John Turner

OK, so Apple’s iPad and upcoming foray into eBooks aside, let’s consider the Kindle. I’m an avid reader. I read practically anything, fiction and non-fiction both. I read just for fun…not just for school or for work. I’m also a published author. In short, I love books.

However, there are three reasons I won’t buy a Kindle. Or even any other eBook reader.

Reason #1: I have thousands of dollars invested in printed books. Some I no longer read, others I keep around for nostalgia and glance at occasionally, and others I refer to frequently. There is no way to convert this significant investment in printed books into some sort of eBook format. I feel this is a key flaw in the eBook business model which touts convenience. Sure, it is convenient, but only for books you buy after you buy the reader. For the thousands of dollars you already have invested, tough. What are your options then? Recycling? Sharing or trading? The point of a book is to have access to knowledge. Either you keep the physical copy around so you have it for later, or you get rid of it. If you get rid of it, you “lose” that knowledge.

Reason #2: There’s no option to get a book’s Kindle version later, for a discounted (or even free) price. Let’s say I want to buy a book, but the publisher hasn’t released it for the Kindle yet. No problem…as I pointed out above, if it is a book I want, I have no problem buying the hard copy, reading it, and storing it on my shelf. However, I’d probably be a lot more inclined to buy the book in the first place, especially for those books that are more “that sounds like a good read” vs. “I definitely want to read this” books, if I was offered a future Kindle version for a discounted price or better yet, free. Something like “Not available on Kindle, but buy now for $14.99 and we’ll ship if for free and when it does become available on the Kindle, you’ll get the Kindle version for just $1.99.”

Reason #3: This is more of a deficiency in Amazon’s web site than a problem with the Kindle. I have a fairly sizable wishlist with books as the overwhelming majority of items. Scrolling through my wish list, there’s absolutely no indication whatsoever whether any of the books are available on the Kindle. Why not? If I was looking through my wish list, and saw that 60% of the books were available on the Kindle, I might seriously consider buying one and getting the books that way. Further, there should be options on my wish list, like “Purchase all books from your wish list that are available on Kindle”. It is this type of library management that Amazon is lacking. Something like iTunes gets it, though. I can log in, and iTunes will tell me that X number of songs I purchased earlier are available at a higher bit rate and without DRM, with a “one-click” option to upgrade all of them. I don’t see this at Amazon.

The Kindle is a great idea. It just seems to me that Amazon is seriously missing some opportunities for better marketing tie-ins and web site integration with the product.

Apple announced the iPad today, their version of the tablet computer. It looks awesome. Starting at $499 for 16GB and WiFi only, going up to $849 for 64GB w/ WiFi + 3G cellular support. 10 hour battery life. I think I am in love. I was going to buy a Kindle, but now I won’t. I realize they are apples to oranges, the point is that a Kindle DX is $400 and it is just for books and grayscale. Who wouldn’t spend another $100 to get a computing platform with a full color touch screen? I’ll probably sell my MacBook Pro, too, and buy an iMac. iPad + iMac + smartphone (Android, iPhone, etc) sounds like the perfect mix to me. Heck, get a decent headset and use Skype and you don’t need the smartphone.

You have to wonder what other companies are doing when Apple consistently is first to market with pretty amazing technology. Yes, other companies get some cool stuff out (Archos media players, Nokia tablets) but Apple is the only company that consistenly gets the whole experience out first and integrates it into a person’s life. That’s the key right there…they get the technology out and the user doesn’t worry about it: it just works.

I haven’t flown in 5 years, so I had no idea what to expect today on my flight from Orlando (MCO) to Detroit (DTW) via Delta/Northwest. I did know that traveling light would be key to increasing comfort, so I decided on an unorthodox plan for my luggage. I had packed light from MI in the first place…just one small duffel bag and my backpack. I decided that the only thing I wanted to take with me to the airport was my helmet (essentially irreplaceable due to my gigantic melon), my iPod, and a book to read. So, I took everything else and boxed it up and asked my dad to ship it UPS after I left for the airport. Turned out it was cheaper than paying to check a bag, and I get a tracking number to boot.

