Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Books Won't Die

theparisreview.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 93 posts

Re: Books Won't Die

#71

Post by alpaca128 »

jaredklewis wrote: post #31
libraryatnight wrote: post #12

I've tried every format and device and I can't read e-books. Nothing, to me, beats a real book. I don't enjoy the experience for one, it strains my eyes (yes even e-ink). But also, and this is something I wouldn't have considered back when I was younger and it seemed like books surely must die in their dead-tree form, I actively seek ways to not be interacting with electronics and books are sublime for this purpose.…

As a fellow curmudgeon who really loves dead-tree books, I still sometimes smile thinking about an appearance Maurice Sendak made on a variety show shortly before he died: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mPEZj21NmE I have a few reasons to prefer paper books: - They don't have to be charged. - First sale doctrine applies. No 50 page TOS explaining what I can or cannot do with my own books. - I can lend my books to fr…

> They don't have to be charged

My reader lasts weeks without recharging, that's enough for me not to matter.

> Notifications don't pop up when I'm reading.

I've never heard of notification pop-ups on an ebook reader. I hope you don't seriously compare reading on a normal tablet with paper books.

I agree that old-school books are definitely more flexible and customer-friendly when it comes to lending etc. But I prefer carrying a light, thin device instead of a whole bag of books on journeys.

Re: Books Won't Die

#72

Post by qaq »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #67
qaq wrote: post #56

In my personal case it is because there are no good e-ink devices. That gray background plus either bad size or horrible interface and horrible price are not doing it for me.

This comment kinda reeks of that "everything is amazing and nobody is happy" thing. I mean, "horrible" everything? Really? A device that lets you carry practically infinite books with you? Because the background color and all the available dimensions out there don't scratch your specific preference?

Mobile phones, tablets, computers, TVs are amazing e-ink devices are not working specifically for me :(.

Re: Books Won't Die

#73

Post by HSO »

aaron-santos wrote: post #22

I interviewed at a print on demand book binding automation shop about five years ago. Naturally one of the topics was the sustainability of paper media on short and long terms. I'll be the first to admit that the interviewer had a vested interest in selling the idea that paper books aren't going away any time soon, but the argument was compelling. As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an…

> As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an emotional connection to the printed page.

I've learned to read on paper books and I have zero attachment to them at this point.

In fact, I cringe when I occasionally have no alternative (or just scan it myself if it's not too much).

Old books now seem to be broken to me. You can't do anything with them except read (linearly). So much functionality is missing, it's unbearable :DD

I have no idea how representative my experience is but I know of at least a few others who feel similarly.

Re: Books Won't Die

#74

Post by gregjotau »

wibble10 wrote: post #65
gregjotau wrote: post #59

After using the Onyx boox max (all versions up to 3 which was released recently), I am convinced books will die.

Can you elaborate on your experience with it? Is that thing really worth €820? I like the idea of a giant e-reader but that’s really quite a lot of money for such a device.

For me it is worth it.

Made a review some time ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5tIhuk8yAU

Only used to read technical stuff and I have not missed physical books.

Re: Books Won't Die

#75

Post by inimino »

HSO wrote: post #73
aaron-santos wrote: post #22

I interviewed at a print on demand book binding automation shop about five years ago. Naturally one of the topics was the sustainability of paper media on short and long terms. I'll be the first to admit that the interviewer had a vested interest in selling the idea that paper books aren't going away any time soon, but the argument was compelling. As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an…

> As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an emotional connection to the printed page. I've learned to read on paper books and I have zero attachment to them at this point. In fact, I cringe when I occasionally have no alternative (or just scan it myself if it's not too much). Old books now seem to be broken to me. You can't do anything with them except read (linearly). So much functionali…

> You can't do anything with them except read (linearly).

And write on them, scribble in them, underline them, draw in their margins, use colored pens and pencils and highlighters, check the index, flip through them, give them to anyone with your annotations and get them back with theirs, rip pages out of them, sew them back together, rebind them, burn them, store them for thousands of years without electricity or maintenance in no higher technology than a clay jar (assuming acid free paper!), hold them upside down and learn to read them that way, stop doors and weigh down papers on a desk with them, or just admire them on a bookshelf.

But yes, the most obvious thing you can do with them is simply to read them linearly, and this lack of frivolity is by far the best thing about them.

