And it made me sad.

 

Yes, the new Kindle now has a nice compact shape and design that looks more like a tablet and less like a children's fake computer. And the price is most definitely right. And then, there's this deafening buzz about the device's non-reflective screen, now with higher resolution, that apparently does an extremely good job of making the experience feel like you're actually reading from paper.

 

Oh, paper. I find myself missing you more often than not. Perhaps it was this week's announcement that Newsweek will cease its print publication by year's end. Perhaps it's the fact that I was a journalist at a time when the web was just a looming threat (only seven short years ago). Whatever the reason, the hook of the Paperwhite — an electronic device designed to mimic the reading experience of actual paper — saddened me. 

 

I understand the appeal of having a tiny device barely the size of one paperback that can hold literally thousands of them. Like I said, I'm thinking of getting one.

 

But, here's an idea: If you want the experience of reading from paper...go buy a real book. If you want to read multiple books...go buy multiple books, and then read them one at a time. Instead of using one finger to swipe, use two fingers to grasp the corner of a page and pull. 

 

There's a quote going around Pinterest that reads, "When I go into a library, I find myself inhaling deeply as I browse through the shelves because the books always smell like magic." How true this is. 

 

What's next? A Kindle that emits the perfume of books seasoned by time? The Kindle Paperscent?

 

In a way, it almost makes me want to just save my money for an iPad instead. At least the iPad is what it is — a tablet computer. It doesn't pretend to be a real book. 

 

What do you think of the new Kindle Paperwhite? What is your favorite e-reader?