Will Amazon’s Kindle Kill Books?
I love gadgets and I love books, so I’m thinking the Amazon Kindle was created with someone like me in mind. But maybe not.
For those of you that aren’t familiar, the Kindle is Amazon’s entry into the E-Book market. That is, it’s a portable device that lets you carry hundreds of books in one compact device. There are even cool things like wireless connectivity, virtual delivery of your paper every morning, and cool things like that.
The big question is, do people want to read books on an electronic device?
Like I said, I love books—actual paper books—so this isn’t really for me. I just can’t see myself whipping out the Kindle on the train on my way to work to get some pages in of Outliers while I ride. It feels weird. Then again, it is weird—it’s something totally different that what we’re used to, which is flipping through the pages of an actual book.
Maybe in 20 years I’ll look back at this sentence, slap my forehead, and be like, “I was so young and foolish!” But I’m saying it anyway: I don’t want to read The Idiot on a screen, I want to read it in book form.
So far I’ve seen just one Kindle “in the wild,” despite what Amazon says about how fast these things are selling out. And now they’ve released the Kindle 2, which claims to be better but still costs $359. And the books aren’t that cheap either. Outliers costs $9.99 on the Kindle and I can get the actual book, brand new, right on their site for $12.99. Now, I’ll have to pay shipping and it’ll take a while to get to me versus the Kindle’s instant “whisper” send, but still.
I want to hear what other futurists out there think. What’s your prediction? Will we all be reading books on one of these devices (or our cellphones) in the near future? Isn’t it the “green” thing to do?
Does anyone out there even have one?
February 11th, 2009 at 8:59 am
The Kindle won’t kill books, it will kill publishers. The situation is analogous to music. Music will always be made, but the RIAA and it’s broken business model is forcing too many people to make comprimises with their music. More and more artists will move to smaller and independent labels because they no longer need the marketing skills of a large label. They also get to keep more money.
If I’m a well known writer, I might could keep $2 for every e-book sold by going independent. Whereas I might only get $1.75 for each real book.
I’m with you in liking the ability to turn the pages, but we both know someday that will be treated like listening to a record or buying a 67 mustang. You do it because you’re old school. There won’t be many old schoolers in 30 years.
The Kindle still costs too much for my blood, but someday it will be cheaper, and I’ll be all over it.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:10 am
As a librarian, I have to say it’s going to take a looooooooooooooong time to kill the paperback. No librarian in their right mind is going to switch over to stocking all reading-device files instead of books until Amazon can make a Kindle for less than $20.
It’s always interesting to me when these things arise. Years ago we thought the e-book would kill the printed one, forgetting in our middle class minds that many people still don’t have a home computer. The under-privileged that I serve aren’t even thinking about Kindles, and I don’t think we need to worry either.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
I think the kindle movement will have legs once the cost comes down. One positive that’s important to me is the lower energy cost in reading books on kindle. A tremendous amount of energy is used in the creating and shipping of books. Some energy is used to power a kindle reader, but it’s nominal to that of the energy cost in producing paper or shipping heavy books. I think from a social responsibility standpoint, kindle is superior to an actual copy of the book. From strictly an enjoyment standpoint, I tend to agree with you that I would rather have an actual copy. However, we read our news off of a screen now, I read blogs and articles on the computer – maybe this is just the next step.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I think the Kindle is solely for the gadgetteer; someone who has to have every single new device out there. I personally don’t think the Kindle will ever go main-stream (I could eat these words too). I prefer a book that I can hold and do what I need to with it. Also, IF… IF I was to ever go with an e-book reader, I will probably go with a multi-function machine such as a laptop or smartphone (iPhone or whatever). Nice try Amazon… what else you got for us.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
I love books. Paper books. Page turning, physical, tree-killing books. (hey, I recyle – what else do you want). I love the feeling I get when I first pick the book up. Open it for the first time is like opening a present. I love the smell of a book, the feel of it in my hands, the anticipation as I turn a page, the way the page feels on my fingertips and I turn the page. Oh, and don’t get me started about the ‘old book smell’ I savor when entering the main reading room of the New York Public Library.
No electronic device can compare to that.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:29 am
[...] if you’re saving up for a Kindle, turn your money into an Amazon gift card and get a little something extra for your trouble. [...]
December 18th, 2009 at 8:17 am
[...] story isn’t about paper book vs. e-book. It isn’t about the inevitable fate of paper books. It’s about why I believe the Kindle is the next “it” [...]
September 14th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Just like the CD stores going extinct because of the ipod and illegal internet downloading and video stores going the way of the dinosaur because of easy downloading, Bookstores and book suppliers are going to be next. We are entering into a new electronic age and with Amazon obviously taking the plunge first, they will be the survivor. The Kindle is a masterpiece. The Ipad is a masterpiece. This will make books for students cost half or even less of what they have to usually pay. Bookstores and book suppliers are just out of luck. I see the future and since all types of information transfer are at risk, you can kiss the days of hanging out in your bookstore, drinking a coffee and reading a book goodbye. If you are a bookstore owner……………..SELL OUT NOW!! This is just my humble opinion, but I am the one who predicted mp3′s killing CD sales, which they did. I predicted Netflix killing off Blockbuster. Which that and easy downloading are. Now I predict the Kindle and Ipad will squash all bookdealers, book suppliers and campus book stores. It will happen. I sell guitars online and thank God they can’t be downloaded!!!
Danny Antell
December 20th, 2010 at 10:02 am
As an online bookseller I have a real interest in this. The books I sell are chess books and having read a large number of them myself I like to underline important bits and write notes in the margins – can a Kindle do that? I don’t know – not even seen one in the flesh.
I have to admit – after a day sitting in front of a PC screen I really don’t want to do the same to read a book too. Here’s hoping other people feel the same!