I would love to hear what Neil Postman would have said about Kindle or other e-reading devices. I’m skeptical of these things for a few reasons:

DRM – Digital Rights Management. Will DRM or proprietary file formats dictate how and when I can read my e-books, or who can “author” an e-book? Do I have to have a computer and internet connection to get e-content to read? If so, why not read it on the computer? Is Kindle just another “labor-saving” salad-shooter? Can I share and transfer my e-books like I do my paper books?

Proprietary hardware – does Kindle have standard size AA or AAA batteries? Or must I buy expensive, exotic form-factor batteries when the rechargeable dies its inevitable death?

Ergonomics – Can I write in the margins and underline things that are important to me? Must I lug around a charger? Is it rugged enough to withstand the rigors of academic life?

I have a favorite book that I found at a used book store. It is obvious that the book had been run over by a car, and the tread marks were visible on the back cover. Somehow I doubt Kindles will have this kind of longevity.

I picture Kindles and the like as expensive, niche-market gadgets. I usually don’t agree with Jobs and other techie types, but I have to agree that reading on the decline, and iTunes ascending, Kindles will be a hard-sell.

This is one area where Negroponte’s $100 laptop might be a good thing, as long as everything is open-source and non-DRM.

I’m not advocating Kindle, but I’ll be excited when they get something that has the advantages of digital with most of the advantages of paper. It is of course true that we read less than in the past, but according to his own statistic 6 out of every 10 people read more than a book a year.

Haven’t been here in a while, but I see that our interests still coincide in many areas. Nice web site!

Are you advocating for the Kindle here, or just reading in general? I think it’s fair to say that we as Americans read fewer books today than we did in years past. I can forgive Jobs a little hyperbole if that’s the point he’s making.

I balk at the idea that Kindles or other techno-gadgets will usher in a new age of reading and literacy.

I’m dismissing his comment because it’s plain wrong. True, he might be lying to catch people off guard when they release a e-book reader, but that doesn’t make him correct when he says “people don’t read anymore.”

It wasn’t too long ago that Jobs’ scoffed at the idea of people watching video on their iPods. Today video is one of the major selling points of every iPod model (except for the Shuffle, naturally). Jobs is nothing if not a marketing genius. So, I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss his comments.

For the record, I’m currently reading 4 books right now.

I for one am reading Madame Bovary.

Even ignoring the flawed statistic, I think it’s shameful (albeit somewhat amusing) that he would suggest books are obsolete. Evidently he expects everyone is too busy taking snapshots and organizing them by date or sorting their music collection into playlists.