yeah, they are ugly…

Nic Hornby has some thoughts about e-books and e-readers over at his blog (now reposted at the Penguin blog if you wish to comment). My favorite point:

2) E-book readers have a couple of disadvantages, when compared to mp3 players. The first is that, when we bought our iPods, we already owned the music to put on it; none of us own e-books, however. The second is that so far, Apple is uninterested in designing an e-book reader, which means that they don’t look very cool.

Unlike Hornby, I think ebooks will take off eventually once they can figure out a way to load books one already owns. And like anything else Apple does, once the company decides to make one it will take off amongst the young folk. Bibliophiles will keep their books and still buy books (just like vinyl lovers) but those who aren’t attached to books will eventually buy e readers. How many people who don’t love music own ipods? I’m guessing a great deal. Did they listen to music as often pre-Ipod as they do post-Ipod? I’ll go with no on that one. E-readers, one way or another, will allow people to read more often. Perhaps more importantly, people will buy more books because they will be cheaper and more easily accessible. My thoughts aside, Hornby makes some great points in a much more entertaining manner so check it out.

On a side note adios to the “Stuff I’ve Been Reading” column in The Believer. This was always good, for lack of a better word, stuff. This informal book review for me was always a highlight whenever I stole my roommate’s copy of the magazine/journal.

Sorry I couldn’t be more eloquent this morning, no coffee yet and I am distracted by train wreck that is Mark Mulder’s career as a Cardinal. He has to be done.

-jw

~ by jwilliamson9 on July 10, 2008.