08-28-2006, 04:42 AM | #1 | |
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Where reading paper books is like having sex
It seems Aussies have a different relationship to their paper books than most other folks do. The Age has an exceptionally interesting article where Monica Dux talks about the pleasures of reading paper books versus e-books. On the one hand, she envisions a rosy future for e-reader technology, with screens that resemble normal paper, download access to unlimited content, and intelligent user interfaces. On the other hand, she maintains that for most people, including herself, "the idea of replacing traditional books is as unthinkable as taking the body out of the sex act, so carnal is their attachment."
The author mentions various pro-paper book sentiments:
But Mrs Dux doesn't stop here. In fact, she explains that most of these emotional aspects could be addressed by further technical improvements of e-readers (why has no one yet considered a clear waterproof slim-case for the iRex iLiad?). And she summarizes very nicely: Quote:
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08-28-2006, 08:31 AM | #2 |
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When you live as a recluse in a big country where communication is arduous and when even radio and TV are difficult to satisfy your curiosity, a book is truly your best friend.
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08-28-2006, 09:17 AM | #3 | |
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Quote:
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08-30-2006, 10:24 AM | #4 | |
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Quote:
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08-30-2006, 10:52 AM | #5 |
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Hehehe... thanks for the heads-up, Pruss, at least my curiousity is moderately satisfied, since I truly doubt my husband will let me approach anything wet with an almost-700-euro toy, however much I may trust the bag to "do its thing".
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08-30-2006, 06:46 PM | #6 |
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She might never embrace electronic books but her kids will. They will wonder at these old people and their attraction to primitive paper reading devices
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08-31-2006, 02:04 PM | #7 | |
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08-31-2006, 02:18 PM | #8 |
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Did Monica Dux give birth to a ditionnary ?
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09-01-2006, 03:50 AM | #9 |
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Yeah ... when the last tree is chopped ...
then again, when the last tree is chopped, perhaps electronic devices would also be on it's way out ... ... or more importantly ... us? |
09-01-2006, 03:59 AM | #10 | |
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09-01-2006, 08:53 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
I live in Quebec where 90% of trees are cut for paper, you should see what little we have left, mainly 100 feet around law protected waterways. Up north 300 year old trees are 10" across only, don't count on regrowth. Don't forget that for books bleaching of fibers with toxic chemicals is necessary, that pollutes enormously, actually killing rivers. I used to live next to one, you would'nt believe the stench. :hanged: I am a book collector, I have about 3000 about a ton of paper, and all set in a 20' library that had to be built of wood, all of which could fit on a 2gb SD card. |
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04-15-2007, 08:23 AM | #12 |
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I don't know about Quebec, but here in America books are printed on farmed trees. Saying books destroy trees is like saying bread destroys wheat.
So yeah, I'd bet ebooks are worse. On a side note, recycling paper leaves more chemical pollution than making new paper. Also, wth is up with people loathing to throw paper into a landfill or worrying that it won't decompose (or wanting to use paper over plastic because it'll decompose)? When it doesn't decompose, it's carbon sequestering! Landfills also have lots of capacity and live quite nicely when they're full and covered over with greenery. (And that's where the chemical byproducts should also end up, not in a river.) Last edited by alex_d; 04-15-2007 at 08:26 AM. |
04-15-2007, 08:40 AM | #13 |
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As for ebooks vs pbooks... I like old, hardbound, small tomes. However, most pbooks are either heavy or paperback. This makes them very inconvenient. And if they're new, they don't really have the smell or feel. Let's not romantically attribute the properties of a few good pbooks to all of them.
Regarding the three B's... very important, but I don't worry too much about taking my Sony into the tub (haven't tried the beach). I'm careful and the nice felt cover doesn't slip in the hand. Even if something were to happen, chances are pretty good that it'll survive just fine if I quickly take it apart and dry it out. Short-circuiting by clean water at low voltage is not actually a huge problem. You just have to not let it sit around wet for too long. It'd be better, tho, if I could also immediately remove the battery. Regarding bookstores... yeah, bookstores are nice. Nothing nicer than to go around judging books by their covers. |
04-15-2007, 07:18 PM | #14 |
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lol, the debate rages on! It is good to see so much debate, it means that people are actually starting to consider eBooks as a viable medium instead of something that "may" happen in the future.
Food for Thought: You have to wonder if the monks, who were physically penning books in the middle ages, had such angst and misgivings about the printing press; stating such issues as the loss of personality to books when they are no longer "scribed by hand." Better yet, how about the bards of old who used to tell stories as a living; how many of them were anxious when more people learned to read and their job market diminished. As to her 3-B's... I think I've probably only taken a few PB's into the bath in my lifetime, and was still troubled by the fact that they were exposed to so much humidity and moisture that I just felt it wasn't right. Don't get me wrong, I love to read but for me a bath is about relaxing for a bit and not coming out all pruned-up. The beach, on the other hand, it a viability, although there isn't one close, I think I'll stick to the 'ol PB on the shelf for hauling to a place of such elemental invasion (the bed's quite safe... most of the time! ) |
04-15-2007, 07:35 PM | #15 |
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I'm getting fed up going into bookstores.
Too often I come home with a new novel only to find that I already have it. I keep intending to make a list of my p-books and e-books to keep on my PDA to take with me when browsing. I wish I were more organised. |
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