I made sure the Harley was ready to check-in, and there was nothing of mine left in the side bags. Then I said goodbye to my dad and rode back to the rental place in Orlando. I-4 was a madhouse as to be expected in FL. No problems on the check-in, and they gave me a free ride to the airport. Flight check-in was no problem. I was about 2 hours early for my flight so I stopped at Nathan’s for a slaw dog and some lemonade. I figured that once I went through security there would be no food or anything like that because allowing vendors to bring in cartons and crates of food and other stuff past the security checkpoint is a major security hole. Then I went through security. It was nuts…I can’t believe they make you take your belt and your shoes off. How stupid is that?? Security theater at its best. Meanwhile, I had to wait while some woman tried to coax her little girl to go through the scanner. It gave me a chance to take a look at what people consider “carryon luggage”. I was laughing…one guy had two big suitcases with him. Nearly everyone I saw seemed to think that anything with wheels and an extendable handle meant “carryon” even though what they had were “suitcases” by any other definition. And nearly everyone had a laptop case just as big as their other bag to go with it. If it were up to me, they’d crack down on the whole carryon issue, big time.

So, I get through security and take the tram to the gate. I get off and what do I see but a bunch of shops and restaurants selling everything under the sun. Past the security checkpoint? WTF??? That makes no sense to me at all…there’s no way they are inspecting every person/employee/clerk and everything (food, dry goods, condiments, etc) that comes into that terminal, so what’s the point of making passengers essentially strip naked before allowing them through? Oh well…if it makes people who don’t know any better feel all warm and fuzzy, I guess it is worth it.

Flight back was uneventful. I can’t say it is good to be back in MI, but it is good to be home.

Headed back to Sebring this morning. Rolled out of Tampa along SR-60 pretty early. SR-60 uses the Courtney Campbell Causeway which was simply spectacular, especially with the sun coming up. 10 miles long, basically all over the water.

Google maps wanted me to catch I-4 and take it all the way to Lakeland to catch SR-98 and then US-27 but I wasn’t having any more Florida freeway drivers. So I decided to stay on SR-60 all the way through Brandon and into Bartow. This was good scenery and a good ride. Lots of farms, and lots of workers out picking berries and citrus. Only downside was how many semi trucks there were…heavy industry along here, too, with the phosphate factories and the farming. All of the trucks seemed to be going 80 MPH as a rule. Pretty scary when you’re on two wheels but at least I could see them coming a long ways off and there wasn’t a lot of other traffic to worry about.

I took SR-60 east to Bartow and headed south on SR-98. After awhile this meandered over to US-27 just 15 miles north of where I had to be. A quick little ride down US-27 and I was back at my dad’s house right at noon. Short ride, but all of the wind, sun, and crazy drivers over the past three days had taken its toll and I was pretty whipped, especially after not being on a motorcycle since November. Time for a nap! Then it was over to the mall to shop for a wireless printer for Dad and then dinner at Sunset Grille. I had fish again, this time it was blackened salmon. Three dinners, three different kinds of fish. Fun!! Then back to the house and packing for the flight home tomorrow. Distance today: 110 miles

After a pleasant dinner last night with my aunt and uncle and a very nice night of sleeping with the ocean noise coming through the balcony door, it was off to Tampa/Clearwater via Alligator Alley today. I woke up early and checked the bike to make sure nothing had happened to it overnight, as the hotel didn’t have a very secure parking spot for it. Then I went for a long, sunrise walk on the beach. A little cold, but simply spectacular and something I couldn’t do in MI, at least not in shorts and a t-shirt. I paid $1 at the pier and walked out to the end to watch the anglers for awhile, then walked back to the hotel. I wanted to get going so I skipped breakfast. I stopped at a CVS for some sunscreen and headed out of Deerfield Beach via 10th Street which turns into SR 869. I took that to I-75 aka Alligator Alley. Weather was overcast, temps in the 60s. At highway speeds, it was pretty chilly.

