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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A little iPod with your 8-Track?
Music of the week: "Outta your mind" Lil Jon (Crunk Rock, 2010)
(I bet you guys didn't see that coming. I'm in a mood. Chance get the bar ready. I want to dance.)
You can’t deny that technology is all around us. Even as readers we’re beginning to feel the effects of the technology boom. EReaders are all the rage right now. The Nook, The Kindle, the Sony Reader, even the iPad… They are here to make the readers life easier to read in style. I’m resistant to the idea of holding an electronic device to house my usual paperback novel. I like the smell of the paper and ink. I like the way the paper crinkles between my fingers as I turn the page. (One thing I don’t like is when Mina decides to make my book her new snack.) But an eReader would’ve come in handy the last time I made a trip and wanted to pack along 10 books with me. Instead of packing along 10 books, I could’ve downloaded them all into an eReader and tucked the eReader into my bag.
I can say without a doubt I’m not the person to call if you ever needed your ancient VCR programmed. Or if you need a surround system hooked up to your HiDef flat screen TV, TiVo (or whatever the hell it is that records TV now), your cable box, Blue-Ray scanner, DiVX player, XBox 360 and Wii all into one TV.
Not going to happen in this lifetime.
Now, with that being said, I like gadgets and I love gadget research. This whole eReader thing has me curious. I’ve been completely against eReaders since the Kindle came out. Did you know the battery life is supposed to last for 2 whole weeks?! And holds 1500 books?! The little reader girl in me squealed in delight when I came upon that. Fifteen hundred books? Are you kidding me? And they’ve lowered the prices on eReaders. Which has me doing furious research on eReaders for my upcoming birthday and Christmas present. Oooooooh, Undead Monkey… I’ve found what I wanted!
(Besides my very own island. A new Z28 (Nevermind they don’t come out until 2012… we’re professionals 'round here.) and that S&W .40 I’ve been wanting but no one will dare buy me. Wonder why.)
I got sidetracked from my own blog. Tangents within tangents.
I love to read about new advances in current technology that “makes” our lives a little easier from day to day. But how do we decide what technology to include in our manuscripts?
Hellie brought up a good point the other day. In advances in series that are several books in (as well as SEVERAL years in the making) how do you gauge what fits and what doesn’t? Her point was Janet Evanovich has written a series where the heroine never ages- yet the series started in the mid-90’s when stretch pants in neon colors, big hair, Walkmans and the word “rad” were all the rage. How do you integrate iPods and Harry Potter references into that? The series produces a book a year. Obviously to appeal to younger audiences you have to reference gadgets and pop culture people recognize.
I’m sure all of us would understand record player, 8-Track and cassette tape references but kids now have lived in a world where they have only known CD’s and MP3’s, iTunes and legalized Napster. (Anybody remember the days before legalized Napster? Aimster anyone? Kazaa?) I referenced a quote the other day to a teenager, “Better eat your Wheaties.” And she just looked at me with a blank stare. She had NO idea what I was talking about. I thought that was a quote that transcended generations. Apparently not.
We all know I write tech inspired fiction. I grew up with a love for computers. My first computer was a Mac Apple IIe. My parents still have it in their basement. Anyone remember the computers of old days where you had actual floppy disks? Where you had to command the computer to do functions that we take for granted now? I own several computers now (no Apple which I plan to fix in the next year). Laptops, wireless servers, encrypted emails; sophisticated programming inspired me to write about criminally conscious women who use their skills to help others in their time of need. Research on this technology is one of those things you can’t stay ahead of the curve unless you’re at the forefront.
So let’s talk about what types of technology you feel comfortable mentioning in your manuscripts. What do you wish you knew more about? Any opinions about technology in fiction?
Side note: I finished reading the Millennium trilogy (AKA Steig Larsson’s novels about the “hacker” Lisbeth Salander). While it wasn’t detailed, might I say that every time computer technology gets mentioned in a novel, even slightly, I go gaga. The only thing that saved the first novel for me was Lisbeth’s equal love for computer technology and the beauty of computer specs. All and all, the second book was my fav.
(I bet you guys didn't see that coming. I'm in a mood. Chance get the bar ready. I want to dance.)
***
You can’t deny that technology is all around us. Even as readers we’re beginning to feel the effects of the technology boom. EReaders are all the rage right now. The Nook, The Kindle, the Sony Reader, even the iPad… They are here to make the readers life easier to read in style. I’m resistant to the idea of holding an electronic device to house my usual paperback novel. I like the smell of the paper and ink. I like the way the paper crinkles between my fingers as I turn the page. (One thing I don’t like is when Mina decides to make my book her new snack.) But an eReader would’ve come in handy the last time I made a trip and wanted to pack along 10 books with me. Instead of packing along 10 books, I could’ve downloaded them all into an eReader and tucked the eReader into my bag.
I can say without a doubt I’m not the person to call if you ever needed your ancient VCR programmed. Or if you need a surround system hooked up to your HiDef flat screen TV, TiVo (or whatever the hell it is that records TV now), your cable box, Blue-Ray scanner, DiVX player, XBox 360 and Wii all into one TV.
Not going to happen in this lifetime.
