I love books. I love to read but I also love books, the physical object. Hardback or paperback, I love the way they feel in my hands… the way they smell. I like scrawling notes in the margin and highlighting passages. Reading is a very tactile experience for me (and probably for most).
In a couple of days, I will join millions of others in pre-ordering the Apple iPad. I’m looking forward to using all of features and apps (current and future). I can’t imaging giving up my beloved books for a digital experience but I’m trying to keep an open mind. It is possible I will enjoy reading on the iPad.
With that in mind, I’ve been making a mental list of titles I plan to put on my virtual bookshelf.
- Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson
- Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson
- Complete works of William Gibson
- 1984, George Orwell (haven’t read since high school)
- Life After Death, Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra
- Mac OS X, David Pogue
- The Religion War by Scott Adams
Some of these are books that I have read several times (or expect to). I assume I will be able to highlight, annotate and search passages of my digital books. It might also be fun to link from the text of the book to a website. I haven’t heard or read anything about such a feature. We’ll see.
I’ve wondered about that, too. When I travel now, it’s usually with iPhone and MacBook. If I take the iPad on the road, the MacBook will probably stay home. My guess is, however, the iPad will be more of a coffee table sort of device.
I am wondering when yo get your i – pad, just what piece of luggage you will be using to carry round all your i paraphernalia ?
I feel the way you do about the physicality of print books, but I’m quite certain we are one of the final generations thus oriented – and probably one of the final generations to commonly have the space for such a luxury.
Gonna buy the WiFi.
are you going with the WiFi or 3G iPad?
I acutally enjoy reading on my iPhone more then reading a “real” book.