I consider the Kindle elitist because it’s too expensive. I also consider it elitist because, right now, one company is making all the rules. I am also worried about Jeff Bezos’ comments about wanting to change the way we read books. That’s rather imperial. Having grown up poor, I’m also highly aware that there’s always a massive technology gap between rich and poor kids. I haven’t yet heard what Amazon plans to do about this potential technology gap. And that’s a vital question considering that Bezos wants to change the way we read books. How does he plan to change the way that poor kids read books? How does he plan to make sure that poor kids have access to the technology? Poor kids all over the country don’t have access to current textbooks, so will they have access to Kindle?
Have you ever used a Kindle? What has been your experience?
I’ve played with a Kindle. Didn’t emotionally connect with it like I immediately did with my iPod. That’s been the fascinating thing for me. I’m not even remotely a Luddite. I love all of my tech toys (and I love Amazon.com), but I have a visceral negative reaction to eBooks. I recognize that it is partly irrational and that’s why it was easy to be influenced by some of the powerful letters of dissent I read from Kindle lovers.
3 comments:
I do a lot of my reading on the Kindle now. But all of my Alexie books are on paper. So far, anyway.
I like the iPod, but the Kindle is not really revolutionary. An eBook reader is nice, but I'm surprised Apple hasn't added it to my iPod.
All technology starts out expensive; then it gets cheaper as it gets more popular.
And I would bet money - $1000 or so to the charity of his choice - that within five years there will be other companies offering competing ebook readers.
Also, as the price goes down, it may prove to be a way to make books more accessible to poor kids; you can store multiple books on a device that weighs only a couple ounces, and buying an ebook would probably become cheaper than buying a hard copy, since the production cost is now no more than the author's wages - no raw materiels, no need to pay employees at a factory.
So, while I am not likely to buy one anytime soon, and while I sympathize with people who just aren't fond of them, I think these concerns are misplaced.
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