No, PDP did not turn into some geeky blog overnight - even though I AM a geek, LOL - but I am just back from Le Web 3 conference (the only real international event about the web in Europe that I attended in 2006 and 2005) and someone (Malo, from M21 editions) showed me an ebook. This "thing" looks so much like a real book (I'm talking about the screen, not the actual device, of course) that, when I first looked at it, I thought it was a fake. Very interesting. Still pretty expensive (450 €) but soon, I'm sure it'll be much more affordable. Update (Dec 14.): read this, if you want to "see" the event through the eyes of an American who made the trip to Paris on this special occasion!
Interesting! You always bring us innovation Eric. So what title will you choose? ... Daily Photo: LE livre by Eric Tenin.
ReplyDeleteAh.. e-books... Amazon.com keeps "reminding" me to check them out ;) 450E seems VERY expensive, though.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I checked, books are free at the public library! It's a gizmo world.
ReplyDeleteOh, and about yesterday's comments: I'll need to remember to try to contact vicky hugo when I visit Chicago next year. I love the jazz fest, particularly.
Okay...if you wanna be geeky...that's okay! Just don't turn into a dweeb or a dork! We have way too many of them here in the Bay Area...and probably the whole US!! LOL!! I agree with tomate...450euro?? Wow!! Tres cher!!! Tightwads are we??? ;-)
ReplyDeletecool … I wonder about the authors available and copyright … but the trick is good to offer 24 books at once … very heavy and not ideal on your scooter ...
ReplyDeletesometime what I like about books is the smell …
grobegni
I'll take mine in audio form, thank you very much. My books that is, not my geeks. All that reading puts me to sleep!
ReplyDeleteCool photo geek man. I love the blue.
I would miss the randomness of pages falling open at places I had not intended to visit. Also I am not sure how well an ebook would work in the bath. . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm old fashioned and like to flip pages!
ReplyDeleteThe new Amazon Kindle is very dangerous. You can download any book instantly, wirelessly. I did give some thought to buying it, since I am reading War and Peace and it is over 1,200 pages long! Very heavy! The Kindle version would be much lighter.
ReplyDeleteEric - here's a question for you. In the Russian version of W&P, everything is in Russian EXCEPT the dialog of the aristocrats, which is in French. In the English version, everything is in English, except the dialog of the aristocrats, which is in French and italicized. So how do they handle this in a French version? How do they make the dialog of the aristocrats stand out? If you have a copy or see one in a book store, I'd love to know the answer.
I have an English translation where the dialogue of the Aristocrats is in English EXCEPT when the French cannot be adequately translated eg 'Cher' 'Vicomte' 'Fete' or when direct quotes are used " Dieu me la donne, gare a qui la touche" (A quote from Bonaparte). But, like me it is old.
ReplyDeleteWow, I never thought I would see the day when people were discussing War & Peace on a blog! I now CONFIRM I have no culture.
ReplyDeleteDo they do a Reader's Digest Condensed version where everything (including the quotes) are in SEFEMTR English (Simple Enough For Even Michael To Read)?
I'm heading to the conference today so I'll let you know if the 450€ was worth it!
Don't buy that for a minute, Michael.
ReplyDeleteMy dear wife is currently reading "Guerre et Paix" in French... And everything is in French, including les dialogues des aristocrates! So no difference between moujiks and aristos in the French version...lol
ReplyDeleteOh, great job! A eBook!
ReplyDeleteNice photo too, Eric!
Pat
I heart geeks & books, but sorry, Eric, I love the old fashioned kind. Stick me in a library and I am in love! ;)
ReplyDeleteEric, you have no idea how jealous I am - with everyone Twittering about being at Le Web 3... I would LOVE to be there! (Paris + geekery - what could be better?) Next time, yes, next time. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an awful device. Sorry. Pretty much every minute spent in front of a computer could be better spent elsewhere, such as WITH a book.
ReplyDeletetiny computer screens hurt my eyes...plus I like dog-eared books too much...gotta go!
ReplyDeleteI just saw one of these advertised online today! I guess I agree with coltrane. . . .love the books!!
ReplyDeleteQuick note to Kerry-aAnne. Well, I can tell you that it was a real good year for Le Web 3. Lots of interesting people. I'm told the whole session will be available on line soon, if not already.
ReplyDeleteBut you'll miss the most important part: the networking side!!
How fun you got to see this. They say the screen reads just like paper. Amazon.com has its own version called Kindle, slightly larger, supposedly uber user friendly, and apparently lots cheaper than this model. One can not only download whole books instantly for about 6 to 10 $USA, one can get newspapers and magazines and other features I'm forgetting. The fact that one can adjust the text size up or down is really appealing to me. It's the size of a DVD case and thin, so could go anywhere. Amazing, eh! Hope you saw lots of other amazing things at the conference.
ReplyDelete-Kim