Now, with that being said, I like gadgets and I love gadget research. This whole eReader thing has me curious. I’ve been completely against eReaders since the Kindle came out. Did you know the battery life is supposed to last for 2 whole weeks?! And holds 1500 books?! The little reader girl in me squealed in delight when I came upon that. Fifteen hundred books? Are you kidding me? And they’ve lowered the prices on eReaders. Which has me doing furious research on eReaders for my upcoming birthday and Christmas present. Oooooooh, Undead Monkey… I’ve found what I wanted!
(Besides my very own island. A new Z28 (Nevermind they don’t come out until 2012… we’re professionals 'round here.) and that S&W .40 I’ve been wanting but no one will dare buy me. Wonder why.)
I got sidetracked from my own blog. Tangents within tangents.
I love to read about new advances in current technology that “makes” our lives a little easier from day to day. But how do we decide what technology to include in our manuscripts?
Hellie brought up a good point the other day. In advances in series that are several books in (as well as SEVERAL years in the making) how do you gauge what fits and what doesn’t? Her point was Janet Evanovich has written a series where the heroine never ages- yet the series started in the mid-90’s when stretch pants in neon colors, big hair, Walkmans and the word “rad” were all the rage. How do you integrate iPods and Harry Potter references into that? The series produces a book a year. Obviously to appeal to younger audiences you have to reference gadgets and pop culture people recognize.
I’m sure all of us would understand record player, 8-Track and cassette tape references but kids now have lived in a world where they have only known CD’s and MP3’s, iTunes and legalized Napster. (Anybody remember the days before legalized Napster? Aimster anyone? Kazaa?) I referenced a quote the other day to a teenager, “Better eat your Wheaties.” And she just looked at me with a blank stare. She had NO idea what I was talking about. I thought that was a quote that transcended generations. Apparently not.
We all know I write tech inspired fiction. I grew up with a love for computers. My first computer was a Mac Apple IIe. My parents still have it in their basement. Anyone remember the computers of old days where you had actual floppy disks? Where you had to command the computer to do functions that we take for granted now? I own several computers now (no Apple which I plan to fix in the next year). Laptops, wireless servers, encrypted emails; sophisticated programming inspired me to write about criminally conscious women who use their skills to help others in their time of need. Research on this technology is one of those things you can’t stay ahead of the curve unless you’re at the forefront.
So let’s talk about what types of technology you feel comfortable mentioning in your manuscripts. What do you wish you knew more about? Any opinions about technology in fiction?
Side note: I finished reading the Millennium trilogy (AKA Steig Larsson’s novels about the “hacker” Lisbeth Salander). While it wasn’t detailed, might I say that every time computer technology gets mentioned in a novel, even slightly, I go gaga. The only thing that saved the first novel for me was Lisbeth’s equal love for computer technology and the beauty of computer specs. All and all, the second book was my fav.
Labels:
2010,
Quartermaster's Queries (Sin),
Sin,
Writing for Rum
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116 comments:
Hee, hee...just occured to me, it's like the E-ticket ride in Disneyworld!
Well, since I write some strange sort of time traveling back into a strange past stuff... I made my agent smile when I mentioned an e-reader my heroine loads with every book she can think of before returning to the alternate Tortuga... And the pirates have i-pods... But I stay away from model types, brand names, etc.
I think it gets hard when you mention pop media. Television shows, movies, even music. It's tricky to do itall without tying yourself to something too set in a particular year.
I have a series set in the paranoia ridden 4 years after 9-11, that if it ever finds a home it will need to be rewritten to be less dependent on what was going on then...
Sin,I loved the Salander books and like you,thought that the second book was the best. After reading it, I couldn't wait for the print version of the final book and bought the audio version. I thought the concept of a young girl battling with the corruption in Swedish medical circles and traumas dating back to childhood, using her grasp of computers to become a 'world class hacker' to fight the system and her personal demons, was absolutely stunning!
I find robotics and artificial intelligence one of the most interesting areas for fiction. I know that Asimov explored it fairly thoroughly and McCaffrey did a good job with children so severely physically handicapped that they would not survive in most societies. Integrating brains with space ships was a brilliant concept for replacing useless bodies. 'The ship who sang' was my favorite, though I read it a very long time ago!
Do you know I still have a working Sinclair ZX81 in my loft. I think it was probably the first affordable and practical home computer. If I keep it long enough it might eventually be worth something!
Sin, this was great. I'm really amazed at how much technology has changed, and for the most part I feel like I've kept up -- but every once in a while it feels like I'm about a half a step behind. It changes faster than I do. :)
When I was at Borders the other day a woman was really pushing their new Kobo reader -- I told her I'm waiting til the dust settles, because I don't want to end up with the Sony Betamax of e-readers. LOL I know I'll like it, but there doesn't seem to be any reason to rush to buy one.
I came across some of those hard floppy disks the other day, the ones that were smaller and harder and such an improvement over those big thin ones, and I debated whether to throw them away. LOL Then I realized -- my computer doesn't have any way to read them! There's no drive for them.
Since I'm writing a Regency set historical, there isn't a lot of our technology in it. Maybe if I hit up the Victorian era it would be different.
But research for that, in general, is not my favorite thing. I love the setting, but the details... ugh.
First off, did you see Twitch and Alex do a hip hop routine to that song? It was freaking awesome! (Oh, this is on So You Think You Can Dance, btw. *g*)
My books are set in the present, but since I don't know when they will be pubbed, it's hard to get the present details just right. So much pop culture is here today gone tomorrow, even if this book is pubbed next year (heh, wishful thinking) some references could be too old. I think for contemporaries, that's one of the things that get fixed in edits when you finally publish.
