 | 25 Feb 09 |
A few weeks ago I was sitting in an airport, thumbing the keypad on my Blackberry at the speed of light, when a lady standing near me commented—“Can you imagine what life would be like without those gadgets?”
Without looking up, I blurted, “Yeah, we might actually have one.”
A long pause, then she chuckled. A small half-laugh that held an undercurrent of resignation, one that said, Yeah, I know what you mean, but what can we do?
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not against new technology. What I have a hard time wrapping my brain around, though, is how some of these gizmos, which were supposedly created to save us time, wound up taking up more of our time? And they not only take it, they demand immediately attention, like a bratty kid pitching a fit for a candy bar in a grocery store. All those bells, whistles, buzzing, snorting, bee-bopping, raps and taps, each alerting us to emails, texts, phone calls, and heaven only knows what else while we’re eating dinner, watching a movie, or even sleeping. And like that’s not bad enough, once those suckers have their hooks in you, it takes major willpower to break away from them. Ever try to stay away from emails and the internet for a week? Tough, ain’t it?
But I guess, like with most things in life, there’s some good and bad, give and take with each of these gadgets. My personal challenge with them has been perception—and reality. Without question, they often have me overwhelmed and overworked at times. And that alone has kept me from reaching out to embrace yet another new fangled piece of technology that seems to be all the current rage—the Kindle.
When the reading units first came out, the reviews were pretty good, most people touting the virtues of their convenience and ease of use. As good as the reviews were, though, I shook my head and reached for a nearby book, happy for the feel of the paper between my fingers and the smell of the ink on the page, something I knew no electronic reader could give me. I used other excuses to stay away from the readers, as well. Like I hate reading from a computer screen. The glare kills my eyes. Not only that, Kindle sales reduce overall revenue to authors because the cost for a book’s Kindle edition is lower. Even worse, the sales for these units are not accounted for by BookScan, which is a relatively new sales measurement system being used by editors and agents in the publishing industry. With all of that in hand, I held fast to my convictions . . . until recently.
As this very moment, sitting at the corner of my desk, is a box from Amazon. It arrived at my office half an hour ago, and it’s still unopened. –SIGH– Yes, this is my confession—I fell prey to Amazon’s incessant, glory-rallying advertising of their latest and greatest—Kindle 2. No glare or eye strain they promise. 16 shades of gray give a reader the illusion they’re reading from an actual book. One quick click of a button and the pages turn as they would between your fingers. No computer connection needed to download books as the K2 contains its own wireless system. AND, of course, don’t forget that by using a K2 you’re helping to save the planet. Save the tree, the spotted owl – - the red-breasted, wooly mammoth caterpillar! Yep, they knew all the right things to say to break down many of my defenses. So, I gave up the ghost and bought one. Never thought I would. Actually fought the inclination like a cat trapped in a shoebox, but—obviously—like that same doggone cat—curiosity won out. –SIGH
I can’t give Amazon all the credit for my moment of weakness, however. The airline mentioned above played a part in it as well, with their $25 per checked bag policy and $50 for anything over 50 pounds. Add to that smaller allowances for carryons, and it was getting to the point where I had to often times decide whether to bring the two paperbacks I’d been reading or my shampoo and cream rinse. The books or a blow dryer. The books or my makeup bag. Argg!
So, here I sit, staring at a yet to be opened box, wondering if in buying this new gizmo I’m not cutting off my nose to spite my face. The read might be easier and the pages might turn faster, but no one’s touched the issue about revenues and sales numbers for authors. And what about the feel and smell of an actual book? Nothing can give a reader those sensory pleasures but the real deal.
Oh, well, too late now. It’s a done deal. So–sigh–GRIN–here goes nothing . . .
Deborah LeBlanc is an award-winning author and business owner from Lafayette, Louisiana. She's also a licensed death scene investigator and an active member of two national paranormal investigation teams.