Got onto the “alley” and prepared for the long haul. That part of I-75 is straight. Perfectly straight. For miles. There are no exits, just a few roadside rest areas, most with no bathrooms or anything like that. It was cool motoring along and seeing the alligators sunning themselves on the other side of the canal that runs along the freeway. I saw a couple big ones, maybe 5 or 6 feet, and many smaller. Everything was flat and straight…no variation at all.

The only place to stop for gas is the Indian reservation. I stopped to gas up even though I didn’t really need it because the last thing I wanted was to get stuck somewhere. The gas station was pretty sketchy and dirty…definitely not a showcase for the tourists. Breakfast was a Snickers bar. On a side note, having to put premium gas (93 octane) in the Harley vs. 87 octane SUCKS. Anyway, back to the road. I decided to get off the Alley at SR 29 and head for the Old Tamiami Trail instead of I-75. It was cool seeing “Panther Crossing” signs like MI has “Deer Crossing” signs. I found US-41 (aka Tamiami Trail, the pre-Interstate Alligator Alley) eventually and headed west.

US-41 turned north and I rode into Naples and civilization. Wasn’t too impressed with Naples..way too much traffic, way too commercial from what I saw. It was lunch time, so I started looking for someplace to eat before trying to find the freeway again. I noticed a burger place that advertised “50 different gourmet burgers” but it was on the wrong side of the street. I pulled over to try and turn around and saw that the place I had pulled into was called “Pastrami Dan’s”. That had a better ring to it than “gourmet burger” so I went there instead. Very good sandwich, way too expensive. I wouldn’t go back, but I was on vacation so no big deal. Then it was to the gas station for a top-off and back to I-75 for the ride into Clearwater Beach.

This was a hard ride…traffic on I-75 was very heavy and the drivers were mostly very poor drivers. I had to bring my A-game the whole way to keep from getting killed. I had no chance to sit back and enjoy scenery or anything else, but that is part of the territory when you tour on a motorcycle. I just concentrated on being safe and saved the sight-seeing for the one or two breaks I took on the way north.

Rolled into Clearwater Beach around 4-ish. The GPS was telling me the hotel was at a certain location but it wasn’t. Grrrr. Finally found the hotel. Got the royal treatment from the valets when they saw the Harley, I guess a logo does make a difference sometimes. Or maybe the Hilton just has really good valets. They had a protected area for motorcycle parking, covered by a security camera and everything. Very nice! The room was exceptional…on the 8th floor, great view, very well decorated.

Walked down the beach to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill for dinner. I chose the grouper nuggets for an appetizer and blackened grouper fajitas for dinner. Both were fantastic…there’s nothing like relaxing on the beach with fresh fish
for dinner after a long, hard day of riding. Then back to the hotel for a cigar on the balcony and another night of sleeping to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Why am I still living in MI again?? Distance today: 314 miles

Left Sebring, FL on the bike about noon after sleeping in and a late brunch with my dad at Bob Evan’s. I had to laugh…except for a couple of the waitresses (only a couple) and the cooks, I was the youngest person in the entire restaurant by far, and the place was packed. I had a route all planned out, but of course I missed my turns. Ended up out in the FL boonies at the junction of US-27 and SR-70. Quick water and gas break, then it was east on SR-70. I missed my turn again (I was trying for SR-700) so I kept going. I also was feeling pretty bummed because I realized that my headphones were back at my dad’s place, so no tunes and no protection from the wind noise.

Definitely out in the boonies, though. Banjo music, “Southern Comfort”-style, was on my mind. Stopped at a gas station somewhere along SR-70 for a location fix and got hit up by a beggar. He gave me a pretty good spiel about Harleys and how he owned a “47 panhead” back home and just needed money to get back to it so I gave him some money and moved on. I was starting to get back into civilization so I started thinking about finding a Best Buy or even a Wal-Mart or large truckstop that might have some headphones I could buy, but I wasn’t having any luck. Eventually I came up on I-95 and while I wanted to avoid freeways I realized I was running a bit late and decided to get on it anyway.

