Amazon's Kindle isn't the only e-reader, but, up until last week it was the more dominant reader on the market. Barnes & Nobles is firing back with their own Kindle version called the Nook.
Most people I know perfer reading actual books - I don't know anyone with a Kindle and I've never seen one up close. In the past I did think about buying one but realized its a waste of money. There still aren't a wide selection of books available, and usually when I'm done with a book I pass it on to someone else to read. With a e-reader you can't do that unless you actually lend them the reader.
Right now, I don't think books are endangered but they will be soon. As technology progresses and these e-readers improve books will begin to dissolve. But I think it just all depends on how the younger generations are conditioned towards books. People today feel so lost and vulnerable without their cell phones but for hundreds of years cell phones never even existed. Most likely we will be conditioned to be lost without our "Kindle" or "Nook". We, as people, have been accomodated so that when we want something we get it. I love that freedom, if I forget to look something up during the day and it pops in my head before bed - I have the freedom to just look it up online without having to get up.
So if theres a book we really wanted and didn't want to wait to drive to a book store or have it shipped in a week with the Kindle you can get it instantly. How convienant is that? But its also very addicting. If you had to drive or wait for a book to come in the mail everytime you wanted it you would refrain from buying them. The Kindle allows you to empty your bank account quickly and conviently. I like freedom but not that much freedom.
Maybe now that the "Nook" is out, Amazon will lower their prices on their "Kindle" but then again Amazon will probably just improve their "Kindle". Even though I am edgy about e-readers, my prediction is that since the Kindle is the ipod of books, in 5 years almost everyone will own one.
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i think your right the kindle is the ipod, of e-books. and now that the're becoming popular and new ebooks are arising they will have to come out with another cool alteration. Like a camera too, or something to give it a new edge.
ReplyDeleteI agree. More and more people are going to turn to the Kindle or the new Nook to read books. At some point people are going to want to download books for less instead of going to the store and paying some $17+. But at the same time alot of people want to hold a book. I know for me I could go either way, I enjoy holding books but I also enjoy using computers. So both to me are fine. I agree that in about 5 years just about everyone will own at least one of the Kindles or Nooks at one point...
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work