Kindle Tries to Replace Paperback Books

When Amazon.com launched their Kindle wireless reader in November 2007, the big battle between beloved paperbacks and a slim, digital library ignited.  Fans of the iPod who leaned more to the literary side of life rejoiced at being able to carry their library with them.  Bookstores, new and used, and paperback devotees groaned aloud.  For some, Kindle is the new face of technology with a promising future that will aid us in going paperless.  For others, it promises swift death to one of our greatest simple pleasures: the feeling of holding a sturdy paperback book in your hand.

“Lighter than a typical paperback” and “as thin as most magazines” at 1/3 of an inch, Kindle sold out in five and a half hours during its premiere and remained elusive until late April 2008.  Ever since, customers have remained crazy for the technology that Kindle provides.  Amazon recently lowered the price to $299, but only because they have introduced a newer, bigger, better version called Kindle DX.  Nearly double the price of the original Kindle, the DX model also holds 3,500 books and has an easy-to-read display of nearly 10 inches.  But both Kindles include convenient 3G wireless, text-to-speech conversion that can read aloud, “Whispersync” technology for quick downloads and a guarantee of delivering “books in under 60 seconds.”  While the latest version promises a longer battery life, large storage space and a paper-like display with 16 shades of gray for reading clarity, the complaints on Amazon’s website are stacking up.

While 3,054 of the Kindle reviews are 5 star, 1,740 reviews are less than kind to Kindle 2.  Many consumers are lamenting the loss of Kindle 1, which was lesser in technology but easier to use.  Difficulties are plaguing users of Kindle 2, from download conflicts to the display.  As usual, technology, while paving the way, has inevitably placed some bumps in the road towards progress.  Will this cause Kindle users to revert back to their paperbacks?

Despite the images its name evokes, it’s hard to cozy up to a Kindle like you would a beloved paperback or hardcover novel.  But this is really in the eye, or hand, of the beholder.  When asked about which they would rather use, Kindle or a paperback, book enthusiasts had differing opinions.

“Paperbacks for sure,” Andrew Shaw, a Culinary Institute of America student, said.  “There’s something about the smell of a book and the words being tangible on paper.”

While many share Shaw’s simple pleasure of holding a book, other students see it differently.

“I don’t have a Kindle, but I spent an entire summer in Oxford saving money by reading online. The only negative was that the screen was hard to read. If that’s really not a problem with Kindle, then it wins, no contest,” Stephanie Jackson, a senior majoring in Journalism at the University of Georgia, said.

Jackson raises a great point: would a device like Kindle save you money in the long run, as well as paper?  Like the iPod, you have a large expense ($299) upfront followed by supplemental material later.  However, you won’t be paying miniscule prices like 99 cents or $1.29 for New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases; try $9.99 a piece.  While cheaper than the average hardcover, their prices for paperbacks barely compete with books you could buy at a discount at places like Wal-Mart or Target.  Newspapers run around $14.99 a month and magazines can run from $1.25 to $10.49 a month.  And now, Amazon has stopped discounting their new books.  Because Kindle is selling so well, as well as compatible e-books, even new paperbacks are selling for regular list price.

Will Kindle save you money?  Not much in the grand scheme of things, it seems.  But what about going paperless?  Think about what happens when your paperback has served its lifespan.  Do you throw it in the trash, pass it on to a good friend or even keep it on the shelf for a while?  The majority of readers turn them into charities, book drives or used bookstores.  Charities are a wonderful way to recycle your used paperback!  Used bookstores are also a great way to boost the local economy and in turn recycle your books while saving money on others (many used bookstores offer you a store credit for the books your bring in).  And, full disclosure, I relished my time in high school as a used bookstore sales associate and remain a loyal customer.

So, will paperbacks go the way of kindling to make room for growing technology?  Or will bookshelves and libraries reign supreme as people continue to enjoy that feeling you get when you crack open a good book?  Based on the debates I’ve attended on this topic, the paperback will prevail.  After all, we’ve used it for thousands of years without fail.

What do you think?  Ready to cozy up to Kindle or are you playing it safe with that old paperback?  Yell about it at SocialYell!

Ashley Strickland is a senior studying Journalism at the University of Georgia.  After this blog, she plans to sit down with her latest favorite paperback.