Is anyone else a little weirded out by the Kindle? The digital book-reader thing that they're pushing this week.
Not necessarily the device itself, which actually appears to be pretty cool (though vastly overpriced and somewhat underachieving, but that's pretty par for the course with new-ish technology). I'm bothered by the name. "Kindle," as in kindling; as in the wood that you use to start a fire; as in go burn your books now that we have this nifty new computerized gizmo; as in Fahrenheit 451 nightmare city.
Phhheeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuw! File under: craptastic.
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2 comments:
Au contraire, mon frere! I've been fascinated by the Kindle, as in kindle your imagination, as in spark your literary fire. Think of the TREES you'll save! Think of the SPACE you'll free up. On the other hand, I wouldn't dream of getting rid of the books I already own because it makes me happy just to look at them. But I used to feel that way about my CD collection, too, and that's history now that I have my iPod. And it sure would be nice to carry 250 books with me on vacation without hiring a moving van. Although for the most part, not even close to cost effective. I'm an avid reader, but I make heavy use of the library, which doesn't cost squat. Bottom line: I eye the Kindle with a sort of geeky longing, but I easily make do with weekly trips to the beautiful LAPL and a heavy bag.
i too am a library-freak, and recognize the green-ness of the Kindle (though it costs too many greenbacks for me)
I also dug up your question about the name. Turns out Voltaire was thinking along the same lines as JAT:
http://valleywag.gawker.com/327660/tech/amazon%27com/kindles-true-origin-in-18th-century-french-enlightenment
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