Just a comment on the pace of todays world

Started by fishing_guy, February 25, 2012, 09:45:03 AM

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fishing_guy

I'm firmly entrenched in the second half of my life.  I grew up in Chicagoland and found the pace of life didn't suit me well so I moved up to Minnesota.  It's a (slightly) slower pace of life...or used to be.
This year, my kids got me a Nook for Xmas.  It's black and white and does one thing well, makes it easy for me to read books.  I love it.  It's the right size, not a lot of buttons, and is easy to carry.
Today I got an e-mail from Barnes & Noble offering "Preorder" some titles.  Maybe I'm unclear on the concept, but isn't preordering done so you can assure you get the latest and greatest in physical form before everyone else? Well, this is an electronic version, easily distributable and theoretically infinite copies.  Why in the world would you prepay the authors and companies for a product which isn't even made yet? d*
A bad day of fishing beats a good day at work any day, but building something with your own hands beats anything.

rick91351

Good to see another electronic media guy.

Me I'm book guy, my home office.

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=1355.msg128929#msg128929

And I actually used to do that.  Pre-order  certain authors releases like Tom Clancy, John Grisham and say Clive Cussler.  Then Boise got a couple Costco's, Borders, Barnes and Nolbe.  I am not too sure if I were away from the internet I would not do that again.  But then  I have turned into an electronic book guy.  However that said I am currently reading a book actually printed on paper.  :o  So I guess what I am saying is, it is not hard here or anywhere now to find the latest releases, electronic or hard copy.   

My wife got me a Kindle and I have so taken up with it.  My lap top and desk top all sync with it.  I can read a few pages on the Kindle if the radio is turned on, go to my lap top and pick right up where I left off.  It will store several thousand titles and automatically down load mag and newspaper  subscriptions if I am near a 3G network.  From what I understand I can borrow books from the local library.  In two weeks they will disappear off the machine unless renewed.  There is a service where I can lend books to other Kindle users and in return borrow books from that system. 

It takes nothing to keep one charged so off grid, with a solar panel or two it would never be a strain on the system.  For off grid back woods cabin users provided you did get out to the outside once in awhile to where there is a 3G network it would be great.  There are loads and loads of free books from classics to 'Hey read what I wrote', and all free.

Yet these small book readers are kind of fragile.  I went through two and was working on my third when I retired last month.  Kindle replaced both of them no questions asked.  Railroad grips (our bags) and life proved to be pretty rough on them even with their hard cases.  I settled on placing mine and its hard case in a hard sided plastic container that had plenty crush room.

 

     
Proverbs 24:3-5 Through wisdom is an house builded; an by understanding it is established.  4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.


Carla_M

I do like books, but I'd rather not spend my money on paper books unless it is something I will use as a reference in the future. I use the public library for all the fiction I read as well as the historical and biographical material I like. My library does not have a sufficient number of titles that appeal to me to make me a happy kindle or nook owner. Every so often I check through their ebooks to loan section and compare that to the paper books I can borrow and the ebook section always comes up short.

I do find it hilarious that they were, or are, offering preorders on ebooks. It's not like there will only 500 copies or whatever. But from the point of view of the marketing people it makes complete sense. Get the customers money when they might be excited about the book.
The personal dietary habits of people kill more frequently than firearms. Eat healthy and carry a gun.

fishing_guy

To be honest, I have had a home computer since 1983 and have never looked back...but I had resisted the ebook readers. 
The Black and White Nook has me hooked.  There is something about that screen...
I never wore glasses in my life.  Now I need 2.0 cheaters to read in all but optimal conditions.  Paperbacks actually give me headaches after 10 minutes of reading, even with the cheaters.  Not so with the Nook.  I can read all day...and night.  So I love it for that.
But it's the preordering of an electronic version that has me baffled...
A bad day of fishing beats a good day at work any day, but building something with your own hands beats anything.

NM_Shooter

How else are you going to ensure that you get an autographed copy?  ;D
"Officium Vacuus Auctorita"


Don_P

I got a pre registration invitation a couple of months ago to a conference at the state college. It was a couple of hundred bucks for early registration and I went to look at the schedule. I think they had one speaker and the rest was "To be announced". I'm all for looking on the sunny side but that was some real optimistic planning  ::).

rick91351

Quote from: NM_Shooter on February 27, 2012, 09:16:15 AM
How else are you going to ensure that you get an autographed copy?  ;D

Oh they still sell those as well.   ;)  Last time in China I even got me a autographed copy of Mr. Confucius's sayin's.   






Proverbs 24:3-5 Through wisdom is an house builded; an by understanding it is established.  4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.