Comments on: Escaping http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2009/07/01/escaping/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:27:46 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jo http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2009/07/01/escaping/comment-page-1/#comment-1139 Jo Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:33:45 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/?p=1275#comment-1139 Oh, and despite having made such a lengthy comment... I forgot to include this link: http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i39/39b01601.htm I found it a very entertaining and easy-read article on the topic of ereaders. She writes better than I of the enjoyment of reading the physical book. And certainly the "holiday reading" presents an interesting case - for this is where ereaders shine in their convenience, but the concept of lying on the beach with your ereader seems crass. Oh, and despite having made such a lengthy comment… I forgot to include this link:
http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i39/39b01601.htm
I found it a very entertaining and easy-read article on the topic of ereaders. She writes better than I of the enjoyment of reading the physical book. And certainly the “holiday reading” presents an interesting case – for this is where ereaders shine in their convenience, but the concept of lying on the beach with your ereader seems crass.

]]> By: Jo http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2009/07/01/escaping/comment-page-1/#comment-1138 Jo Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:26:49 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/?p=1275#comment-1138 I'd previously encountered David Chalmer's thesis via here: http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/15-how-google-is-making-us-smarter It led to a very interesting conversation at post-working-week-drinks, of which I believe the consensus was: a) wow, the brain is all kinds of awesome and b) I do feel a bit sorry for those monkeys, though (refer: Miguel Nicolelis' experiments). I think the concept that progressive technologies are in many ways a natural form of evolution for humans is fascinating, and possibly reassuring for those that with technophobe tendencies. (Not entirely related, but a fascinating article/experiment on the iPhone & GPS ramifications is here, if you ever have the time to read it: http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/17-02/lp_guineapig ) Back onto topic - ereaders... I have the Stanza application on my iPhone, which I got mostly for the novelty factor. Compactability, transportability, free ebooks and the ability to go "look! It's a book! On my phone!" are all very appealing aspects. Having said that, I rarely use it, for three reasons: 1) I'm re-reading Lord of the Rings at the moment, and am therefore excluding all other reading distractions where possible. (Which is, of course, in no way a reflection on the iPhone, or Stanza). 2) I stare at a computer screen all day. I don't find it as relaxing to stare at a screen to read as well (even if it does come with night theme colours for easier viewing). 3) I enjoy the tangibility of books. I find it hard to switch off the well-installed aspect of my brain that reading=book. Stanza is a perk for picking up some free texts that I wouldn't otherwise read, and handy to have in unanticipated instances of waiting (when I don't have a book about me). But I can't see myself buying any ebooks for it (well, except perhaps Lord of the Rings, for sheer convenience of reference when I have the sudden needs to find "that" quote), or using it as my primary reading tool. I get too much enjoyment from the feel and smell of a book. And this may sound silly, but it does seem more *real* to me. I've had too many computers die on me to be able to trust that an ebook won't just disappear on me one day, without any provocation. The marginalia aspect doesn't bother me either way. Unless I've purchased a book for the sole destiny of being a text of study, I can't bring myself to mark it, with pencil or otherwise! (Such veneration is probably a ramification of having always borrowed a lot of books.) I’d previously encountered David Chalmer’s thesis via here:
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/15-how-google-is-making-us-smarter
It led to a very interesting conversation at post-working-week-drinks, of which I believe the consensus was: a) wow, the brain is all kinds of awesome and b) I do feel a bit sorry for those monkeys, though (refer: Miguel Nicolelis’ experiments).

I think the concept that progressive technologies are in many ways a natural form of evolution for humans is fascinating, and possibly reassuring for those that with technophobe tendencies.

(Not entirely related, but a fascinating article/experiment on the iPhone & GPS ramifications is here, if you ever have the time to read it:
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/17-02/lp_guineapig )

Back onto topic – ereaders…
I have the Stanza application on my iPhone, which I got mostly for the novelty factor. Compactability, transportability, free ebooks and the ability to go “look! It’s a book! On my phone!” are all very appealing aspects.

Having said that, I rarely use it, for three reasons:
1) I’m re-reading Lord of the Rings at the moment, and am therefore excluding all other reading distractions where possible. (Which is, of course, in no way a reflection on the iPhone, or Stanza).
2) I stare at a computer screen all day. I don’t find it as relaxing to stare at a screen to read as well (even if it does come with night theme colours for easier viewing).
3) I enjoy the tangibility of books.

I find it hard to switch off the well-installed aspect of my brain that reading=book.

Stanza is a perk for picking up some free texts that I wouldn’t otherwise read, and handy to have in unanticipated instances of waiting (when I don’t have a book about me). But I can’t see myself buying any ebooks for it (well, except perhaps Lord of the Rings, for sheer convenience of reference when I have the sudden needs to find “that” quote), or using it as my primary reading tool.
I get too much enjoyment from the feel and smell of a book. And this may sound silly, but it does seem more *real* to me. I’ve had too many computers die on me to be able to trust that an ebook won’t just disappear on me one day, without any provocation.

The marginalia aspect doesn’t bother me either way. Unless I’ve purchased a book for the sole destiny of being a text of study, I can’t bring myself to mark it, with pencil or otherwise! (Such veneration is probably a ramification of having always borrowed a lot of books.)

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