Part 1: The Kindle and Other E-Readers
You might remember I wrote an article that covered the distribution rights on certain works that were sold online via Amazon's popular Kindle. I mentioned how I had considered buying a Kindle myself, as I am a book lover. With a limited amount of space, a device that stores hundreds of books would be of great benefit.
I have a lot of hobbies and collect all manner of things: movies, music, books, comics. As you can imagine, this takes up a fair amount of room. You might attribute this to me living in an apartment, but even my parents never seem to have space for anything despite having a house.
I was originally under the impression that a digital collection just isn't as impressive. It's why I don't buy it when people say that digital distribution is the future when it comes to buying movies. The more I thought about it, the more I thought that I may have been mistaken. You can showcase a vast music library on either your laptop or simply an Ipod with a huge hard drive.
Another advantage digital readers has is environmental. By being able to download a book or issue of a magazine or newspaper, you reduce the need to make the paper used on said books and magazines. Seeing as most magazines and newspapers get tossed eventually anyway, you would also eliminate a large chunk of waste. It would also save you a trip to the bookstore, saving you gasoline. Even ordering online requires fuel, so this would cut down on the need for that as well. Thirdly, clearing out your library and condensing it all on to one digital device reduces the need for a shelf.
Time is also an advantage. With an e-reader, you can download whatever book you want in less than a minute. No more having to deal with parking lots, long lines, or even a simple lack of time to go to the bookstore. It even beats online shopping as there is no shipping and you don't have to worry about a waiting period. The book's right there as if a magician mystically transported a copy for you.
While e-readers are a bit on the expensive side right now, a lot of the books are cheaper (more so with hardcovers than paperbacks) and as I said before, you would also save money on gas. As time goes on, the price is sure to drop. Even the PS3 was able to reduce it's price by 50% since it's release. With other companies throwing their hat into the digital literary ring, competition is sure to drive the price down significantly in the near future.
One of the major detractions against e-readers is that the sensation just isn't the same. I beg to differ, you can still curl up on the couch or get comfortable in a recliner and read. It will take some getting used to, but reading is reading. Actually, it might be better on e-readers. With an electronic monitor, light is no longer an issue as the screen is back-lit. With this, whether you're in the dark or just a dimly lit room, you can still read without damaging your eyes. You can also alter the font of the text so that the print is at a comfortable reading size.
As long as there aren't anymore distribution rights snafus and blunders, I can see e-readers being the next big thing in reading. It's convenient, environmentally friendly, compact, and easy to use.
Part 2: Audiobooks
Now we come to audiobooks. I like these things. Television shows usually show them as the recourse of people who are too lazy or unintelligent to read the book themselves, but I find this to be an inaccurate depiction. I find it to be just as enjoyable as reading. A lot of times, if the book is well written, having the words spoken to you does a better job of "transporting you to another world" then just the plain text.
Depending on what the book is and who's reading it, having someone read it can work better than reading it in your own voice. The people they hire usually have distinctive voices and put them to good use, acting out the various characters and coming up with dialects for them all.
Like movies, audiobooks have been able to adapt to new technology. It started with books on tape, then went on to CD's and now you can download audiobooks on mp3. I haven't tried listening to an audiobook on my iPod yet, but I have listened to several on my computer. It's great to just put on a pair of headphones, lean back and listen as the story is told to you.
Audiobooks have one advantage that neither regular books or even e-books have, and that is the ability to go in the car with you. If you have a long commute, nothing beats a good book. I know from experience that these make the long drives to and from work much easier. If you're going on vacation and want to save some money by driving there instead of flying, an audiobook is the perfect companion.
One of the major pros of e-books is environmental friendliness, audiobooks have the same advantage. Whether you buy them on CD or download them off of the Internet, it's still easier on our planet than making paper copies.
Also, like e-books, audiobooks don't require lighting to enjoy. If the power goes out, you can get a portable CD player or iPod and still enjoy the book without worry.
Audiobooks may not be for everyone. Some people just like sitting down with a book and reading. I enjoy it myself, but audiobooks are definitely something worth checking out as it adds a different angle to the experience. I don't know if it will ever replace reading entirely, and there is something frightening about phasing out reading completely, but audiobooks are definitely a way to keep literature alive in a time when television, video games, and the Internet seem to reign supreme.
Part 3: Books
With all the talk about all forms of media going digital, one can't help but wonder if the tried and true format we've been using to read for decades is going to stick it out and endure.
As others have pointed out, nothing can compare to the feeling of holding a book in your hand. While an e-book has it's pros, it wouldn't have the same authentic feel that actual paper books have. It's like how some people insist that records are superior to CD's (I don't buy it myself, but there are people out there who hold that opinion).
Book lovers love to show off what they're reading. Whether it be at the airport, on a plane, in the waiting room, or on a bus, you can get a sense of the person's personality by what they read. For the hardcore book collector, there is no prouder feeling than walking into your own personal library or study and reveling in all the books that surround you.
Even from a decorative viewpoint, books are the better way to go. They line your shelves and give visitors an insight into your interests. They also make your coffee table look more exciting and grab visitors' attention.
It makes for a great conversation piece for guests and you have a whole plethora of books to share with your friends to expose them to the things you love. A lot of collectors will have a story for each book, especially the rare, hard to find ones.
Unlike movies, which have been adapted to multiple formats over the years, books have remained the same. A reliable constant that hasn't swayed to the passage of time. The format is tried and true, and there's no reason to try and fix what simply isn't broken.
There's just a certain feeling you get curling up with a good book. Whether it be in a lounge chair, or getting under your covers with a flashlight and reading to pass the time on those nights when you can't sleep, reading a book is a sensation that is hard to replicate. E-book readers have their advantages, but most avid readers will take a dog eared, folded, creased, and beaten up copy of their favorite book over a digital replica.
With the internet making a larger and larger impact on people's lives and on the way goods are sold, maybe there's something good to come out of just sticking with a hard copy of a book. It's often said that reading long texts on a screen isn't very engaging. If this is the case, I find it hard to believe that people would be willing to read a whole novel on an electronic screen. There's nothing wrong with a good old fashioned paperback. Not everything needs to go digital in order to survive.
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