My heroine's son is really into video games, but I've managed to keep references vague. Mostly because the references are in my heroine's POV and she knows nothing about the details of them. No one has thrown around an iPod, no mention of my heroine giving up her dozen bookshelves for an eReader.
I do have an eReader, but I've never used it. Maybe I will, eventually. I just don't like paying for something I can't hold onto. It's a mental block. I'll work on it, since it looks like eBooks are the future whether I like it or not.
LOL, Terri -- I meant to comment on the A-track thing. When I bought my first car, I had a choice of an 8-track or cassette player -- since I had several 8-tracks, I went with that. PLUS, the visionary that I am, I didn't think cassettes were gonna be the next thing. LOL
Yeah, I know.
We had an 8-track player in our car! I about wore out that Queen cartridge, with Another One Bites the Dust. LOL!
Gah! I'm old!
LOL. And I totally know about the 8-Track. I'm not THAT young. I'm just a spastic idiot and forgot to fix it in my Word doc. It was an auto fix that I noticed went wrong.
"Gah! I’m old!"
NOT!
And yes, I saw the hip-hop routine Twitch and Alex did to that song. GPS recorded it and we ended up watching it a half dozen times. It was pretty spectacular.
They have e-tickets at Disneyworld? I saw a commercial (think it was a Verizon commercial) where they were checking out the lines at Disneyworld/land with their phone via an App (I'm certain) but e-tickets? That's like being able to use your phone to access your store coupons and just show them to the clerk. Feels like cheating.
Sin, different kind of E tickets! Gather round, children -- let me tell you what it used to be like. LOL
There were A, B, C, D, and E tickets -- the E tickets being for the coolest rides. And of course there weren't as many of those.
Q sure does know how to talk to me. I would LOVE to see that XZ81. You say it still works? While I'm on the opposite spectrum (I don't think old functioning technology will ever be worth anything since the technology is outdated and only nerds find that interesting enough to tinker with) it still doesn't mean it's not hot to think about. I especially like to think about the RAM and ROM sizes back then. If you had 1KB it was considered a lot. Now, if you say you have 1GB people say "Oh, wow. Um, how do you cope with that?" I have a 1TB external and still don't think that's enough.
Sin, different kind of E tickets! Gather round, children — let me tell you what it used to be like. LOL
There were A, B, C, D, and E tickets — the E tickets being for the coolest rides. And of course there weren’t as many of those.
Disneyworld is so far from my comprehension level. LOL I've been to each one once. I don't plan on repeating the experience unless forced by ice pick point.
I don’t plan on repeating the experience unless forced by ice pick point.
Don't tempt us like that! LOL
Dear DRD,
If you think you're bad enough.
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
Chance, I've seen a lot of music mentioned in the fiction I read (usually music I actually listen to so can reference in my head pretty easily) but I can't really remember seeing books mentioned unless classical literature.
I can remember when MP3 players were coming out on the market and I told Mattycakes, "I am NOT going to own one of those."
I lied. LOL
Just like I said "I am not going to own an e-Reader."
I'm going to own one. Simply because I travel enough it would make it worthwhile to have it.
I made my agent smile when I mentioned an e-reader my heroine loads with every book she can think of before returning to the alternate Tortuga…
How does she recharge the e-reader? Isn't an e-reader something you charge like your phone? Or does your alternate Tortuga include electricity? (Ben Franklin is going to be ticked some pirate discovered it first.)
Chance, also I meant to comment on your paranoia stricken series set after 9-11. I can foresee this being really sci-fi. Have you thought about rewriting it with a sci-fi feel?
Dear Evil Twin,
Do you think I haven't been paying attention to your methods?
Very truly yours,
DRD
Q, also, Salander is a great heroine. You can tell that the author really liked her character. The only parts I read in the first book were hers up until the point that the hero and her met up and started working together. I thought the third book was great (got it from the library) but the ending of the third book was awkward. You can tell that the author was planning for a next book.
Not to mention that the heroine was a little gray in her ethical way of thinking, which we all know I'm on board with that way of thinking.
It gave me great perspective into writing my own characters and how I want them to read and how I want my readers to perceive them.
Honestly, I can say I'm not much of a sci-fi fiction fan. I've never been on to read about futuristic ideas of another author. I've got my own ideas and tend to not want anybody to muddle with them.
In the alternate universe wouldn't you be able to use magic? Could there be an alternative e-Reader that charges on magic?
Dear DRD,
You think I'm predictable?
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
Dear Evil Twin,
When it comes to weaponry, yes.
Very truly yours,
DRD
DRD, I've not considered the Kobo reader. We don't have a Borders around here and it doesn't seem like it is worth the effort to research.
I am, however, very interested in the Nook. But I want to know how much Internet access is allowed on both the Nook and Kindle and how easy it is to access the Internet from either. I know with the Nook it will hook into AT&T hotspots with 3G and since I have AT&T this seems like a very logical choice for me. But still, Internet access is crucial. If I don't have to lug around the laptop as well as the eReader and my phone I'm much happier.
I actually considered the iPad. But I have to get a separate data plan for it and that seems like too much hassle.
Dear DRD,
Anything can be used as a weapon. Including your favorite mascara wand.
