I am definitely not anti-e-reader (I do own a Nook), but this is pretty well done.
The problem is - it’s not.
I’d originally planed to ignore this video, in the [somewhat naive] hope it wouldn’t get all that much traction. I’ve now seen it posted by five separate people, across three different tags, so it’d be remiss of me not to offer up an opinion, given the name of this particular stream.
Anyways - let’s begin. I’ll try not to get too in-depth, as whilst being flawed, it’s hardly a “FUCK you Amazon” type video. In other words, I’ma play nice.
No honestly - I am.
:)
Video Start: Logo - “a normal book” with the arrow stretching from the “A” to the “M”
If you look at the Amazon logo, the arrow goes from the “A” to the “Z” - i.e, Amazon, we get you from A to Z - i.e a complete journey.
A through M, is not a complete journey. It’s, if my fag pack maths¹ is correct, bang on half.
The ergonomic design feels great in your hands
Unless of course, you consider the following:
- A person who has difficulties using their hands - say from some form of disability [arthritis? Take note coders - y’all are gonna experience this when you get older.]
- A book that’s physically difficult to maul around - say Infinite Jest.
Books pages can be turned with either hand.
Not really. If you’re holding a door-wedge of a novel - say the latest Stephen King hardcover, then turning it with your left-hand, if you’re right handed… Well it’s not rocket science, but it’s not exactly an effortless task.
Now, on an eReader? Yep, you can most definitely turn the page with both hands.
The book uses the latest ink technologies, and reads just like real paper.
That’s actually pretty funny.
The paper isn’t backlit, so reading is comfortable, even in the sunlight.
This only applies to crap eReaders, and tablets. All modern eInk eReaders are also backlight free, and thus perfectly readable in sunlight.
You can read for hours, without eye-strain.
Again - same applies to eInk eReaders.
With the books revolutionary battery-less design, you can read for as long as you want, without having to recharge.
True - though given most 4th Generation eInk eReaders are good for ~10,000 page turns, you could argue the same applies to them - unless, you can read more than 10,000 pages in one sitting?
Transition: “The Book Store”
1Min -> 1 Min 18 Seconds:
Also applies to online bookstores.
Thousands of classic books are also availible free, at libraries located conveniently across the country.
They’re also - classic books that is, located free, conveniently via sites such as Project Gutenberg.
Or get a review, by asking someone how he or she thought of the book.
You can do exactly the same, by asking friends / family - either offline or online. Then there’s online recommendations from people who’re interested in the same genres / authors you are, not forgetting specific book recommendation services / forums.
Transition: “Newer Isn’t Better”
[This, btw, is where the claws could come out from my perspective]
There is nothing wrong with Kindles, but do we really want them to replace books.
They won’t. Nor will Nooks, nor Kobos, nor “Windles”². Will they become, for most people, the “format of choice” for reading? Most likely.
The same way MP3s did - but CDs still exist. You can still buy second hand cassettes. And Vinyl - which has been “doomed to extinction” right back since 8-Tracks were introduced, has even managed to increase its market share over the years.
Do we really want our world to become 100% digital?
This is a redundant question, for a number of reasons - not least of all, because, the last time I checked Oxygen couldn’t be digitalised. Yes I’m being facetious, but sentiments like this, when you think about it, are absurd.
With everything available immediately, ubiquity is already becoming a problem.
By that logic, access to the internet should be restricted, and we should all - for our own protection, only get our news from Rupert Murdoch.
Do we really need a device that can hold 1500 books…
Do we really need portable audio players, that can hold 10, 20, 30-000 audio tracks?
Do we really need hard drives that can store more information [in .txt format] than humanity has ever known - or will ever know, for less than $200?
…Over 1,000 of which won’t be read.
By that logic - fuck eReaders, physical books should cease being produced. This very second, for the simple fact you could devote your life to reading a book a day, and even if you live to 100, likely have only read a very, very small percentage of all the books ever written.
Maybe future generations will look back at our print media and laugh, but after all - is it really that difficult to use a dictionary.
I added the emphasis, as - IMO, it fits in with the general “smug” tone of the video itself. And no, it’s not that difficult to use a dictionary, as all eReaders have them loaded onto the device, accessible directly from within the book you’re reading.
On a commute to work, with a physical book, and come across a word, the etymology of which you’re not familiar with? Tough. On an eReader, load up the dictionary, and it’ll tell you.
¹i.e maths scrawled on the back of a fag pack. Which is a local colloquialism for cigarette pack, lest anyone accuse a wolly-woofter of being homophobic.
²A redundant code-name, given it’s likely Waterstone’s “Windle” will be the Nook.
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The problem is - it’s not. I’d originally planed to ignore this video, in the [somewhat naive] hope it wouldn’t get all...
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