She is the president of the Horror Writers Association, president of the Writers' Guild of Acadiana, president of Mystery Writers of America's Southwest Chapter, and an active member of Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc, and International Thriller Writers Inc. In 2004, she created the LeBlanc Literacy Challenge, an annual national campaign designed to encourage more people to read, and founded Literacy Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting illiteracy in America’s teens. She also takes her passion for literacy and a powerful ability to motivate to high schools around the country.
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I saw the commercial on Amazon and I was so tempted. Maybe $100 cheaper and I might. But, I love going to the bookstore, browsing the aisles, finding new authors to try.
by Amanda February 25th, 2009 at 1:51 pmI love the whole browsing thing, too, Amanda, and am sure NOT going to give that up.
by Deb February 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pmI’ve been tempted, as well. I keep hearing great things about Sony’s e-reader, and I don’t know how either work (like, how do you download books for the Sony? I know for the Kindle, you buy them from Amazon.) I was even more tempted lately as i’ve been trying to cull through used books and find places for them on my shelves.
Eventually, ebooks will end up being standard, much in the same way interstates have replaced the wagon trail. There will always be people who prefer the trail, but they won’t be the majority for quick travel.
by toni mcgee causey February 25th, 2009 at 2:33 pmToni, I have a friend who bought the Sony reader and loved it. But when he saw the Kindle 2, he laid down the bucks for it. According to him, it’s better than the Sony.
by Deb February 25th, 2009 at 4:20 pmMy feeling about this? What a gyp for the authors. I’ve self-published books, and they cost money to print. If the publishers are reducing the royalties because the cost is less, they are being deliberately disingenuous.
The publishing business, in general, enrages me, and it doesn’t surprise me at all that they’ve found yet another way to cheat the authors out of money. Without whom they would not exist.
Rant over.
by Karen in Ohio February 25th, 2009 at 2:38 pmI hear you, Karen. Word on the street is that as Kindle sales grow, publishers are going to have to start playing fair with authors. They know it, and many authors know it. Guess it’s left to be seen….
by Deb February 25th, 2009 at 4:21 pmOh, my gosh. I, too, am way behind on this technology. I suppose it could be okay if it didn’t short the authors. Saving trees is a good thing. I love the idea of high school books and college books being on something like this to keep from breaking our kids’ backs. As for entertainment reading, for now I’m undecided.
by Debra Webb February 25th, 2009 at 3:25 pmI know what you mean, Deb. Can’t give any updates on the unit yet. I’ve opened the box, think it’s slick and light, but haven’t tried it out yet. I’m going to have to block out some time just to learn how to use it. Argg!
by Deb February 25th, 2009 at 4:23 pmMy agent has a Kindle and loves it. I don’t know. I love technology, I love new gadgets, I was one of the first to get the fifth generation iPod . . . but I love paper. I love feeling books. Smelling books. Browsing bookstores and libraries and my own bookshelf . . . but, my royalties are higher for Kindle books so maybe . . . save an author, buy ebooks? LOL
by Allison Brennan February 25th, 2009 at 6:07 pmI think I would end up heavily dividing my reading — all my non-fic (especially research) would be ebook form, but I’d probably always prefer novels in paper. At least for now, to carry around.
by toni mcgee causey February 25th, 2009 at 10:56 pmI love my Kindle, wouldn’t trade it, except for the new version, But at the same time, my e-books are just out in print and there’s nothing like holding your own book pysically in your hands.
by Carol Shenold February 26th, 2009 at 7:24 amUm, that would be physically. Sorry.
by Carol Shenold February 26th, 2009 at 7:26 amI like the book store, and holding a book in hand, but I think in the future with the whole tree thing and critters endangered, we will see more these coming around and cheaper. But for many right now holding a book from a used bookstore is all the entertainment some individuals can afford. For me, to have one of these gizmos would certainly save space in my house, me a lot of trouble to move books out to make room for new ones, and probably money in the long run. We’ll see.
by Lee February 26th, 2009 at 7:36 am