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Old-fashioned paper v technology

MPS being at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival - a real treat! - has, predictably in discussions and panels raised the thorny question of what life does the book, as we know it, still have in it. With devices like the Kindle and iphone, etc now available - and Apple said to release a Tablet early next year - many are suggesting that what has been the traditional way to read a book, is on the way out.

Jane Sullivan, writing on the National Times in "The future of books"makes it very clear where she stands:

"One of my favourite whizz-bang gadgets is a thing called the Book. No, not iBook, e-book, m-book or anything like that. Just a handy-sized collection of bound pages and type. It looks and feels good, it responds to touch. I can take it anywhere and be transported in an instant to an astounding virtual world."

And:

"I can’t begin to get my head around what might happen in a thousand years, but I know one thing about now. We human beings are devices wired for story. We love a good narrative and we will take it in whatever form is the most reasonably-priced and reader-friendly. The electronic screen has come to stay, but for the long-haul read, it’s still true that nothing beats the old-fashioned book."

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