Techno Groupie

Gulp!

I ordered  a Kindle this morning. Never in my wildest dreams (prior to Kindle's introduction) would I ever have thought I'd want what amounts to a little computer on which to read books. I don't like to read them on my big computer screen--why in the world would I want to read them on something smaller?

But I paid attention. Watched all the videos from day one. The features are amazing, and the assurance that although a bit odd at first, readers quickly forget they're not actually reading a book, hooked me. Even though I've never actually seen one in person, I know I've sold a few of them just because I'm so stoked.

I asked for one the first Christmas they came out. I asked again last Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I usually always get what I ask for. The Kindle just fell through the cracks, but now I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival.

I told a friend what I'd done this morning. Amazingly, she hadn't heard of Kindle (the second person today!) and was immediately worried about bookstores.

I wish I had an answer to her concern. The fact is, I don't. Maybe book stores as we know them will morph into little cyber cafes where book groups meet and orb sample pages to each other for discussion. 

All I know is that not paying attention to technology, even embracing it, doesn't make it go away. We've built up industries and expanded our own little corners of the world through the Internet. There might be some exciting things on the horizon with innovations like Kindle--fewer trees killed, lowered publishing costs, and who knows what else.

I admit I want to see my name on the cover of a book. Hold it in my hands, flip the pages. Autograph a few. Know what I mean?

In the meantime, I can't wait to hold the Kindle in my hands and figure it out.

CR: First the Dead.

It's all better with friends.