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
Sin, your post may just convince me to consider writing historicals. I've tried to limit pop culture references in my fiction. I do have a couple of references to teens with earbuds in place and one reference to Lady Gaga.
Ter, you're NOT old. I have songs on my ipod that I have also owned on vinyl,8-track, casette, and CD.
I wrote my dissertation longhand and typed the first draft on an electric typewriter that had a correction cartridge that I thought an immense improvement over whiteout. The first computer I used was pre-Windows and required booting up with a DOS disk before I could start working. When I moved two years ago, I threw away a ton of floppy disks--in three sizes. I also threw away two large trash bags filled with video casettes. Thus, one year's wonder becomes another year's trash.
Marn, I'm glad you mentioned writing Regency. I was kinda curious what you'd have to say about writing historicals with technology and how to incorporate that into your fiction. While I can see researching all that would be a major pain in the ass, it could be pretty fascinating. Advances back in the day were major breakthroughs celebrated. Now, we just expect it.
I'm pretty sure the Kindle works more like a cell phone in that you don't need to catch a signal from wi-fi. You can be sitting anywhere and get yourself a book. I think. The Nook is cute, but I checked one out in the store and the screen seems small to me.
I have the Sony Reader and don't really like how the words wrap on the screen. But to be fair, I haven't given it enough of a chance to really say whether I'd like it or not. I just can't pay $9.99 for a book I can buy in the store for $7.99 and actually have a tangible product to hold onto.
Sin, I'm still checking out the various e-readers. The Nook seems cool, although when I tried to play with it once at B&N it wasn't working. LOL The Kobo is pretty basic -- pretty much a big blue button to turn the pages, so if it were $50, I'd go for it, but not more than that.
The Kindle feels a little too Fisher Price (a friend has one). The Sony ones are good too. The iPad is HEAVY, but beautiful.
One thing I want an e-reader for is so I can work on my manuscripts without taking my laptop with me. I don't think the e-readers are quite there yet, so that's why I'm waiting.
Janga, MS DOS = PIMA.
Up until a few years ago, I ran a HR software from MS DOS. Though, remembering the commands of old software tends to help when you need to refer the old way or thinking for a solution on a software bug.
But I'm not trying to convince anyone to stay away from writing technology. I'm just merely curious if anyone is as interested in the research it takes to put it into fiction.
Dear Evil Twin,
I'm postive you can weaponize anything. In fact, I'm shivering just looking at the bagel I meant to put in the toaster. I can envision you trying to squeeze my head through the middle of the bagel, just to make your point.
Very truly yours,
DRD
Bo'Sun, I feel the same way about the book. I like the feel of a book in my hand and we all know I'm a cheapskate. If I can pay $5 for something why would I pay $10 for the same thing?
I keep seeing commercials for e-Readers (Kindles, specifically) on TV, where the people are reading at the beach. And all I can think is "I'll be fcking gd'd if I take a $300 piece of technology to the BEACH where it can be corrupted by sand, water, or stolen." I wouldn't take my laptop--why would I take this?
So...I'm thinking NO on the e-Readers for me. At least for now. I do like the allure of 1500 books in one place; how long the battery lasts; carrying it in my purse, blah, blah, blah--but at the same time, NO. I don't like owning new cellphones because I'm afraid they'll break or get lost.
As for technology in books, email and text messaging is about as excited as I get. I don't have an iPod (still), so when this is referenced, I don't care. (I do remember downloading Napster before it was legal though. Eons ago.) I do like sporty cars/trucks being referenced in books--I can identify with that. *LOL* Cars are important. Flat screen TVs. The occasional Tivo (even though I don't have it.)
I get excited if a contemporary novel references Harry Potter or Jack Sparrow. Except when JE does it because she has said repeatedly that her heroine doesn't age and to my mind, if the story started in the mid-90s, I find it EXTREMELY unlikely Stephanie went running to the bookstore to buy Harry Potter when it came out in 1997. (Which might fit the storyline perhaps, but being Stephanie has NEVER read a novel in any of the books--can she read?--I find it doubtful she read Harry Potter. Therefore making a reference to him is incredulous.)
It was only after the Harry Potter reference that I realized the GPS references were used a lot and I thought, "I doubt GPS was that available in the 90s either."
I was kinda curious what you’d have to say about writing historicals with technology and how to incorporate that into your fiction.
The Industrial Revolution doesn't really start kicking off until the 1830s...so you don't have to worry about too many major advancements to include, I'd think. Except maybe a bitchin' new barouche.
However, I think this is demonstrated really brilliantly in Return to Cranford, when the town is "considering" allowing the new-fangled train to come to their town. They don't really want it. They don't trust it; and finally one of the main characters takes all the towns ladies to the nearest train to take a ride. HILARIOUS scene.
Hellie,
LMFAO.
I just thought about what you said regarding the GPS referencing. I tend to read over that since GPS seems to be in most newer vehicles now-a-days (or even available on cell phones). But I never thought about it not being available during the time line not exactly referenced in the books, but if we were staying true to the actual "not aging" heroine, GPS and Harry Potter wouldn't yet be available. Or cell phones on a techier scale than the massive box phone attached to the cigarette lighter and corded.
I find it even interesting when running water (plumbing) is mentioned in historicals.
I am a nerd.
DRD, interesting thought about the e-Reader. While I have to say I'd be more interested in an e-Reader if I could work on my manuscript from one wouldn't that just make it a mini-computer?
