There's a type of person who always has to go out and buy the latest cool electronic gadget or device. They’re called “early adopters”.
I’m not one of those.
In fact, more than one person has called me “absurdly technophobic” as I sit here at my 7-year old Dell pc, using Win98 and connecting with dial-up. I don’t think I’m that at all- a lot of thought and effort has gone into my technophobia. Besides, my theory about technology is, “if it works, don’t fuck with it”.
Being technophobic can have other advantages. For instance, if I had ever replaced my big tube-screen monitor with the flat-screen monitor sitting here in a box beside my desk, where would the cat sleep? She’s curled up there right now, staring down at me. See- you have to think these things through.
This train of thought was brought up today by a pair of headlines in the news. The first was this-
Jeff Bezos and Amazon Spend Billions, Launch ‘Kindle’, A New Paperless Book
Followed by-
New Study Says Americans Reading Less
Now, do you really think Jeff thought this project through thoroughly?
Don't get me wrong, the 'Kindle' could well catch on like a house afire, just the latest of the new technologies I missed the boat on. I'll bet that a year or so from now it will be so popular that they'll have to ban people from using them while riding their Segways.
22 comments:
Jeff should have made the thing read for you ... and provide shiny objects.
Doesn't it look just like the thing Picard used to read his books from??
that's bullshit about americans reading less. granted i didnt read the article because it looked like it might be boring and long winded, but i did scan the title, and i totally disagree...
Sara: That's what it reminded me of- A Star Trek Next Generation thingy. That's why it looked so dated.
T-Bird: As usual, you've come right to the point of the matter.
I don't read much anymore. I have hired an army of midgets to read for me and then give me the condensed version later.
HaHaHa. Condensed version...midgets. Get it?
You have midgets? I think T-Bird is on her way over as we speak. Leave the light on.
I hate reading ebooks. I don't mind getting my news on the computer and working in electronic format but actually reading, no, I have to hold a book.
Bruce- in all seriousness, I think that's the problem with this one. Engineers are working on "electronic paper" which will someday be used to make an ebook that will work, but this thing from Amazon is just another minicomputer screen. I don't think that's going to go over very big with folks.
What if I wanted to read a biography of MM and see that first Playboy cover in color? Will the electronic paper do that? Maybe I can hook my iPhone to it and side-load the color pictures. I can probably hire a 10 year old hacker to do that for me.
I pretty much do all of my reading online.
Except they do have some interesting articles in Playgirl.
last night, our power went out for over 2 hours. so joey and i sat there in the light of the fire and just had "quiet time". it was beautiful.
today, i'm giving serious consideration to giving up not only television, but my cell phone too.
i don't think i could give up my net connection...not yet anyway.
I am waiting for brainchips, and replacement limbs
HungryMo: MM's Playboy cover, well, yes, these new electronic gizmos will be no good for art, which is why I'm not worried (I sell art books).
PrePo: Playboy and Playgirl in consecutive comments. Yes, both have fine literary contributions to make to our Society.
Kerstin: And that's another thing about books- if it gets cold anbd oil hits $800 a barrel, we can burn them to keep warm. I'd like to see Mr. Bezos toss a 'Kindle' on the fire to kindle...
Malach: Well, yeah, I am also. I want more arms.
I dunno. Our BRD's boyfriend told me recently that she had given him some kind of e-book and he loved it.
'Course, he's the same guy who thinks the Bushmaster is perhaps our greatest president ever.
Thanks for reminding me...I need to make that appointment to get my Segway in for service because I need it to take me from my car to where ever they sell those Kindle things....
I would actually welcome not having any more books in my apartment, and certainly it would help save some trees, but there's nothing like holding a book, leafing through for your favorite bits, flipping through for pictures... I'm still waiting for the perfect electronic reader.
You have dial-up? Are you really Joey Polanski?
Catalyst: Case closed!
Sirdar: Word is that the first Kindle was shortly followed by the first Kindle-related virus, written by Dik Cheney himself into the text of the downloadable 'Moby Dick' -this time Ahab wins.
HTGT: Not... more... books... not more books... not more books... I know this phrase means something, but I find it incomprehensible...
Angryman: ssshhhhhh!!!
DAIL-UP!!!!
Now since Sara Sue has a job she will buy you & Joey high speed internet, right Sara Sue?
Actually, we have high-speed in the house- my wife uses it on her new iMac. The problem is that running Win98 with high-speed without the latest firewall is suicidal, and I haven't found anyone writing up-to-date firewalls for Win98 any more, and even if they were this computer probably wouldn't handle it, so I'm just waiting 'till I buy my own shiny new iMac. Soon... soon...
Holy friggin crap I don't even want to know how bad my blog displays on a Windows 98 computer.
hhmm... something wrong with my browser, whenever I come here, the window doesn't allow me to scroll up...
:(
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