Saturday, October 24, 2009

Kindle Killer?

Barnes & Noble eBook Reader with Android and Google Books

These devices are all very clever and nice.  My tech heroes all use them in one form or other.  Most use the Kindle but am I just old fashioned?  In spite of loving the instant access and download of hundreds of thousands of books, I find myself still loving a real book made of tree flesh.  I can run my fingers over the words, I can stick any old piece of paper between the pages as a bookmark.  I can donate them to my local library when I am done.  Yet, the E-Readers beckon to me like sirens on the rocks.  Am I like the Ancient Mariner being lured to my death on the rocks?  Will books be obsolete someday?  In my mind I can imagine archeologists of the future finding "real" books and marveling at them but I see them staring, puzzled, at a blank Kindle or Barnes and Noble ebook.  I am just confused.