Okay, I've forgotten who I've answered and who I've not quite gotten around to.
I suppose it's like being able to e-mail from my cell phone.
Sin, the e-reader would be a lot more portable. I don't take my laptop with me becaue God forbid I have to go to the ladies' room, and I have to pack up my laptop so nobdy takes it. Whereas with an e-reader I can just slip it in my bag. Also, it'll LOOK more like a book on an e-reader than my laptop. :)
I've not physically held any of the e-Readers in my hands. Since I'm on the scale of a larger female, I'm thinking I probably need an e-Reader that has bigger keys so that my fingers don't hit other buttons while I'm trying to do something. And I have noticed the Nook is smaller, I'd like to see the Kindle and Nook side by side.
However, I have toyed with the iPad and it is a beautiful piece of technology. The display is out of this world.
You need password protection and a lock.
Dear DRD,
Food is sacred. But I'm not past poison.
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
I meant argue, not agree.
I can't agree that the manuscript would look more like a book on an e-Reader (which is really cool when you think about it) but for me, it would be another way of procrastination. Not that reading is not procrastination but if I could work on the manuscript from the e-Reader it would be a wasted option because it would never happen.
How does password protection and a lock keep someone from taking your laptop off the table while you're in the ladies' room? LOL
I suppose I could have a James Bond-type thing -- an ice pick comes out as soon as someone but me tries to touch it. LOL
Sin - I think the technology advances would be bigger and better if I were writing later on in the century. The stuff that happened around the turn of the century was pretty awesome.
One I did think was interesting was the gaslights in London. Until gaslights were invented and installed, someone ran around lighting candles. Crazy.
One I did think was interesting was the gaslights in London. Until gaslights were invented and installed, someone ran around lighting candles. Crazy.
Can you imagine how pissed those guys where when gaslights were invented?
Actually can you imagine how pissed the gas lighters were when electric lights were invented?
Isn't this the time period that these guys were using white matches to light stuff? Weren't they in danger of getting phossy jaw?
This is why historical romances are limited to romances between rich people. People unlikely to develop phossy jaw or other occupational hazards.
Hellion - There is a source of electricity in my Tortuga...solar thread, woven into the sails, banners, flags... Remember, this is a mish/mash of stuff and technology from everywhere and everywhen...
Sin - I didn't even think of the idea of electronic tickets! Thank you, Donnaroo, for explaining...
Marn, the candle lighting (insanity) and chimney sweeping (double insanity) has always interested me. It's insane for me to think that they sent a little kid into chimneys to clean them out.
While not "technology" these things have a certain bit of history attached to them until the technology to make these things obsolete came about.
Donna - I know my agent used her i-pad to work on edits... I can download my MSs to my Sony reader and maybe hilight stuff, but not change stuff. But then again, I haven't fiddled with it a lot. Maybe it can! I mostly use it to read...
And yeah, packing up the laptop to use the ladies room is a pain. I generally sit where the baristas can keep on eye on stuff for me and they know me so well, they tend to keep an eye on me. Also fellow customers...
I love my sonyreader...
Reg. historicals and technology, ah...the era of steampunk when the world was changing so fast with inventions...
How does password protection and a lock keep someone from taking your laptop off the table while you’re in the ladies’ room? LOL
DRD, the lock is attached to your laptop, which is looped around an unmovable object. Locked down table leg. Dangling light fixture. Handcuffed hottie. *shrugs* I dunno. I always just lock down my laptop.
And password protection is easy. All my computers are password protected. Especially for administrative rights. While crackers (hackers) have programs and ways around passwords, you can also get programs to clean swipe your hard drive in case something happens. But if you have a password, probably better to have it written down. Though, mine aren't. LOL
Cool blog, Sin!
It is definitely a valid point to consider especially when writing a contemporary. I've been pulled out of a few contemps written just a few years ago with the thought - "Jeez why didn't he just call on the cell phone". It is funny how easy it is to forget how quickly technology has advanced especially in the last 10 years!
I'm also sort of ambivalent about catchy phrases and words or sayings that are commonplace now (or then) and probably won't mean the same thing 5 years from now. I love reading up to the minute, current heroes and heroines with modern and current language but would find it hard writing it. And when you think that they probably starting writing this story you are reading now a year and a half or two ago it boggles the mind - how do you keep up!
Chance, I saw there's a new bar in LA with a steampunk theme -- I think it's called Villains Tavern. Just in case you need to do some research. :)
And I have to get out of the house for a bit -- otherwise the neighbors are going to think I'm Boo Radley. LOL
I'm like Donna, I would love an e-reader if it was $50. It would be a fun toy and convenience that would supplement my book collection, but I can't see paying a couple hundred for it. I'm worried about the Sony Beta syndrome too! We almost bought a Beta player but my brother decided on the VHS instead (wow that was like 30 years ago!) I'm old too, Ter! LOL
I've also like Janga, owned music in vinyl, 8-track, cassette, CD and now it is just on my computer hard drive!
Irish, I think it's really difficult to keep up with trendy phrases and fads. I can't remember who said being vague is probably best (I agree) just like being vague with techie gadgets. If I said I had a 256MB MP3 player, you'd think I was crazy. Now if I said I had that player almost 10 years ago, it would make more sense. Memory is easier to come by in technology, cheaper and faster than it ever has been before. Just a couple of years ago trying to get a flash drive above the 2GB mark was expensive. Now, you can get a 4GB flash drive relatively cheap. And I don't think they really even carry them smaller than a Gig anymore. (Anybody know?)
