Ok, we can officially add e-readers to the ever growing list of consumer goods I just don’t get. First off, why would I feel the need to purchase a separate device for e-books when I can easily download them onto my netbook ? Not that I actually download e-books. Maybe I’m old school, but when I read a book, I want to physically hold the damn thing. The last thing I want to do when I’m in a reading mood is to stare at a computer screen or press any buttons. Call me crazy, but I usually read to escape the confines of the digital world. No screen is going to recreate the experience of reading; why not just pick up a book instead of wasting time and energy trying to create a reasonable facsimile? Sounds like a true exercise in futility to me.
Plus, most of the books I want to read aren’t any cheaper if I download them as opposed to buying a paper copy at the Borders down the street. For instance, the Kindle version of Kerouac’s classic On the Road costs $12.99. Really? Why? Amazon has paperback copies for $10.88. I’d be paying an extra $2 for what, exactly? Convenience?
It goes without saying that there’s no cool used/rare e-book store filled with forgotten words waiting for me to unearth; e-books have all the personality of a bowl of white rice. And I certainly can’t pick up a couple of awesome e-books at the Goodwill for 50 cents apiece. The appeal of most electronic devices, such as MP3 players is the ability to carry tons of content with you wherever you go. This concept doesn’t make sense when it comes to books. Why would I want to bring my library with me to the supermarket? I can’t envision a scenario where I would find myself reading, yet not have room to bring along a book. Maybe I’m alone on this one, but I don’t typically read multiple books simultaneously. I stick to a single story until I’m finished with it; therefore, I have no need to access 20,000 titles, say, while I wait for the bus.
Beyond my own personal tastes, I’m also confused about the target market for these things. As a general rule, young people (ages 35 and under) do not read, unless you want to pretend that skimming through the pages of glorified comic books, Twilight , and Harry Potter volume 85 counts. I refuse to play that game. If I come across a tad bitter here, it’s because I’ve been an avid reader my entire life. And I’ve never met anyone not old enough to be my grandparent who actually reads real books for pleasure. Not even the English majors in college fulfilled my dreams of finding people who share my passion for nonfiction and quirky lit. So, based on my own anecdotal experience, the majority of the reading demographic isn’t exactly technologically astute. No, these folks are slow to embrace change and their eyesight can’t handle a pocket sized screen anymore.
Once again, there must be something the manufacturers know that I’m oblivious to because Amazon announced it’s releasing the third round of Kindle devices. These latest models are smaller and you’ll be able to get one without 3g wireless capabilities for about $140, not including tax. For that price, I could buy enough reading material to keep my mind occupied for the rest of the year. Ahem. The ultra light Kindles with 3g will run you about $190. Both versions will be available in late August. The price drops are part of Amazon’s plan to annihilate Barnes & Noble’s Nook and the Sony Reader, although some hacks are inexplicably trying to pit the Kindle against Apple’s iPad. I suppose I can see a loose nexus, since they’re both overpriced gizmos you’d expect to see yuppies carrying around at Jamba Juice. Anything beyond that, though, remains the product of an overactive imagination, a prime example of desperate sensationalism. I can’t wait to read the inevitable product reviews featuring side by side comparisons of Kindles and iPads. Talk about fighting for words…