Corrections or additions?
This article was prepared for the August 30,
2000 edition of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
Between the Lines
Our cover story on E-books is another example of why
we consumers still like to hold things in our hand. The electronic
book, now circulating at Princeton and Plainsboro public libraries,
sounds like a great new toy — not only can you adjust the size
of type to fit your eyes, but you can also make notations in the
margin
and underline sections for later review. And the next reader can undo
all your "scribbling" and start clean.
Freelance writer David McDonough got a chance to try one of the
E-books first hand. As he points out in his article beginning on page
17, not all the bells and whistles are all that helpful, at least
not yet. McDonough’s evaluation is echoed by John Feldcamp, founder
of Xlibris, who recently took flak for being quoted in a trade journal
as saying "only eight people in the world are buying E-books,
and they are all CEOs of E-book companies."
His firm, which was incubated in Trenton but moved to Philadelphia,
has 3,000 titles published online or in process and will be adding
1,000 titles monthly by December. These books can be read on a PC,
on an E-book, or can be printed on demand and shipped by snail mail.
"We are providing a gateway for authors to the marketplace but
are agnostic as to what the standard is," says Feldcamp.
"My basic feeling is that E-books will ultimately win huge. but
we will all be pretty damned old by the time we get there," says
Feldcamp. He thinks that E-book success will come when it has
"extraordinary
displays, processors, memory, storage, and wireless connectivity.
Then it will be a way for college kids to have the coolest textbooks
on the planets."
In the meantime we keep sizing up these new technologies whenever
we get a chance. One opportunity will be this Thursday, August 31,
at the Doral Forrestal. The U.S. 1 Technology Showcase features 14
companies showing off their technology-related products and services.
Stories in this issue on pages 4, 6, and 45 preview some of those
exhibitors. And the full line-up can be found in the ad on page 18.
It’s free and it’s in conjunction with the Chamber trade fair that
features nearly four score exhibitors. We hope to see you there.
Top Of Page
To the Editor
Regarding the article on Herb Spiegel’s "Hands On, Hard Knocks
School" (U.S. 1, August 9,
www.princetoninfo.com/200008/00809c01.html): I would suggest two
additions.
believe it was in 1995 or ’96 that the Mercer Chapter of the New
Jersey
Association of Women Business Owners recognized Herb for his
invaluable
assistance and commitment to women entrepreneurs.
someone, or facilitate them for someone. He listens to ideas, and
in a no-nonsense, direct way considers the possibilities. If his
experience
says it will work as is, he is an enthusiastic supporter. If he thinks
it needs redirection, he has a "we’re in this together"
approach
so that the originator feels the enthusiasm and gladly changes course.
And somehow Herb’s willingness to "go to bat" for the person
— make the idea work.
Valerie Iola
Bridgewater
Corrections or additions?
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— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
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