But if I put that all in my manuscript today and expected people 10 years now to relate to how great this technology is, they'd laugh. In ten years now the technology of our present day will be so obsolete techies of the future will probably cry for our ignorance.
I still see pay phones. Someone tried to convince me they weren't around anymore.
My biggest concern/gripe about the e-readers is that they are proprietary. I didn't want to buy a Kindle and only be able to get books on Amazon.com or buy a Nook and only be able to get books at B&N. I didn't want to spend all that money and then the books I wanted weren't available to me!
I was at B&N getting a father's day gift and they had a rep there trying to get you to sample the Nook. I liked it and when I voiced my concern she stated that B&N has the largest selection of e-books worldwide! Don't know if she was just telling me what I wanted to hear, but that would definitely sway me in their direction.
I can totally see Chance going into this bar and dominating. You should own that bar, Chance.
I'm interested in being able to share books between e-Readers. I'm waiting and researching to see if they are going to make this a possibility or not. I think that will really decide if I get one or not. I don't want to BUY books constantly. (I shouldn't say that since I'm a writer and writers make money by book sales.) I love borrowing books. I love being able to talk about books with other readers. And borrowing books from someone else is giving the readers a community to share the love.
Seems to me the Sony can share up to five times. As I said, I need to do more research on it. the Sony also isn't propriatory with their format. I can read PDF, e-pub...I think I could even download a Kindle converter...not sure on that. I can dowload .doc files...
SIN SAID:
I don’t think old functioning technology will ever be worth anything since the technology is outdated and only nerds find that interesting enough to tinker with
Not sure that I agree. Technology with historic interest can become a collector's item or a museum piece.
I can remember when MP3 players were coming out on the market and I told Mattycakes, “I am NOT going to own one of those.”
I lied. LOL
Just like I said “I am not going to own an e-Reader.”
I’m going to own one. Simply because I travel enough it would make it worthwhile to have it.
A really interesting development would be to allow text to speech functions in e-readers so that you can listen to books as you travel. At present, publishers are obsessed with piracy issues so try to stop people doing anything other than reading from the screen. It needs some clever technology to allow text to speech using voices of your own choice with their associated pronunciation editors, but without using the equivalent of the windows clip board (which would make piracy easy).
Q, also, Salander is a great heroine. You can tell that the author really liked her character. The only parts I read in the first book were hers up until the point that the hero and her met up and started working together. I thought the third book was great (got it from the library) but the ending of the third book was awkward. You can tell that the author was planning for a next book.
I agree with all of your comments on this Sin .... must be a first!
Great pity that Larson died before he could write more.
I actually considered the iPad. But I have to get a separate data plan for it and that seems like too much hassle.
Have you considered note book PCs. You can run all of the e-reader programs as they all have a PC version and be prepared for the more futuristic developments when they arrive. *grin*
Sin, Great answers to a great blog. :D
Chance, you're interesting me more and more into the Sony Reader. It's already been discussed that I will get one for Christmas as combination present. Just need to decide which one.
Q, so much food for thought. Where to start. First of all, I can't believe you agreed with me.
*blinking*
I really do think it is a pity that Larrson died before he could continue the series. Salander is one of those characters who had GREAT potential for growth and showed enormous signs of growth already in three books. I did happen to find a copy of the first book on DVD (The Swedish movie copy) and it was a fabulous adaptation of the book. There was a lot of the little details from the first book left out but that book was a little overwhelming from a detail standpoint.
Technology: Hm. I can understand your argument. I'm just not sure I can agree. While outdated technology is interesting- it is what it is. Fascinating to read about and see how far we've come but I think for people who are really into the techie stuff, they are more future oriented and thinking about what can be improved, not thinking about what has been done in the past. Most people don't have a basic understanding how all of the computer technology works in a fundamental standing. They just know when they hit the on/off button, the computer starts up/turns off. They don't know what RAM or ROM or Video cards really do for a computer. They understand whether the computer is functioning slowly or rapidly.
People collect old records and Coca-Cola signs and even John Wayne plates. My sister has these. It's so sad. Anything can be a collectible and even old computers will be worth something as long as there are people who are willing to pay.
I don't know. There are some old fashioned technology I'd like to see. I do like automobile museums actually. The occasional tractor show.
And then there is always:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article4032852.ece
I mean the history and WHY it was invented is hilarious enough. I'm rather fascinated to see the tire pressure looking one myself.
Also, I wasn't done with the commenting, I just accidentally hit the submit comment button.
Q, I think text to speech will come with time. I know that the development of speech to text programs came slow to usage. I think once people get around their paranoia and developers come up with a way to TM and Copyright everything, text to speech programs will become widespread.
I have considered a program e-Reader (like Adobe Reader, which I have) for my laptop. Netbooks are smaller versions of laptops, more compact and lightweight- which I have considered one of these as well. I mostly use my laptop for one of two things. Work or writing. I worry that if I get an e-Reader it will give me a headache because a lot of the time I have a issue with reading documents on the screen. So there is one of my other concerns with an e-Reader and I don't want to spend all that money for one (or have someone else spend all that money) and not be able to use it.
