Comments on: Is Kindle the environmentally friendly option?

By: Fred Lenhoff

Fred Lenhoff — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:40:59 +0000

“old library books”… Exactly! If you want to reduce your footprint, stop buying books and check them out from the library.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:09:51 +0000

I’m all for reducing the carbon footprint, but I doubt Kindle will ever become popular enough to eliminate traditional publishing or push it back significantly. I personally would rather hold a book in my hands and turn the pages than stare at a screen, because I do that all day at work. And, like all other electronics, it will be out of date the moment I buy it and require a gazillion accessories. Plus – the Kindle doesn’t have that fabulous smell you get from old library books or freshly printed books :)

By: Caleb J Ross

Caleb J Ross — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:09:22 +0000

Another aspect, think of all the aftermarket add-ons that electronic devices such as the iPod encourage. Carrying cases, docks, buds all require production and added enviornmental waste. Granted, it would be extreme to think that these add-ons make the devices entirely enviornmentally unfriendly, but certainly they contribute. I anticipate similar add-ons for eReaders.

By: Peter C

Peter C — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:42:32 +0000

I suspect this is bullshit, frankly. If these things survive at all (laser disks, anyone?), they’ll soon form a part of our permanent obsolescence culture, and will pile up in landfills everywhere.

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:38:17 +0000

Er, make that “energy usage.”

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:37:47 +0000

Indeed, I doubt if Amazon will be contented with someone merely buying a Kindle and using it for a decade. Like Apple, there will be a relentless push to add enough new features with each Kindle model update to prod users to buy a new device every year or two. Also, don’t forget the enery usage of the server farms that host Amazon’s Kindle library.