Self-proclaimed as “the next chapter in wireless reading,” Kindle offers “Over 350,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available.”
“Beginning in Fall 2009, selected ASU (Arizona State University) students will use the Kindle DX, the latest addition to Amazon’s family of wireless reading devices, instead of traditional printed textbooks,” according to the May 2009 edition of ASU news.
ASU is joined by Princeton University, Case Western Reserve University, Reed College, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia participating in a pilot program with Amazon’s ebook.
However, 17 years ago Sony tried and failed with a similar device called, appropriately enough, the Bookman. “The Bookman, an eBook reader, debuted with a CD-Rom, cell phone-sized screen and keyboard,” according to Dino DiGiulio’s August 2006 exclaim.ca article “Primal Screen: How eBook's Failure Led to E Ink Innovation”. “Despite their promise to give the book-reading commuter of Japan the kind of media portability the Walkman had brought to music fans, it failed miserably.”
Why did the Bookman fail when Kindle seems to be attracting the attention of academic institutions as well as readers in general? Did Sony release a product too soon?
One of the advantages of Kindle is the fact that college students can save money and lessen the weight of the backpacks with the device. What’s more, the device thwarts publishing companies that “revise” textbooks by updating (a euphemism for simply changing) some of a text’s chapters, graphics, and nuggets of information, and rendering out of date an expensive text for the next semester’s new, improved, more costly text.
Using wireless technology that does not rely on computers, cables, or any form of electronic synching, Kindle boasts an “electronic-paper display [that] provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.”
However, even though this 10.3 ounce device seems to be a new paperless paperback, one of the disadvantages of Kindle is that it moves further away from the pleasures of owning a traditional book. Absent are the pleasures of tactilely fondling the pages, lingering over the crisp images, listening to the crisp rattles as the pages are turned, even smelling the print or a new or the mustiness of an old book.
Will Kindle provide a new medium for journalists? Will this device give bloggers even greater marketability and publicity? Or will Kindle, like the Sony Bookman, quietly expire only to be sold like “Books on Tape” to eBay collectors?
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I believe the problem with Bookman was the fact that it had come out too soon. Seventeen years ago people were more keen on owning books and students weren't scrapping by with tuition and books costs. Now, especially in our current state of economy, something that cuts down on the cost of textbooks would be beneficial. Something that will update the textbooks without the need of purchasing a whole other $100+ book saves a lot of money. Updates to textbooks are usually just some grammar corrections, maybe a new article, and better pictures; just some means of siphoning more money out from struggling students. Today it's also harder to get a loan then it was seventeen years ago. You take out a loan today, and the odds are you'll be paying it off for the rest of your life.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Bookman and Kindle is that students could afford to purchase textbooks. They've already taken a loan out for the tuition. While today we are always looking ways around paying $200+ a semester for textbooks.
Another part of argument is that electronic devices are more 'hip' today then they were back then. Teens are running about buying the latest cellphones and accesories like they are some fashion statement. Whip out that brand new electronic Kindle with all your textbooks saved into it and what do you have? A step above the common person. I can foresee Kindle being carried about the halls of SCCC soon. One question remains with Kindle, that would make it a high priority item. Can you check your facebook on it?
The last two paragraphs move me the most, because I am a book lover myself. It's like the difference between downloading a song and physically owning the CD. I can't touch it, I can't feel it in my hand, and worst of all I can lose it at any time. As useful as computers are they aren't always the most reliable.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I realize that the rest of the world doesn't see books the way I do. To others they may be a burden and the Kindle would be so convenient. I would use the Kindle for school books, I admit, but there's nothing like holding my favorite books in my hands.
Introducing the Kindle to college campuses is such a new and interesting idea. I can't imagine walking around a campus and not finding students with books, but with electronic devices holding all their reading materials. It seems so unrealistic, a college student with no books, but the reality of it is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this could potentially be a great thing, there are some concerns and questions. What if a student's kindle runs out of battery at a critical time and he/she has no way to charge it? I bet that student would be wishing they had a book that didn't require a battery.
What about art students that rely on color for their images found in their textbooks? They would probably not be able to use the kindle until, or if amazon came out with a newer version that included color. As of now, kindles are only in black and white.
The way that technology has been moving, the kindle is not a far fetched idea at all for college campus all across the United States. I think its a great idea, and a terrific way for college students to save money.
I happen to love books and collect some really old versions of timeless classics like White Fang, Sherlock Homes, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when it comes to school I really hate buying textbooks. I really try to avoid it until the last minute, and if there is a textbook that I can scrape by without, I will and if it gets used in class I use Spark Notes or any other website I can find.
Textbook prices are outrageous! Also, I believe it was previously stated, if there are changes in the textbooks, you have to buy a brand new text and you don't even get to use the buy-back policy if you have the older text. It's horrible.
I honestly think it would be more beneficial for classes that run on-line or have a CD-ROM to go with the class (i.e. Vistas for the Spanish Classes), to just have on-line textbooks. Otherwise you are paying anywhere between $80-$120 just to get the complete package of a textbook, workbook, Interactive CD-ROM, and a code to a website.
Anyway, even though I am a serious book lover, I am willing to make the change for my classes. It would be more beneficial and very helpful to those of us paying for our own bills, especially during this economical crisis we seem to be in.
-Kristin
I think Kindle would be a great way to save money, but I do not believe it will completely replace textbooks. As a graphic design student I have kept many of my textbooks as reference manuals. On several pages I made notes and comments that go hand in hand with lessons, especially in Web design texts. I am not sure how well Kindle would work for that purpose or even highlighting sentences in general. I agree with Ali who points out that "art students rely on color for their images found in their textbooks." Not having color would be a significant drawback for any art or design books on Kindle.
ReplyDeleteAs a student of the Arts I am more of a hands-on type person. I simply enjoy "holding" my books in my hands. You can always get comfortable no matter where you are “holding" your book. Vagabond said it nicely, "there's nothing like holding my favorite books in my hands." There is also a sense of completion that is readily visible with a book. You can gauge how far along you are in a story line. Again this may only be an issue for me since I believe I am more of a visual person. Seeing a book mark at the quarter mark would mean more to me than seeing numbers on a screen that indicate I have read 100 out of 400 pages.
I do agree with Zack that timing has a lot to do with success and today's teen are "more hip' then they were back then." I am a few years older than two of my siblings and find that they text their friends more often than I do. Of course, they both had cell phones at a younger age too. I have seen them multitask; doing homework, checking Facebook, and texting. They are quite savvy when it comes to the latest in cell phone technology. For those reasons I believe these “hip” teens would be more likely to enjoy books on Kindle.
With the costs of college rising yearly I think that saving money for books will make Kindle popular. Parents and students are always looking for ways to save on college costs. Kindle would be ideal for elderly people with poor vision. It looks as though it is easy to operate, text can be enlarged, and the viewing screen is much larger than that on a cell phone or iPod. As Kindle grows in popularity it will certainly provide journalist with a new medium and bloggers more exposure. We may find a new up-and-coming generation of teen journalists and bloggers as a result.