Used to be that I read ebooks cause it was just an easy thing to do. I'm finding lately that I prefer them now and have been wondering when that preference took hold. I figured at first I would only do it till I needed glasses. Too late, I'm hooked.

It started out as a replacement for paper. Not because I'm a "tree-hugger" (though I guess I am, kind of.) But because I'm just too impatient to wait for hundreds of pages of stuff to print out (not to mention the cost of the paper and ink.) Does anybody like to sit at their computer to read? I know I don't. One thing about being a computer geek--it's hard to do without reading a bunch of stuff. I'm constantly putting stuff into the pocket computer so I can download it into my brain when offline.

One thing about reading ebooks--people don't get what you're doing. They know what someone reading a paperback looks like. They understand that. "Are you playing a game?" they'll ask me, "No, I'm reading a book" is my reply. Then, if they're interested I'll show them how I have like 20 or 30 books that I carry around in my pocket. Joke about how I don't have to take a newspaper into the restroom.

Right now, reading ebooks is not for everybody. You have to be kind of a geek just to get them in your pocket in the first place. And an early adopter. Someday they'll be a lot more common though. But I could really give a shit about that--except for the part where it will make it easier for me to find something to read. Meanwhile people can continue to ask if I'm playing a gameboy. I really don't care.

"...there may be more than one type of electronic book: There are at least two “sweet spots” for reading. The first is a device that is smaller, more portable, and equates more or less to the printed paperback, except that it will contain a number of books, be able to download new books, and may also have other features such as annotation. It could be a monochrome device. The second level of device will have color and support for sound and will take advantage of these and other capabilities to take electronic books beyond the books of today..."

I think we're mostly stuck with the first device right now. Ebooks won't really take off until several things happen.

Wait a minute. Screw that, who cares anyway. Better to talk about what I'm doing and why than to try to sound like someone who thinks he can see the future.

Writing On Your Palm

Hill: Magic Of Reading