With the green blogosphere blowing up about the recent “e-reader” craze and the subsequent introduction of the iPad I think it’s time to talk a little bit about the future of paper and the possibility for another pseudo-monopoly for Apple.
For one paper is so passe. Are there certain things that are totally appropriate for paper use? Sure. However it would be foolish to dismiss the importance of digitalized print in an age in which people’s typing skills far outweigh their penmanship. In a world where resources are becoming increasingly scarce the responsible consumer is faced with a challenge: How do we lessen our reliance on paper without buying a bunch of new-fangled electronics that end up being technologically obsolete within the next decade? Is Sony the answer? The Kindle? The Nook? Or am I crazy not to buy an iPad?
As the owner of a Kindle I have to admit that the technology is not only cool but extremely tempting to any sort of geek out there. I must admit though that despite all the marvelous advantages of not having to pay the astronomical prices for books at our campus bookstore the technology of the Kindle is unfortunately premature and doesn’t deserve its own device to house the relatively simple software.
Apple has completely spanked international competition for MP3 players cell phones computers— and now they’re on the e-reader train. Despite a few (major) shortcomings of the soon-to-be-released iPad I have no doubt that Apple will not only refine the e-reader’s design but once again forcefully push its competitors out of the economic limelight. Not to mention the fact that its interface combines a large variety of other software (multiple-use gadgets are always green).
Conclusion? E-readers are cool but expect to see this craze bundled in with a lot of other devices— one gadget that’s a cellphone camera e-reader iPod computer and Web browser for example. In the meantime I’m going to try to milk my Kindle for all it’s worth and continue to joyfully dodge the high prices of text books. And OK— I’m already starting to save up for the 2nd or 3rd generation iPad.
