To e-read or not to e-read...
Many have argued that there is simply no substitute for being able to hold a real book in your hands, being able to lend it to a friend, or fondly stack it with the rest of one's dog-eared book library - a sign for all to see that one is indeed very well-read. After all, why buy a book if you can't show it off?
But the question is whether the majority of people will really care. After all, we all got over proudly putting our CDs on display in the living room. And most e-readers are pretty damn sleek and stylish looking, which more than compensates for the "coolness" involved in having built up even the most fantastic of home libraries.
E-Reader devices are also not difficult for people to read, as the screens are non-reflective, don't give off any glare and show text clearly on a neutral cream background in a variety of font sizes, making it easier for older readers, or people with sight problems.
For students, there's the added bonus of being able to make digital notes, or even search the text for certain key words or passages. Kindle even remembers the page you were on when you turned it off.
Also, if you ignore the high price of the actual device, the Kindle actually makes being a bibliophile that little bit cheaper, with an average price of £5.50 (approx $9) per book. It's also easier than lugging a suitcase full of reading material on holiday at a featherweight 400g.
News to us
Kindle doesn't just deliver books either, with plenty of newspaper subscriptions available via Amazon's "whispernet" 3g connection, offering 51 global newspapers including four British ones - The Times, the Daily Mail, the Independent and the Daily Telegraph.
Subscription to a paper costs £14 ($22.99) a month, with an option for a 14 day free trial. Granted, this seems fairly steep, especially as most if not all that content could easily be found free online. Also, without being able to browse through pictures and headlines at random, the model will probably not appeal to most casual newspaper readers.
