favorites, the ones I bought the minute they arrived.
Although the e-book reader is the greener choice (until it’s time to upgrade), the more practical choice for many people is not going to be a $400 device that simply gives you the pleasure of buying books in a different way. This is not a paperback killer. It’s just another toy.

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