tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post5977286979681648238..comments2023-10-24T12:36:09.209+02:00Comments on The Solaris Editors' Blog: The Future of Books? (and some free advertising for Amazon)David Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00886477189793178895noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-20503650614207790142007-11-19T13:47:00.000+01:002007-11-19T13:47:00.000+01:00When the oil runs out there are about a billion ot...When the oil runs out there are about a billion other alternative fuels ready to use (we've had the technology ready to go for years); but governments and oil companies will still be squeezing every last penny out of us until then...Mark Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04829431641572291176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-26750439845072662662007-11-19T13:13:00.000+01:002007-11-19T13:13:00.000+01:00It looks like the status panel from a high-end air...It looks like the status panel from a high-end airconditioner mated to a ZX81 keyboard.<BR/><BR/>Oh well, I'm sure you could prop doors open with those nice bevelled edges.Simon Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02660767551431793439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-36431025412866145722007-11-19T12:43:00.000+01:002007-11-19T12:43:00.000+01:00I didn't mean new books, and certainly not newspap...I didn't mean new books, and certainly not newspapers. We'll all be reading dogeared pulp from the 60s with suitable lurid covers.George Stirlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126880067535319012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-61905537054941402352007-11-19T12:40:00.000+01:002007-11-19T12:40:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.George Stirlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126880067535319012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-79021227144762022782007-11-19T12:27:00.000+01:002007-11-19T12:27:00.000+01:00But how do we ship the paper from A to B when the ...But how do we ship the paper from A to B when the oil runs out? We already have other environmental problem with paper recycling - how many journeys does your newspaper go on after you chuck it in the recycling bin?<BR/><BR/>When the oil runs out we'll be back to slate and chisel.C Z Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16314332465964532700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-29869523494410495772007-11-19T12:14:00.000+01:002007-11-19T12:14:00.000+01:00As The Bookseller points out, there are also quest...As <I>The Bookseller</I> points out, there are also questions regarding their business model. Why would anyone want to pay a subscription fee for reading news and blogs when these are already freely available online?<BR/><BR/>Also, as any dystopia reader will tell you, the juice required to charge an e-reader might seem rather wasteful when the oil runs out and we're all reduced to three hours of power a day. Having words on paper will seem quite a sensible idea in the not-too-distant future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-39861103087422437192007-11-19T12:13:00.000+01:002007-11-19T12:13:00.000+01:00And I've just seen a picture of one on engadget.Du...And I've just seen a picture of one <A HREF="http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/11/amazon-kindle-meet-amazons-e-book-reader/" REL="nofollow">on engadget</A>.<BR/><BR/>Dudes, that's one UGLY device. I know we're all 80s retro at the moment, but this is pushing things... At least Apple had the thought to make the iPod look sexy. And does the e-reader have dancing funkster silhouettes? I think not.Mark Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04829431641572291176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102309.post-62711796880147911342007-11-19T11:57:00.000+01:002007-11-19T11:57:00.000+01:00It's worth saying that I don't quite think they're...It's worth saying that I don't quite think they're the work of Satan. Not quite. They have superb use as marketing tool for sample chapters etc. My point is that everyone's been banging on about the ebook revolution, and it hasn't happened, and it won't have anywhere near the effect that the iPod has had (see my blog posting on the reasons for this).<BR/><BR/>People who love fiction books love holding books. So these are the type of people who will prefer the real thing. They’re not going to be so fussed about buying an ebook reader. Now people who don’t care about books so much don’t tend to buy so many of them, one or two a year, so why would they want to fork out so much money for a device they’ll hardly ever use? And there’s a third type of book buyer, those who buy to be seen to be reading something smart, or the latest thing. Fashion-conscious readers. They’re not going to be able to show off their intelligence, or lack of, on an ebook reader. All of these reasons are likely to to keep us in paper for a long time yet.Mark Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04829431641572291176noreply@blogger.com