I love books. I have hundreds of them. I love the look of them, the feel of them. I love the covers, the typeface, the paper, the heft of them. I'm a writer myself and I've published three books and would like to publish more.
However, I got an Amazon ebook, the so-called Kindle, last week, and I love it, too. Amazon has done a great job creating a package that is book-like, with "paper" and print that are book-like and combining it with some wonderful digital conveniences. Like wireless delivery. You want a book or a sample, it's there in a minute. Like being able to adjust the type size. You're reading in bed and your eyes are tired, kick up the type size a notch. Like carrying around numerous books and periodicals at once. Ready for a change of pace, have a few minutes to kill -- pick another book or article to read. Like getting a sample chapter to read first.
Will I regret at some point not being able to pass on to a friend a book I read on Kindle? Probably. But, hey, how often do you actually loan out a book. People will usually take a recommendation and get their own copy of the book.
When I got my Kindle and was reading it all the time, my girlfriend would ask, "Are you kindling?" or "Are you going to kindle some before going to sleep?" A new verb is born.
