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Digitizing literature? (Kindle, e-books, etc.)

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*RaenSilim:iconRaenSilim: Mar 24, 2008, 2:36:32 PM
A few months ago, Amazon released a new piece of technology called "Kindle" (for those of you who haven't heard of it, imagine an iPod for books. You download them and read them off a screen).

It's supposed to be (at least it was originally advertised as) the ultimate in convenience because oh mi gawd! you don't have to turn pages (you click) or cart around large quantities of ink and wood pulp. But, in a world where it's already hard to make a living writing, how do you people feel about things like this? Will this narrow what is published even more? Also, what are your opinions on how this affects the experience of reading a great book?

Personally, I don't like it. There's just something satisfying about holding a book in your hand, being surrounded by shelves of them, and, I imagine, seeing your own published work sitting on a shelf in a store. Not to mention reading a screen for extended periods of time is tiring.

--
"What is essential is invisible to the eye," repeated the little prince, so as to remember.

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~Lytrigian:iconLytrigian: Mar 24, 2008, 5:19:07 PM
Narrow what is published? It can only widen it, just as the Web has resulted in an explosion of writers getting their work exposed to the public.

The barrier to publication has always been the cost. Paper, printing, and binding costs money. That's why publishers need to be selective. Creating a text file costs nothing. If it became common for books to be distributed as e-books, the barriers to publishing will drop to zero.

By the same token, it will become much more difficult to get noticed once you do publish because there will be that much more competition.

Having said that, I agree with you about books. I much prefer them. I haven't used a Kindle so I don't know if it's any easier on the eyes than a computer screen. You'd think a well-designed e-book reader would be. Whether it is or not, there's still something about the feel of a book in your hands that's much more satisfying. I'd rather turn a page than push a button.
`SparrowSong:iconSparrowSong: Mar 24, 2008, 5:44:54 PM
I prefer a book, but I don't mind having the option of Kindle. Had I the money and desire to own one, it would substantially cut down on the weight and bulk of my baggage during trips.
*nordshee:iconnordshee: Mar 25, 2008, 12:01:39 PM
I looked at the Kindle when I first heard about it, but I couldn't afford the $400. Part of the reason I don't buy tons of books, besides the cost, is that I simply don't have any place to put them.

It is interesting to think about the future of publishing, though. The next step might be downloading stuff in, say, PDF, and reading it on your cell. Publishing is definitely becoming more competitive, but I think it's because the market is shrinking more than anything else. The average person's attention span simply isn't what it used to be, not when the current media paradigm is the five-minute YouTube video.
~patter:iconpatter: Mar 25, 2008, 4:36:38 PM
Amazon has not invented the ebook or the ebook reader. The effect of the existence or both of these things over the last few decades has been pretty underwhleming--to the point where most people haven't even noticed it. In my case this involved mainly earning thousands of dollars in ebook royalties, something I am obviously not opposed to. I would say publishing is definitely less competitive, although the benefit of some times of publishing are more modest.

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Featured e-Book: The Sculptor's Muse
~JesterSeven:iconJesterSeven: Mar 31, 2008, 3:26:56 AM
I don't like electronic books much, but I'm a lit snob :D. Right now I'll only send material to magazines that have a print format, and greatly dislike reading anything more than 1500 words or so on the computer screen (yes, this does affect what I will read and comment on here on DA. If I am inclined to look at a long piece, I will often print it out and read it that way). I stare at it enough during the say for school, I don't need more reasons.

--
The little devil on everyone's shoulder.
~aki-mito:iconaki-mito: Apr 11, 2008, 10:02:36 AM
ebooks aren't just bad for the eyes, they have no longevity! If your computer dies, what happens to your books? Plus, it is always better to be able to just pick up a book and read it.
~Art-of-Hilt:iconArt-of-Hilt: Apr 11, 2008, 12:57:45 PM
I've actually read small books on the internet using my iPod Touch. :< I found it awesome. I could just leave, like, a whole chapter of the book on it and as long as I don't move from the page I could go anywhere and not be bothered by lack of wireless internet. It was like having a book in my pocket. If the Kindle is like that, I wouldn't mind at all. Of course, it has to have a long battery life, or else what's the point?

--
Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin'. Tossed salad and scrambled eggs
Oh My! Mercy!
And maybe I seem a bit confused, yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!

But I don’t know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs.
They're calling again.
~patter:iconpatter: Apr 11, 2008, 3:44:29 PM
In most cases a digital book is likely to outlive one made out of paper because it can be not only preserved but duplicated without limit or degradation and transmitted over the internet to any number of computers. A single paper book decays within a hundred years, suffers from wear and is lost when contacting water, fire, insects and many other things. It cannot duplicate itself perfectly, and often will not duplicate itself at all.

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Featured e-Book: The Sculptor's Muse
*mdog02:iconmdog02: Apr 11, 2008, 4:01:08 PM
One would hope that you back up anything worth keeping.

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most people are worth more to me dead than alive,
but you're worth much more to me alive than dead
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