ATTENTION FLORIDA DRIVERS: YOU SUCK.

I was making my way down I-95 towards Deerfield Beach and decided to get some gas so I wouldn’t have to do it at tourist prices near the beach. I got off I-95 at Lantana Blvd and noticed there was a Costco right there. “Cool,” I thought. “They’ll have headphones I can buy”. But the place was absolutely packed. Every space in the lot was full. I didn’t even stop…I just went right through the parking lot and decided to get gas and get back on the freeway. While getting gas, I got hit up for money from another beggar. WTF?? I said “no, thanks” and then got a very pleasant surprise: I found my headphones buried in my back pocket!! Yay!! So, it was back onto the road, this time with tunes. Fun.

I decided to take the “back way” into Deerfield Beach, down A1A from Lantana. About 40 miles according to the GPS. I figured the scenery would be great, a road right along the water, etc. Not so. Because in Florida, it turns out regular people like me aren’t allowed to see the water. Only rich people are allowed near the water. Regular people get to look at the roofs of rich peoples’ mansions over giant walls and gates instead. And A1A is only 35 MPH with no passing allowed. Ouch, especially when you get stuck behind a freaking RV the entire way south.

Finally rolled into Deerfield Beach and checked into the HOJO. Dinner with relatives at Bonefish Mac’s and then back to the hotel to get some shut-eye…big trip over to the Tampa side tomorrow. And alligators! Distance today: 173 miles.

We were on the road early this morning, about 6:30 AM. Quick stop for lunch and gas and then got to the rental place in Orlando early, about 1:30 PM. The drive in from Dalton, GA was super easy. A little rain early in the morning going through ATL, but no big deal, especially in the Flex. Picked up the Road King…originally they were going to give me a Classic (FLHRC) but I asked them to switch it out for a regular FLHR so I could have the locking side bags. Then I said “and hopefully it isn’t white” and the guys behind the counter laughed. “We don’t have any white bikes here, that’s for sure,” said one. Two thumbs up!

I haven’t been on a motorcycle since mid-November, so it took me a little while to get my “legs” back, and also a few miles to get used to the Harley’s power. A lot more power than my Vulcan 900 for sure, but that’s to be expected given the difference in engine sizes. One thing I will say: the FLHR is smooth over 60 MPH or so, but it vibrates like a mother for anything less. The one I rented had almost 8000 miles on it, so it wasn’t a break-in issue. Also, the stock seat sucks and the the stock handlebars are not high enough for someone as tall as I am, so the riding position is not the most comfortable. But I can’t complain, it is a rental and I’m only going to be riding a couple of days so I’ll gut it out. But, if I was paying $20K, I’d be pretty cranky about it.

All in all, the ride in to Sebring from Orlando was easy…basically effortless sitting on that much power. My dad followed me in the Flex. We actually had some construction on US-27 South…they were filling in a couple of sinkholes. Too funny. Say what you will about MI, but at least we don’t build important stuff like roads and schools on quicksand.

Tomorrow I will help my dad get settled, and then around noon I’ll be heading for the east coast and Deerfield Beech to visit relatives. Distance today: 78 miles motorcycle, 531 miles car.

Drove Detroit to Dalton, GA today. Pretty easy drive, the Ford Flex is a great car. Lots of room, lots of power, very comfortable, easy to see traffic around you. Going to stay in a motel and get back on the road to Florida in the morning. Final destination is Sebring, FL, but with a stop at the Eagle Rider franchise in Orlando first to pick up a Road King.

Heading down to Florida for a few days. Going to drive down with my dad, then rent a Harley in Orlando. Ride around for a few days visiting relatives and friends, then back to Orlando and a flight home.

It only took 5.5 years (roughly), but I finally got an actual royalty check for The Definitive Guide to Linux Network Programming (Expert’s Voice). Yippee! I always wondered if they would actually come after me for my advance which was spent long ago (a man has needs after all!). Now I don’t have to worry. On to the next book for all my fans!