Comments on: Why use textbooks when there are Kindles? http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/why-use-textbooks-when-there-are-kindles/ Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:13:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: midtwentiesennui http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/why-use-textbooks-when-there-are-kindles/#comment-1777 midtwentiesennui Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:55:05 +0000 http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/?p=779#comment-1777 I've been aware of Kindle for a while, but I have never wanted to use one. Even though I work at a search engine technology company and generally see the digitization of content as a good thing, I do not believe electronic books can replace the old fashioned kind. When I read books I want an experience that is focused and gives my eyes a rest from my computer screen. Having a bunch of choices in one device recreates the iPod phenomenon of having so many options you can't settle on one thing. Having worked with kids, I think the prospect of using the iPod of books in a classroom setting would be nightmarish, at least with younger children. And yes, I agree this video is a shoddy excuse for journalism!! I’ve been aware of Kindle for a while, but I have never wanted to use one. Even though I work at a search engine technology company and generally see the digitization of content as a good thing, I do not believe electronic books can replace the old fashioned kind. When I read books I want an experience that is focused and gives my eyes a rest from my computer screen. Having a bunch of choices in one device recreates the iPod phenomenon of having so many options you can’t settle on one thing. Having worked with kids, I think the prospect of using the iPod of books in a classroom setting would be nightmarish, at least with younger children.

And yes, I agree this video is a shoddy excuse for journalism!!

]]> By: The Librarienne http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/why-use-textbooks-when-there-are-kindles/#comment-1775 The Librarienne Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:56:47 +0000 http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/?p=779#comment-1775 The debate over whether libraries can lend Kindles has been going on since the Library Journal article came out saying Sparta Public had started doing just that. Amazon, so far, has turned a blind eye to it (and seemed to have no real policy in place to enforce the policy already in place, so many took it as just a vague statement "don't do it!"). I feel like as more and more libraries jump on this trend, and Amazon starts to see a dip in Kindle sales, they may just come around and start enforcing the policy leaving a whole lot of libraries with a lot of Kindles they can't lend out. It makes perfect sense for Amazon to neither encourage nor discourage Kindle lending initially-- they want to let as many people as possible try one out in the hopes that more people will buy and there will be positive word of mouth-- but now that demand has slacked off, why would Amazon continue with this altruism? The debate over whether libraries can lend Kindles has been going on since the Library Journal article came out saying Sparta Public had started doing just that. Amazon, so far, has turned a blind eye to it (and seemed to have no real policy in place to enforce the policy already in place, so many took it as just a vague statement “don’t do it!”). I feel like as more and more libraries jump on this trend, and Amazon starts to see a dip in Kindle sales, they may just come around and start enforcing the policy leaving a whole lot of libraries with a lot of Kindles they can’t lend out.
It makes perfect sense for Amazon to neither encourage nor discourage Kindle lending initially– they want to let as many people as possible try one out in the hopes that more people will buy and there will be positive word of mouth– but now that demand has slacked off, why would Amazon continue with this altruism?

]]> By: Why use textbooks when there are Kindles? | Library Stuff http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/why-use-textbooks-when-there-are-kindles/#comment-1771 Why use textbooks when there are Kindles? | Library Stuff Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:39:25 +0000 http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/?p=779#comment-1771 [...] Closed Stacks - “Fortunately, it is my understanding that Kindle developers did not intend to replace books.” Posted in Kindle | | Top Of Page [...] [...] Closed Stacks – “Fortunately, it is my understanding that Kindle developers did not intend to replace books.” Posted in Kindle | | Top Of Page [...]

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