(CU Independent illustration/Adam Milner)
As more everyday activities become digitized, consumers have a new way to read.
The first major electronic reader, the Amazon Kindle, appeared on the scene in November 2007. The e-reader did not initially gain widespread popularity.
Two years later, e-readers sold out during the Christmas season and around 10 different models are available, including the Barnes & Noble Nook and the Sony Reader, which cost between $259 to $399.99 . Cost notwithstanding, students say they are still not certain if this way of reading a book is for them.
Jordan Riggs, a 21-year-old senior physics major, says he finds the new technology interesting, but not fully developed.
“The industry hasn’t matured enough,” Riggs said. “The distribution is still low. I think that if you get a book, the electric book should come with it. The display technology is intriguing. But again, the industry hasn’t matured enough.”
E-readers are typically cheaper than books and can be bought with a click of the mouse. Major newspapers like the New York Times and Washington Post, as well as magazine subscriptions, are also available.
Genesis Machek, a 19-year-old sophomore ecology and evolutionary biology major, said she is happy she owns a Kindle.
“I like it,” Machek said. “I read a lot, it’s useful and the books are cheaper.”
Machek said she recommends the Kindle to other readers. Having used it since Christmas, she said she has yet to purchase magazines or newspapers.
Jared Konner, a 19-year-old sophomore music major, said e-readers don’t appeal to him, mainly because he’s not an avid reader.
“I’m not a big book reader,” said Konner. “I don’t read other than what I have to for class. I’ve never used them. I don’t know how to [use e-readers].”
Brady Kurth, a 20-year-old sophomore international major, said he doesn’t like the e-reader.
“I have a negative opinion of [e-readers],” Kurth said. “It’s just like reading on a screen—it hurts my eyes. This whole movement towards writing and reading online will die out soon. I could be wrong, though.”
Clara Boland, a 19-year-old freshman ecology & evolutionary biology major, said that she’d like an e-reader.
“It seems cool,” Boland said. “I guess I always wonder if it’d hurt your eyes. I’d be awesome if [e-readers] become mainstream, because I carry my backpack from Williams Village daily. I’d probably get one.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sara Juliet Fruman at Sara.fruman@colorado.edu.
