Hmmm. I'm not so sure. First, the "many other minute but very pleasant sensory experiences involved in reading a 3D book" are related to associations very much conditioned by the experience of reading many books, particularly as a child. I was one of those children who read voraciously, but I suspect that people like that are becoming increasingly rare. These days kids grow up with TV, computers, electronic games, and have a very different set of associations.
Second, why should Amazon care about how serious biblioholics react? That would be a tiny part of their target market.
Third, although I have lots of books, even I might consider getting a Kindle. I don't take particular pleasure in visiting a bookshop, in fact I'm just as likely to feel turned off by the mass-market product on display. Also the bookshop often doesn't have the book I'm looking for. I seldom read a book more than once, and like the idea of paying a lot less and not having the physical thing hanging around after it's read. The last time I went on holiday I carted a few books around the world with me - it would have been much more convenient to have them all in one small package. Even better if you can actually get books delivered to wherever you happen to be when you need something to read, or when someone recommends a book to you.
Fourth, I expect this device will enable font size to be specified, great when you have lost your glasses, or when staying in a hotel in Spain (where for some reason the rooms all seem to be very dimly lit.)
You may be right, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Kindle turns out to be a success. |