I agree. People like to collect shit. But there is a difference between putting some old Coca Cola glasses, knick knacks on a curio shelf and putting an ancient heavy ass computer on a shelf that doesn't even turn on. There is a difference between having old computers (old technology) and knick knacks on a shelf.
There are certain things that deserve to be in an museum and there are things that people collect. That's the difference I'm talking about. If techies collect old computer parts and start storing them in their basement they are weird and eccentric. If a person has a collection of Elvis crap, that person is a collector and can trade that shit at the local "antiquity" shop. Just like with everything else there is a niche. Some niches are bigger than others. You can always find someone who will want to recycle Elvis stuff into their home but there are not very many people in the world who want to take on old computer parts that are obsolete and usually aren't in working order and not able to get into working order.
I have an old typewriter in my office but that doesn't mean I want people to ooh and awh over it. I have it because I think it's cool. It's another way technology has evolved.
Okay niche wasn't the exact word I was looking for but my brain isn't operating the way I need it to today.
"Bringing a woman to paroxysm by hand could, understandably, take for ever. It was a job that required stamina and not a little patience."
Written by a man, no doubt.
“Women [with hysteria] should not resort to rubbing,â€
Another favorite line.
Hells, this article is fascinating. How did you come across it?
You don't want to know. I was at the library last night and saw a colorful book with a pin up girl and it was titled FLOW (and all about menstruation). Clearly a topic I *needed* to read, except when I went to sit and glance through the book, I got hooked by how hilarious some of this crap was.
Or horrifying at points. (Did you know Lysol used to advertise their stuff as a douche? Seriously! WTF!)
*coughs* Moving on. So the book briefly touched on about vibrators and how doctors used to have to deal with hysteria. (Seriously, can you imagine seeing your doctor to get you off because you were hysterical from being that sexually frustrated? It amazes me.) Anyway, the book these women referenced was a book I'd heard of. It was actually a book I bought because the title was so out there, I knew I had to have it.
Actually the woman who wrote the book has the best line. I have to dig it out.
LOL. I see only female doctors. That's got the making of a porn.
The preface to this woman's book (The Technology of Orgasm) goes:
"What I was a teenager a family friend said I was the kind of kid who would come home from school and ask permission to undertake some risky venture by saying, "But Mummy! You have to let me! Nobody's doing it!" I've since decided that this is the judgment of my character I would want carved on my tombstone. The research I have set forth in this book is perhaps the most conspicuous example to date of my fascination with topics that nobody is doing."
Sin, the Sony isn't backlit, so it's easier on the eyes and this also means the battery lasts longer. This is for the larger one. I'm not sure about the pocket one, it might be backlit. That is often what gives us headaches with computer monitors.
I had an old typewriter. Just turned it over to a friend who is making steampunk jewelry so she could tear it down and re-purpose it. Steampunk is why a lot of transitors and vacume tubes are going up in price. Along with old watch parts.
Old computer boards make nice art pieces! And costume elements...
..."topics that nobody is doing..."?
I sorta thought everyone was doing it...
But I can be nasty minded that way... ;-)
LOL. I see only female doctors. That’s got the making of a porn.
Even better. The doctors used to pass this off to midwives because they found it tedious and the midwives could do it faster.
I'm. NOT. KIDDING.
"Even better. The doctors used to pass this off to midwives because they found it tedious and the midwives could do it faster."
O.M.G. Scandalous!
The more research I do into the e-Readers the more I'm leaning towards the Sony. I think I've pretty much ruled the Kindle out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_readers
I'm back -- spent a couple hours at Starbucks, hoping for some inspiration. All I got was a woman who talked to her friend the entire time -- I swear she easily spoke an entire 100k novel, and her friend only got in about a chapter's worth.
Q, one of the issues with the text-to-speech is that is considered ANOTHER right that the author owns, in addition to the print and e-book rights, and audiobook rights. I think some people aren't ready to have to pay the author for that just yet.
Q, it looks like there are a few eReaders that are text to speech out there. I don't know anything about them. But if you look at that wiki comparison they are listed.
What Donna said. A lot of the readers have the audio abilities, it isn't 'turned on' due to contractual problems. Audio rights are another earning point. Just as the English version of books is something that is causing problems. I read a great blog on this...about how the english e-rights are complicated by contractual stuff... Someone in Germany can't by the english version of a book from Amazon because the point of sale is in Germany and the publisher hadn't contracted the english sales... It was convoluted, ridiculous in our modern age...and totally true.
Sigh.
It's a brave new world out there! And a lot of stuff is still being hashed out.
Terri said: People collect old records and Coca-Cola signs and even John Wayne plates. My sister has these. It’s so sad. Anything can be a collectible and even old computers will be worth something as long as there are people who are willing to pay.
Sin said: I agree. People like to collect shit. But there is a difference between putting some old Coca Cola glasses, knick knacks on a curio shelf and putting an ancient heavy ass computer on a shelf that doesn’t even turn on. There is a difference between having old computers (old technology) and knick knacks on a shelf.
I don't think that ALL old technology is worth collecting, only stuff that has historical interest. The Sinclair machine was the first mass produced home computer and was only on the market for a short time before the vastly superior Spectrum appeared. Being the first is the interest I think.
sin said: Q, it looks like there are a few eReaders that are text to speech out there. I don’t know anything about them. But if you look at that wiki comparison they are listed.
