tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post3827780713410894885..comments2023-10-10T05:07:13.577-07:00Comments on En Tequila Es Verdad: Why I Won't Own a KindleDana Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00890312745525306991noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-80383303881222140902010-11-19T00:56:24.707-08:002010-11-19T00:56:24.707-08:00real books are the only books -- everything else i...real books are the only books -- everything else is just digital media and digital media is great for listening to songs or reading articles online ... but a book should be a thing you hold in your hands and can feel how heavy it is while using your hand to turn the page.Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304929560878904921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-50896393290983075662010-11-18T15:59:04.770-08:002010-11-18T15:59:04.770-08:00The battle here isn't e-books vs. paper books,...The battle here isn't e-books vs. paper books, it's DRM vs. us.<br /><br />Earlier this week, Harena's 13-y.o. accidentally left a book at school that he needed for his homework -- Steinbeck's <i>Of Mice and Men</i>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks%3A1&tbo=1&q=Of+MIce+and+Men&btnG=Search+Books" rel="nofollow">Google Books</a> offered to sell me a hard copy (prices starting at $8.50, WTF?) -- no help; I needed it that evening. They have apparently digitized the whole book, but of course you can only access part of it -- in this case, the introduction and the covers... presumably because of copyright restrictions. No option to pay through the nose, even, to access it through their site.<br /><br />This book was published 73 years ago, people. The author frickin' <i>died</i> 42 years ago -- almost as long as I've been around. Under US copyright law prior to 1976 (as near as I can determine -- the rules are very confusing), the copyright would have expired 15 years ago. I haven't yet heard a good argument for copyright getting longer -- especially retroactively.<br /><br />So I turned to my trusty Demonoid, and promptly found a non-DRM copy... along with about 100 other "great" books (many of which I already have in hard copy, and will continue to treasure in that form). Torrents can be slow, but this one took about 10 minutes.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Demonoid informs me that <i>"In the United States, a new law proposal called The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) was introduced last week, and there will be a hearing in front of the Judiciary Committee this Thursday.<br /><br />"If passed, this law will allow the government, under the command of the media companies, to censor the internet as they see fit, like China and Iran do, with the difference that the sites they decide to censor will be completely removed from the internet and not just in the US."</i> ... with a link to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-segal/stop-the-internet-blackli_b_739836.html" rel="nofollow">this article</a> and <a href="http://demandprogress.org/blacklist/" rel="nofollow">this petition</a>.<br /><br />I signed it, of course.Woozlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948248776908775080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-91619855741115387162010-11-18T15:01:13.164-08:002010-11-18T15:01:13.164-08:00When I buy a book, it isn't *licensed* to me, ...When I buy a book, it isn't *licensed* to me, it's mine. Mine to read multiple times, then give away or sell, or even to start a fire with. (Not that I've read any book bad enough to use as fuel, but you get the idea.) Until electronic books are as securely mine, I'll stick to paper.Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-31847413594723043122010-11-18T11:33:35.900-08:002010-11-18T11:33:35.900-08:00In some ways, the idea of being able to take lots ...In some ways, the idea of being able to take lots of reading material with me in one small package is wonderful. But content that might disappear isn't worth paying for, in my opinion.<br /><br />People who want to publish electronically can use PDF or some other open format. Until that becomes common practice, I'm not going to be owning a Kindle, or a kindle-like alternative, either.Cujo359https://www.blogger.com/profile/10385213658828021737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-42364678518857361852010-11-18T10:12:31.026-08:002010-11-18T10:12:31.026-08:00If you needed any additional reasons to not own on...If you needed any additional reasons to not own one, those are some great points. Sadly, most people don't really consider these things relevant, or they poo-poo any suggestions that they would ever see any consequences.<br /><br />Personally, I prefer the look of books lines on my shelves, and in leaner economic times (like today) I am proud to rely on my local library.Sean Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15576641403443113250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-82742429827694569282010-11-18T04:57:34.099-08:002010-11-18T04:57:34.099-08:00Use real books, they are a proven technology that ...Use real books, they are a proven technology that can be taken anywhere and do not need batteries. Yes they take up space, but if you are done with them you can resell them if you like. Ban E-Books!Lylenoreply@blogger.com