The BBC site has an article on the ‘paperless newspaper’ – a robust, portable, plastic e-reader which is planned to be used for downloaded newspapers and sold in the shops some time next year. Traditional printers and papers don’t see it as competition, pointing out that most people will prefer the feel of an actual physical paper, not to mention the cost and convenience, arguments pretty similar to those used against e-books and e-comics. And while I generally agree with those arguments (yes, I could read a book or comic on a portable e-reader, but I prefer the user-friendly technology of Mr Gutenberg when it comes to reading, thank you) I can see where it might be a bit different for daily newspapers – after all this is an immensely disposable object. We buy it, we read it, we throw it away into the recycling bin or line the kitty litter with it. Some papers don’t even make it off the morning commute, they get left behind on the train or bus.
So perhaps they might be a bit different and, if it is fairly affordable, a plastic e-reader for papers (and magazine if they followed suit) it could be a decent idea. I mean how many of us now get our newspaper fix via a website rather than paper each day now? But if it is a success then obviously other printed media will look at it – could we see it being used for comics, for instance? I suppose if it is used for papers it could be used for comics too, especially weekly and monthly titles. But somehow I can’t see it being as big with comics readers – I think most of us would still like to feel the paper between our fingers and then there’s the fact that unlike newspapers a lot of us are likely to lovingly collect those comics issues after reading them. Which wouldn’t be the same on a plastic screen (and that’s before we consider torturous legalese like DRM which is a headache for legal download music already and causes problems for legitimate consumers). Time will tell, of course, but for the moment I think I’m sticking with my visual-tactile literary/image interface mechanism (eyes, hands, look, read) as the best proven method for reading consumption.
Thu, Oct 16, 2008
Books