Will Paper books fade away?

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by yagiz

They all play video games with portable devices... They start to have phones when they're 7 (maybe even younger). Yeah, when they're toddler, they break and tear. But much less when they're a little bit older...

Not the ones with intelligent parents. (and grandparents)

Mine read books, and yes, they use the computer. However, did you know, there is a site called "spelling city'. The teacher lists her weekly words there, and the kids have their choice of games to play, using the words.

There is a great deal of fun things they can do on the computer without playing mindless, violent games.

However, its up to the parents to see that this happens.

Peer pressure be dammed.

[yagiz]

I think a lot of people are very *romantic* about the paper books: its new smell, etc. But the e-book readers have just begun to evolve. At the end of the day, there's no reason an e-book reader cannot behave like a computer: instant translation, pronunciation, full text search, Internet connectivity, etc.

We don't use abacus anymore. It was all nice and shiny with colorful beads but when something better comes up, we just prefer it. It's human nature. It's only a matter of time...

[yagiz]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Mine read books, and yes, they use the computer.

I'm not saying they should play PSP3 or Nintendo... Not saying they should all have a mobile phone... I'm saying that they know how to use more or less fragile electronic devices...

[cerement]

Originally Posted by yagiz

I'm not saying they should play PSP3 or Nintendo... Not saying they should all have a mobile phone... I'm saying that they know how to use more or less fragile electronic devices...

On the other hand, there is no reason most of our electronic gadgets should be as fragile as they are Why do we consider Toughbooks, Dell XFRs, and OLPC XOs to be the exception rather than the rule?

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by cerement

On the other hand, there is no reason most of our electronic gadgets should be as fragile as they are Why do we consider Toughbooks, Dell XFRs, and OLPC XOs to be the exception rather than the rule?

People care about sleek design, more than functionality and durability in many cases.

We can thank Apple for that.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Not the ones with intelligent parents. (and grandparents)

Mine read books, and yes, they use the computer. However, did you know, there is a site called "spelling city'. The teacher lists her weekly words there, and the kids have their choice of games to play, using the words.

There is a great deal of fun things they can do on the computer without playing mindless, violent games.

However, its up to the parents to see that this happens.

Peer pressure be dammed.

I'm sorry, but what is the above comment supposed to mean. Is the videogame to be derided because it's not a book? Are parents who allow their kids to play videogames somehow below-normal intelligence? I mean, come on, if you're talking mindless and bad for you I can point out a host of mass-market fiction that would be far more detrimental than any Gears of War or Grand Theft Auto.

[DebraSeattleGrrl]

Paperbacks, granted, may not be as prevalent but I certainly don't believe that physical books will vanish. I do think, though, in the not so distant future, there will be a drastic shift in the ratio of new e-books to physical books.

I wonder what the advent of the e-reader means for our local libraries. Can you imagine the possibilities? Can you picture what it could be like in terms of textbooks and general learning? No more waiting in line at college campus book stores or loading up a child's backpack in the morning.

That being said, I've never had anyone ever autograph an e-book. I've also never had a book "break" or run out of power. I can not imagine what it would be like teaching a child to read without a tangible, individual book. Certainly less enjoyable I imagine. And, yes, I enjoy the aesthetic quality of a physical book.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

People care about sleek design, more than functionality and durability in many cases.

We can thank Apple for that.

No. Only cool people do.

[cerement]

Originally Posted by DebraSeattleGrrl

I do think, though, in the not so distant future, there will be a drastic shift in the ratio of new e-books to physical books.

I don't think it will be a drastic shift, it will only be drastic in terms of us looking to the future, or those looking back after the change has happened. eBook readers will have to become more commonplace, more accepted (to the point where we're comfortable seeing them as product placements on sitcoms). Prices will have to come down and manufacturing geared up to where anyone can pick them up (not thinking paperback cheap for the readers, but more along the lines of cellphone cheap - "FREE* *with 2 year paid subscription to Newsweek")

Originally Posted by DebraSeattleGrrl

That being said, I've never had anyone ever autograph an e-book.

We have the technology now, would be interesting to see an implementation, not so much "autographing", but the possibility of having an author annotating then digitally signing your file with his/her GPG key (or some other equivalent) ...

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Sonist

No. Only cool people do.

I would say design, good design is integral to the usefulness of a product. Good design, in any form, promotes a feeling of comfortability and ease when faced with technology, but it also goes the same in architecture and many other fields. Form and function fitting together will always trump mere function without the form.

Take a look at a Fumihiko Maki building, or Andrew Lloyd Wright, whatever your fancy. They're buildings that integrate both concepts and are better for it.

Apple do get this right. They build computers how computers should look. Unobtrusive, sleek, they're the products of the idea of form and function meshed together. This is not the only reason for their popularity, Apple sells the idea of a lifestyle with every product. It's great marketing, also, that gives Apple their status (although not market share).

Another company that seems to be getting it too is Wizpac with their Txtr reader. Compared to the blocky, industrial design of the Sony reader (and the Hanlin derivates) or the clumsy mess of the Kindle, the Txtr is a shining beacon.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I would say design, good design is integral to the usefulness of a product. Good design, in any form, promotes a feeling of comfortability and ease when faced with technology, but it also goes the same in architecture and many other fields. Form and function fitting together will always trump mere function without the form.

Take a look at a Fumihiko Maki building, or Andrew Lloyd Wright, whatever your fancy. They're buildings that integrate both concepts and are better for it.

