E-books are three years behind MP3s

[montsnmags]

For me, it depends on the video he is referring to. I can see a very strong use for it in non-fictional circumstances (or even in the pseudo-non-fictional "glossary"-related aspects of some fiction). Thinking in terms of things like science magazines and books, educational texts, historical books (eg. showing progress of an empire or a war front) I can see distinct advantages of video portraying animated diagrams, or "real life video" showing a small recording of an actual event being related (small historical incident, scientific process, et cetera). This doesn't mean "embedded video" of a "full-length documentary" kind, but small (eg. 30 second) videolettes that assist in comprehension of something being explained.

For instance, I would have found small, quick, animated diagrams or visualisations while reading The Elegant Universe wonderful in portraying some of the mind-twisting dimensional concepts contained.

So, yes, I can see its value in some areas of (e)book publishing, plus it might open another unexplored field in which new forms of creativity can occur.

However, yes, when I'm reading (a good fiction book), I generally just want to read. There's a difference between an historian or popular science writer skillfully incorporating some creative video/animated aspects into their book, and a publisher throwing in video characterisations or forcing artists to offer video statements in the "ebook".

Cheers,
Marc

[jæd]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Puts me in mind of a friend of mine (Travis by name) who went to get a cellular phone.

He said (and I quote), "I want a phone. I don't want to take pictures. I don't want to make appointments. I don't want to send email or text messages. I just want something that will let me input numbers that will connect me with someone on the other end of the line so I can talk to them. I WANT A PHONE."

Then buy a low-end phone that many manufacturers (eg Nokia) sell for this purpose. They are very cheap and have huge battery life.

[dafire]

I think the biggest problem with e-books is the fear of the publishers that they will get the same problems the music/movie industry is crying about..

what do you think who many books won't get sold when e-readers will be common and the next "harry potter" book will be available in newsgroups a few days before the release.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

For me, it depends on the video he is referring to. I can see a very strong use for it in non-fictional circumstances (or even in the pseudo-non-fictional "glossary"-related aspects of some fiction). Thinking in terms of things like science magazines and books, educational texts, historical books (eg. showing progress of an empire or a war front) I can see distinct advantages of video portraying animated diagrams, or "real life video" showing a small recording of an actual event being related (small historical incident, scientific process, et cetera). This doesn't mean "embedded video" of a "full-length documentary" kind, but small (eg. 30 second) videolettes that assist in comprehension of something being explained.

For instance, I would have found small, quick, animated diagrams or visualisations while reading The Elegant Universe wonderful in portraying some of the mind-twisting dimensional concepts contained.

So, yes, I can see its value in some areas of (e)book publishing, plus it might open another unexplored field in which new forms of creativity can occur.

However, yes, when I'm reading (a good fiction book), I generally just want to read. There's a difference between an historian or popular science writer skillfully incorporating some creative video/animated aspects into their book, and a publisher throwing in video characterisations or forcing artists to offer video statements in the "ebook".

Cheers,
Marc

those are actually quite interesting applications to consider, and i can definitely see the added value in such contexts. but i would be worried that videos would end up embedded willy-nilly in all kinds of inappropriate books (fiction...), and i'm still pretty sure i would prefer to keep that separate.

mind you, i do also think interactive, illustrated or possibly animated, hyper-text books can be brilliant things as well, and for example it would be pretty amazing to have The Reprover on my liseuse.
(shameless plug : made by a friend of mine. buy it. you know you want to, it's only 16€, and no DRM !!)