Re: [Paddlewise] Not the latest iPad

On 02/02/2010 10:37 PM, Karl J. Smith wrote:
> I also have a Kindle. Over the weekend Amazon and one of the big 6
> publishers got into disagreement over pricing (caused by the upcoming
> appearance of the iPad), and Amazon removed both Kindle books and
> physical books from their store. Now I can't use my Kindle to buy those
> books until Amazon puts them back. This was not amusing, and was also
> totally out of my control - customers as collateral damage in a war
> between two corporations.
>
> A good write-up of that situation is here:
>
> http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/02/01/all-the-many-ways-amazon-so-very-failed-the-weekend/
>
>
> I mention it because the iPad has the same digital restriction
> mechanisms on it, and you should know that before you buy it. Apple has
> already disallowed a Google app and enforced it with that same DRM.
> Nobody's really sure what they're going to do about the conflict between
> the iBookstore and the existing iPhone/iPod book reader apps and their
> previously stated position that you can't sell an app that duplicates
> existing functionality. It's all a big mess.
>
> http://lifehacker.com/5458690/the-problem-with-the-apple-ipad
>
> Just something to think about before you buy.

I like books. No one can "recall" them without your permission, they 
don't need batteries, I can give them away to charities after I've 
read them. Pocket books -- mostly -- can fit in a dry bag and the 
world doesn't end if they get wet. [obligatory paddling content]

You can drop books on sharp rocks and there's usually not so much 
damage as to render them unusable.

And when you buy a book, you don't need to have spent anything extra 
to read it. (Unless you need glasses, and that is going to apply with 
the digital readers anyway.)

I like books, and book stores. I like browsing through books in book 
stores, reading a snippet here and there to see if the writing is 
interesting. I like looking at book covers, reading the inside flaps, 
looking at a photo of the author... Perhaps some of this is available 
with digital media, but surely not in the same random way.

-- 
   Darryl
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