Re: Books Won't Die

#76

Post by theli0nheart »

HSO wrote: post #73
aaron-santos wrote: post #22

I interviewed at a print on demand book binding automation shop about five years ago. Naturally one of the topics was the sustainability of paper media on short and long terms. I'll be the first to admit that the interviewer had a vested interest in selling the idea that paper books aren't going away any time soon, but the argument was compelling. As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an…

> As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an emotional connection to the printed page. I've learned to read on paper books and I have zero attachment to them at this point. In fact, I cringe when I occasionally have no alternative (or just scan it myself if it's not too much). Old books now seem to be broken to me. You can't do anything with them except read (linearly). So much functionali…

What you're describing is functional attachment. Emotionally, how would you feel if all of the printed books in the world were to disappear today? Would you miss them?

Re: Books Won't Die

#77

Post by ktpsns »

aaron-santos wrote: post #22

I interviewed at a print on demand book binding automation shop about five years ago. Naturally one of the topics was the sustainability of paper media on short and long terms. I'll be the first to admit that the interviewer had a vested interest in selling the idea that paper books aren't going away any time soon, but the argument was compelling. As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an…

Books spawn a similar hierarchy then electronical devices -- there are colouring books, crossword puzzle books, children's books, comic books, textbooks, academic books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, all kind of booklets -- just to name a very few! There is no way all of them are magically replaced by their electronical counterparts, namely eBooks, tablets, smartphones, notebooks or classical workstations.

Many of the example books are "as alive" as always because they are just cheap -- such as many children's books, puzzles and colouring books. Nothing electronical can be that cheap.

I guess mostly the expensive books, such as in academia, reference manuals or encyclopiedias are replaced more and more by their electronic counterpart. But even there, it's a matter of taste.

Re: Books Won't Die

#78

Post by sateesh »

HSO wrote: post #73
aaron-santos wrote: post #22

I interviewed at a print on demand book binding automation shop about five years ago. Naturally one of the topics was the sustainability of paper media on short and long terms. I'll be the first to admit that the interviewer had a vested interest in selling the idea that paper books aren't going away any time soon, but the argument was compelling. As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an…

> As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an emotional connection to the printed page. I've learned to read on paper books and I have zero attachment to them at this point. In fact, I cringe when I occasionally have no alternative (or just scan it myself if it's not too much). Old books now seem to be broken to me. You can't do anything with them except read (linearly). So much functionali…

  Old books now seem to be broken to me. You can't do anything   
  with them except read (linearly)
At times this is a plus too. While reading online many a times I get distracted by some reference and go tangential looking for more details on that than moving on with the book.

Re: Books Won't Die

#79

Post by CDSlice »

robin_reala wrote: post #55
blhack wrote: post #41

Just a general piece of information to share here, since I think everybody in here has an interest in e-readers: did you know that you can get a mint condition kindle 3 with 3G (free data for the device for life) on ebay for $30? I consider the kindle 3 a nearly flawless device (save for it's lack of a frontlight). The fact that they are available, and the included 3G which just works , for $30, is a technological mi…

The hardware may be good, but you’re locked into Amazon’s non-standard formats unfortunately.

You can also read DRM free MOBI and PDF books on Kindles. It's also possible to to break the DRM on Kindle books if you own a physical Kindle device.

Re: Books Won't Die

#80

Post by Retric »

ktpsns wrote: post #77
aaron-santos wrote: post #22

I interviewed at a print on demand book binding automation shop about five years ago. Naturally one of the topics was the sustainability of paper media on short and long terms. I'll be the first to admit that the interviewer had a vested interest in selling the idea that paper books aren't going away any time soon, but the argument was compelling. As long as children are taught to read on paper books, we will have an…

Books spawn a similar hierarchy then electronical devices -- there are colouring books, crossword puzzle books, children's books, comic books, textbooks, academic books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, all kind of booklets -- just to name a very few! There is no way all of them are magically replaced by their electronical counterparts, namely eBooks, tablets, smartphones, notebooks or classical workstations. Ma…

I will give to you toddler picture / teething books. But for every other item on that list “there is an app for that.” Atlases for example don’t compare to google maps.

As to price, Tablets are already going below 50$. Once you start talking about multiple books electronics quickly became cheaper.

PS: Coloring apps can be printed out, which does not save on paper but still develops fine motor skills.

Post reply on HN