Can I download it?
I have estimated that I throw away about ten pounds of paper a week. Mostly newspapers. Reading the newspaper in the morning is my justification for sitting in Starbucks before I start working. I would be just as happy reading it at my desk online and I would save the $5 a day I spend at Starbucks. Yet, my Wall Street Journal discount only applies if I agree to receive the paper version too. I don’t understand the math behind that but they are the Wall Street Journal so maybe they know something I don’t.
Then there is Harvard Business Review. Its a beautiful publication, glossy cover with a heavy and firm feel. The pages are thick and convey value, “this is a publication with standards of quality” it screams. And so I like receiving it. I like looking at and holding it. Reading it…? Well, no so much. But the greatest value in that subsciption is being able to download the archives.
Today I wanted to buy a CD. Its an unusual purchase for me, I don’t pirate music. I just don’t listen to it much. My last CD purchase was in Hawaii. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole a famous Hawaiin singer. That was an impulse buy.
When I want something I want it now. Its a result of growing up connected. Even if I want a book I walk to the bookstore and buy it. When they don’t have the book, which happens a lot because I read obscure books, I just forget about it. I wanted a obscure CD and the only way I could get it was if I had it delivered. I would have to wait 5 days! Soon everything will be for download, it makes no sense to charge people for shipping one CD or one book. Lets see of Vista changes things.
November 19th, 2006 at 5:56 am
You’re right mate, but I think it would be a good start already if we could print all our docs (at least the ones we use “internally”) on recycled paper. This would not only save us some money, but would also spare many trees
November 19th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Whenever I throw away my papers I wonder, “how many trees did I kill?”