Apple do get this right. They build computers how computers should look. Unobtrusive, sleek, they're the products of the idea of form and function meshed together. This is not the only reason for their popularity, Apple sells the idea of a lifestyle with every product. It's great marketing, also, that gives Apple their status (although not market share).

Another company that seems to be getting it too is Wizpac with their Txtr reader. Compared to the blocky, industrial design of the Sony reader (and the Hanlin derivates) or the clumsy mess of the Kindle, the Txtr is a shining beacon.

I agree that design is important. My problem is that many of Apples products look great (and work well) but they tend to do less and cost more than rival products.

Case in point 2-3 years ago I was shopping for a 30GB mp3 player with a color screen that could also do video.

You had the 30GB Video iPod which was $300 or 350 (can't recall for sure) and never on sale.

Then you had the 30GB Creative Vision M: Which also looked great and is a well designed piece of hardware and sold for $199.99 and I got on sale for $150 from Amazon. On top of saving the money, the Creative had better sound quality (per reviews), a better screen (higher res, displayed millions more colors), and an FM tuner which I use a lot and the iPods lack without buying an adaptor. Plus you can just drag and drop files onto the creative and not be tied to a program like iTunes.

That's why I'll never buy Apple products. I'm not willing to pay more for a device that looks nicer and does less than cheaper products from other companies.

I'll admit they have something unique with the iPhone/iTouch that competitors haven't rivaled yet. I just have no use for it. The internet sucks on the small screen, I hate typing on the touch screen keyboard (compared to the physical one on my LG Voyager) and the games suck compared to those on the DS or PSP.

But it is the best product of it's kind for people that need/want that kind of all in one device. I don't so I'd rather have stand alone devices that do all those things better.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I agree that design is important. My problem is that many of Apples products look great (and work well) but they tend to do less and cost more than rival products.

Case in point 2-3 years ago I was shopping for a 30GB mp3 player with a color screen that could also do video.

You had the 30GB Video iPod which was $300 or 350 (can't recall for sure) and never on sale.

Then you had the 30GB Creative Vision M: Which also looked great and is a well designed piece of hardware and sold for $199.99 and I got on sale for $150 from Amazon. On top of saving the money, the Creative had better sound quality (per reviews), a better screen (higher res, displayed millions more colors), and an FM tuner which I use a lot and the iPods lack without buying an adaptor. Plus you can just drag and drop files onto the creative and not be tied to a program like iTunes.

That's why I'll never buy Apple products. I'm not willing to pay more for a device that looks nicer and does less than cheaper products from other companies.

I'll admit they have something unique with the iPhone/iTouch that competitors haven't rivaled yet. I just have no use for it. The internet sucks on the small screen, I hate typing on the touch screen keyboard (compared to the physical one on my LG Voyager) and the games suck compared to those on the DS or PSP.

But it is the best product of it's kind for people that need/want that kind of all in one device. I don't so I'd rather have stand alone devices that do all those things better.

Years ago I was a Mac hater, a rabid Mac hater around the time of System 9 was it, can't remember the name. Then I tried OS X at a demo and saw the Imac and I was astounded by how it all fit together. This was how I'd imagined computing when I was young, looking at all those annuals that showed you what the future would look like. That's where they got me, they hooked me with that initial design and, minor annoyances apart, they've had me ever since -- which is really annoying when you're trying to advocate DRM-free and Open Source

[DebraSeattleGrrl]

Originally Posted by cerement

I don't think it will be a drastic shift, it will only be drastic in terms of us looking to the future, or those looking back after the change has happened. eBook readers will have to become more commonplace, more accepted (to the point where we're comfortable seeing them as product placements on sitcoms). Prices will have to come down and manufacturing geared up to where anyone can pick them up (not thinking paperback cheap for the readers, but more along the lines of cellphone cheap - "FREE* *with 2 year paid subscription to Newsweek")

We have the technology now, would be interesting to see an implementation, not so much "autographing", but the possibility of having an author annotating then digitally signing your file with his/her GPG key (or some other equivalent) ...

I like the way you think.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Years ago I was a Mac hater, a rabid Mac hater around the time of System 9 was it, can't remember the name. Then I tried OS X at a demo and saw the Imac and I was astounded by how it all fit together. This was how I'd imagined computing when I was young, looking at all those annuals that showed you what the future would look like. That's where they got me, they hooked me with that initial design and, minor annoyances apart, they've had me ever since -- which is really annoying when you're trying to advocate DRM-free and Open Source

I do like the Mac OS. The hardware just isn't worth the cost.

And it's impractical for me since I work in academia and do a lot of research that involves a lot of collaboration etc. That just leads to too much hassle with converting files (especially files from small statistical analysis packages) etc. since most everyone is on PCs. And I work from home a ton so also doesn't make sense for me to buy a Mac for home.

I don't have too much against their computers (though I do think they're overpriced compared to equal spec machines from Dell etc.), more just the iPod line which I've always found inferior in features to stuff offered by the competition.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I do like the Mac OS. The hardware just isn't worth the cost.

And it's impractical for me since I work in academia and do a lot of research that involves a lot of collaboration etc. That just leads to too much hassle with converting files (especially files from small statistical analysis packages) etc. since most everyone is on PCs. And I work from home a ton so also doesn't make sense for me to buy a Mac for home.

I don't have too much against their computers (though I do think their overpriced compared to equal spec machines from Dell etc.), more just the iPod line which I've always found inferior in features to stuff offered by the competition.

They are definitely overpriced, you won't get any argument from me there. Just take a look at my bank account