There's always something new coming along to replace the old. This week was no exception. Amazon began offering a free Kindle application for iPhone and iPod Touch. When I was young Mtv came along and revolutionized the way we listened to music. Suddenly music wasn't just something you heard, it was now something you could see. Since that time there have been other inventions that have changed the way we listen to music such as Apple's iPod.
When Amazon debuted Kindle it changed the way we read books. Now you could easily carry around your entire personal library without breaking your back. While the concept seemed appealing, the price tag was anything but. Still Kindle sold out quickly and I have to say I was shocked. I would have never guessed that so many would jump on the digital book bandwagon as quickly as they did. To me it seemed an expensive way to read a book, but that's the same debate my sister and I had when iPod came out. As much as I love gadgets, I can't see myself ever dropping $359 + the price of the book to read a book. Now that the application is available iPod (something I already own) I might have to check it out. With that being said, I can't imagine reading War and Peace on a little electronic screen.
While I think the addition of the iPod component will have more people picking up an electronic book instead of a paperback, I have to wonder what this really means for the future of books. Will digital kill the paperback star? In all reality, I doubt it. I don't think technology will ever completely replace the want for real books. Sure, it is much easier on your back to tote around a small electronic device instead of a crate of books, but there will always be people like me who love the smell and feel of books far more than the sleek allure of technology. If Mtv taught us anything it is that video didn't kill the radio star, it only temporarily maimed it. I mean, when was the last time you saw a video on Mtv?
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