Hello there! I've found something that you all might be interested in, and my cursory search has led me to believe that no-one else has brought this up - so feel free to give me a jolly good rap on the knuckles if I'm wrong!

Anyway, here's the scoop - BBC news has an exclusive on the new version of BOOK, complete with PageGlow (TM)... a must-try book enhancement for Fforde ffans!

Fantasy becomes reality, or just an idea that looks good on paper? You decide...

I want one! A whole library on something the size of a normal paperback! Do you get to choose which books you have on it? You could take your whole bookshelf with you where-ever you go!

It's a lot like a PADD on Star Trek actually. I like the way the pages turn...



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There's a hole in my creativity bucket and it's all leaked out.

Ugh, it's vile. Convenience is no substitute for the physicality of paper. A world without bookshops, espscially second hand bookshops isn't a world fit for humans. E-books wouldn't smell right. And the great thing about books is that you don't need batteries.

amen, Dibs! I'd miss having a real book to fall asleep with. Paper is much more forgiving than hard plastic when it comes to sleeping on it! ;-)

that said, I think it would be rather nice to use if you're a commuter or fly for business a lot. That would be very convenient due to the size and weight factor.

I'd still keep my books. I just want one to have where-ever I go.

Presumably you'd have to select the books that were loaded into your machine from a range offered by the device's supplier, if you weren't just limited to having one or another of their standard selections. Or might you be able to down-load individual works from the internet, by linking your new "library" to a computer that has a modem connection & leaving it open to receive the book (for however long that transmission takes...)? I suspect that, either way, anything which was currently out-of-print _ or the first books by any new authors, such as Jasper _ might not be available in that format...

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"God rot Botchkamos Istochnik!"



Post Edited (08-26-03 13:33)

I'm with Dibs (and most others) on this one - real books (and real bookshops, be they second hand (have I mentioned Barter Books in Alnwick??) or otherwise) are *far superior...

Enigma in Gipsy Hill would be a particuarly good second hand book shop Dave. Where's Alnwick?

Dave _ Yes, you have.

Dibs _ It's in Northumberland: Alnwick Castle is the "home" seat of the Dukes of Northumberland (although they also have a home in the London area, which is called Syon House), and was apparently used as the location for some scenes in one or more of the 'Harry Potter' movies.

I took a box of books up there last weekend, motley selection of random fantasy/thrillers etc.

Got £68 credit for the box. I was expecting £20. I've not stopped smiling yet.

Of course, the name of the game was to get *rid* of some books. Oops.

Coo, nice deal. Wonder if I could talk Gary into driving up there so we could both unload some of our excess books ? Still, they probably don't need any more fantasy/sci-fi/thrillers now.

Not really suitable for reading in the bath, is it?

Think I'll stick to the real thing.

I like real books. Mmmm, paper. And you can eat them if you're starving!

... well, that's what my ex-roomie says. That books are yummy as well as fun to read. ( She is strange, I admit it.)