This is a few weeks old, but it relates to a topic that fascinates me: the death of book publishing as we know it. I’ve been wondering for the past few months where the innovators are, why the industry does not appear to have developed new models and modes even though it’s supposedly been limping toward the reaper since the 1980’s. I don’t own an e-reader (yet. Speed up the wait, Bezos!) and I’m unimpressed with the reader apps for my G1 so far, but I believe the technology is coming. I’m done with people claiming book fetishes and tactile needs. I love a good used book store as much as the next word nerd, but remember when the iPod was first introduced? People whined about cover art, liner notes, the general satisfaction of looking at their 500 CDs on display in their living rooms. And then we got over it, and got iPods.
