Before I tell the story I'm about to tell you, I want to clear up that I am not a luddite. I am in no way afraid of technology or irrationally opposed to it. Just because I think 3-D TVs are ridiculous and a major step too far doesn't mean I have issues. Anyway....
This weekend, I popped into a certain store known as a purveyor of electronic gadgets and paraphernalia to buy a Disc-man. Yes, that's right, I purchased a portable CD player, and I refuse to be ashamed of that fact.
Anyway, as I was checking out, the sales rep playfully teased me. 'Do you want a warranty in case you ever decide to upgrade to an mp3?' 'You know we have mp3 players right over there, right?' -- and this one made my day -- 'I don't remember the last time I sold one of these.'
Well, I'm always glad to be original. Also, you know what, sometimes you just need to listen to a CD on the go. Admittedly, I don't do that all the time but right now, yes, I need to listen to some CDs on the go (Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on disc, if you must know). Plus, there's the slight joy of feeling oh-so-90s with a Disc-man in my hand.
But, all that aside, this got me thinking. Will there come a day when some kid walks into a store, grabs a book off the shelf, and gets teased by the employee with the words, 'Woah, a tree-book. I can't remember the last time someone actually bought one of these. You know we have the audiofile chips over there, right?'?
For the moment, I remain partial to tree-books, but I know that e-books aren't going the way of the dodo any time soon. So, one day, I'll probably get teased by a sales person because, you know, sometimes you just need to hold the book in your hand and not an e-reader. And when that happens, I know, it'll be deja-vu all over again.
How about you? Fan of the e-reader? Fan of the tree-book? Fan of the portable CD player? What's your deal?
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I'm with you on this! Even though I love certain technology (what did we EVER do without the Internet?) I will never give up on tree-books. And frankly, if I want a 3D viewing experience, I will go outside.
ReplyDeleteTree book all the way! It just doesn't seem like reading in the same way when it's an e-book.
ReplyDeleteHah, this is great! I still have a portable CD player lying around here somewhere. I didn't know they even made them anymore! I don't think tree books will ever go away, honestly. There's nothing to replace just holding a paper book in hand, setting it on a shelf with other books, and stepping back to admire the collection. Technology can't touch that.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of all toys new and shiny...so I usually have the latest and greatest (not an e-reader though...yet). But I don't knock the people who listen to CD's. The sound quality is actually better on a disc (the sound is uncompressed).
ReplyDeleteJenna -- I definitely concur with you about 3D.
ReplyDeleteVader -- I concur. It's definitely not the same experience.
Michelle -- Yep, they still make portable CD players. Even I was a tad surprised by that.
DL -- It's been a while since I compared a CD with an audiofile, but now I'm curious if disc quality really is better.