Donna said: Q, one of the issues with the text-to-speech is that is considered ANOTHER right that the author owns, in addition to the print and e-book rights, and audiobook rights. I think some people aren’t ready to have to pay the author for that just yet.
Chance said:I read a great blog on this…about how the english e-rights are complicated by contractual stuff… Someone in Germany can’t by the english version of a book from Amazon because the point of sale is in Germany and the publisher hadn’t contracted the english sales… It was convoluted, ridiculous in our modern age…and totally true.
I agree. Publishers just haven't moved into the digital age yet and haven't got to grips with the global market. I often try to download from fictionwise but half the time the books are only available to people living in North America.
I really think that having bought an e-book, I should be able to read it in any way that I choose, including using computer voices or printing it. I can scan a print version into the comp and convert to any format I choose. Using a library book, I can do it for free. There just isn't any consistency in publisher's attitude!
Audio rights for a book read by an actor is a separate issue and I am very happy to pay a little extra for the audio versions.
Q, may I ask why you like audio versions better than paper?
I almost like the audio versions of Harry Potter better than the written versions--just because I've learned more by listening than I did by reading.
I don't feel this way about JE's books on audio though.
Lisa Kleypas' contemporaries are good on audio though...almost better than the written version. Sometimes the audio is MORE.
Sin, I often listen to audio books while driving long distances. I also like to save my eyes for study and relax by using my ears!
I particularly like romance books read by a good actress. The audio quality is much better than computer voices of course and an actress, through her voice, can convey emotions in a way that I often don't pick up by reading .... especially the sex scenes! *grin*
I'm contrary - I know, I know, big spoiler there -- but I don't like to be read to, so I don't enjoy audiobooks. At a long-ago job where I had a long commute, I thought I could do the audiobooks, but it just made me impatient for some reason.
Maybe if it was a Hottie doing the reading. . .
JE's are TERRIBLE on audio.
I may have to check out LK's contemps on audio. As a rule, I don't like the audio because it ruins the sound in my head as I read but if it's good audio maybe that would be different.
I've gotta tell you, nothing ruined Ranger more for me than hearing that god-awful version of EOT.
We've almost stayed on topic all day. WTH.
Q, you're so naughty.
I can understand about the commuting. I have some friends and fam that enjoy audio books mostly because they travel quite the distance to work every day.
I, on the other hand (like Donna), don't enjoy audio books. Mostly because I enjoy music more than anything else.
You want me to flash my boobs or something so you feel better about straying off the course?
LK's contemp (Sugar Daddy in particular) was basically the only "romance" I've ever liked on audio. You get sucked in. I'm listening to Twilight on CD and I want to throttle Bella; her voice annoys me. Clearly they picked the right actress, but I'd prefer to read the book.
But I'm not a fan of radio much. All the commercials. And no iPod, so hence my need for audio books.
*snorts* Now that would mess up 5 o clock traffic, wouldn't it?
And I bet Water and Light would like to see that too. They've been here all day.
Only if you march a few blocks to my office and stand outside to do it.
This is why I get tanked on the large. That and the 151 I have added. lol
I don't have the iPod hook up in the car but I also shelled out the money to have a head unit put into my car that runs off my USB. So I currently have 2GB of music at my disposal, and thinking about upgrading the mini flash drive to a 4GB.
Fortunately on the way to your office is Tropical Liquors. They have 6 shots of liquor in their medium drinks, did you know that? I bet it's just hot enough to justify one.
I wonder if I can get one before going to the gym?
I had thought that it might be fun to podcast a book. I've been skirting around the info about this stuff for a year or more...and now that I've read my entire Kraken's Mirror, looking for things to correct? I think it would be fun to have it available on podcast!
Not sure I'd be the best to read it, but I enjoyed hearing it as I read it...
I actually enjoy podcasts. Mostly, I enjoy book discussions via podcasts. There are also music discussions that I like to listen to as well. Book by podcast... interesting.
A friend turned me onto Muri Lafferty, she's been podcasting her stuff for a while. I like the idea...if I can just figure out how to do all of it! And get a computer that would allow me to do it wihtout having to add on a ton of bells and whistles.
The new laptop...maybe!
I've not really looked into what goes into an actual podcast. Could be interesting information. Can't be that difficult. Teenagers all around the world are podcasting about Twilight and HP.
Make that Muir Lafferty...http://murverse.com/
My friend loves to listen to her books. I admit, I like the idea but haven't followed up on it.
Reading about it now. Podiocasts are what the audiobook versions of podcasts are called. Should be just as easy as recording your sound through your computer, saving it as an MP3 and creating an RSS feed for your upload on your webpage.
Quoted from the Wiki "... podiobooks.com provides a platform and community for aspiring podcasters to be able to distribute their work worldwide."
This might be worth looking into Chance.
"I suppose it’s like being able to e-mail from my cell phone."
NO woman I know would bother emailing from their cell phone.
They'd make their kid do it for them!
LOL. Jules, if I didn't know better that would sound like a guy excuse.
SIN, I just have Muti Tasking down to an art form.
*snort*
Snort? Snort indeed! And she wonders where My Little Pony came from.
And I know what your answer is dear ...
Its "Nay Julie . neighhhh..."
And SIN, so you know that I too can stay on subject.
What do you wish you knew more about?
Microsoft Sound Recorder ... and headsets!
What do you Pirates wish I didn't know more about?
Uuhhh ....Microsoft Sound Recorder ... and headsets?!
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