Not the same thing

[lady_kishiria]

I decided quite some years ago, following the example of Jane Siberry, that I would not buy CDs anymore unless that was my only option in owning a certain music selection. So now I have most of my collection ripped into my iPod. It started as an ecological move and has since become a "non-accumulation of things" motive.

It's somehow not as satisfying, though. I do like having all my music in the palm of my hand and not taking up space in my house or plastic and paper on the planet, but there is something...missing...from not having the actual album that I can see. I don't really feel the same about books, though.

Comments

[reginaterrae.livejournal.com]

1. Thank you for reminding me of Jane Siberry. I have The Speckless Sky (on iPod) but have never heard of her before or since that was fairly new - 80s. Now I've gone & looked up her website & will listen to some more recent. What a gorgeous voice!

2. When I copied my cds to the pod, I threw out the jewel cases but kept cd & booklets in a case made to hold the cds - the booklets are kind of crammed in there. I like that Jane has taken care to produce nice e-booklets. I couldn't quite bring myself to throw the cds out. A lot of them would be practically irreplaceable - most of the collection of Argentine rock!

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

I recommend "When I Was A Boy" by Jane Siberry. So wonderfully moody.

[cinchntouch.livejournal.com]

I will download some music directly from iTunes, but I actually find myself moving more and more away from that in favor of buying everything on CD.

I think the big difference for me is that I actually like the idea that CD's take up space. I like the cover art, I like actually putting a disc into a stereo, I like having a tangible collection of music. I also have a small collection of LP's.

I also think that I tend to listen to a CD and think about listening to it. With downloads, its just like acquiring songs that then end up on a iPod with 1,000 other songs. The very act of going to the music store to buy a CD is part of my commitment to the music on it.

In terms of books. I would never want to own an eReader. I can't stand the darned things and am becoming increasingly convinced that they are of the Devil. Unfortunately, everyone keeps talking about wanting to get me one for Christmas.

[kitten-goddess.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I can't stand Kindles or any of those other things either. Someone once handed me a Kindle to see if I would like one. I couldn't even turn the stupid thing on. I'd rather read a book without having to learn/pay for new technology.

Besides being low-tech, books can also be read without a power source. No one will snatch them away on the Metro or steal them from your car. Kindles, however, will be snatched out of your hands if you're not careful.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

My Kindle Fire is so small that I can carry it in my purse, and it's self-illuminating. I still do buy paper books, but I like having my library with me in one small device.

It's CDs I feel conflicted over.

[zare-k.livejournal.com]

I've had some kind of mp3 player since 2003 but I still generally prefer to buy music on CD. I like having the cover art, and I find that there is something pleasing about having the physical object.

I got rid of the jewel cases a while ago and keep everything in binders so they don't take up too much room. My CD collection represents some fond memories and is on the list of things to grab if the house is on fire, as I think a lot of it could not be easily replaced.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

I keep the ones that would be hard to replace, but can just grab my laptop to preserve everything.

[marphilly.livejournal.com]

I've done the same with CDs, although I haven't moved in that direction with DVDs and am not inclined too.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to think about this. There's no reason that you should feel differently about music than books as far as the digital v. physical media go, but then there doesn't have to be, does there?

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Nope, no reason at all. Sometimes things just are.

I noticed another reason I like my Kindle books, just now. I have a paper book beside me to take some notes from. Kindle books stay open and flat. This paper book, I'm going to have to weigh it down to keep it open.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

The only paperback books I've ever seen that lay flat on their own are coil-bound, not glued like normal softbacks.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Right, and those tend to be cookbooks. One of the reasons I have my office in the kitchen even in our new place is because it's so convenient when cooking to have a laptop in the kitchen.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

They do cookbooks like that? Wow. I was thinking of baseball stat books.

[filmbuff.livejournal.com]

I'm that way with video content. I am aware that I can buy movies and tv series via download, and that they will be high0quality and watchable on more devices than most blurays, but I still would rather have a physical copy. It's a lot more enjoyable to browse the shelves of my collection while deciding what to watch than scrolling through a list on a screen.