long live the book

The Amazon Kindle. So, I know I'm two years behind here, but I thought I would shed some insight into my feelings on the subject. A six inch display screen that can hold around 200 pieces of literature for $299. Well, they've since trumped that with the Kindle 2 (1500 titles) and the Kindle DX (nine inch display screen, 3000 titles). I'm a bit hesitant at the idea of an e-book. Sure, they make reading while travelling more convenient. Is this just a direct audience target to the most tech savvy of customers--im sure it sits quite nicely next to your iphone, ipod, mini notebook, cellphone, pager, garage door opener, etc. But, doesn't this seem to rob us of that tactile pleasure of reading? The touch of the hardcover binding, the smell of the pages, the aesthetic appeal of the typography and page layout. Their is something romantic, something nostalgic about curling up to a good book. You are both mentally and physically wrapped up in the material between the covers ..and how different it must feel to replace that with a piece of plastic. The Kindle stands for something so much greater than a technological "marvel", it further isolates the readers.