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The new method of buying textbooks at UMass is now through Amazon. Instead of going to the textbook annex like before, we now have the ability to order all of our books online. This is newer “faster” way of getting our textbooks. There are pros and cons to this new method. For some it may be easier, to order online and receive them in the mail, without even leaving your home, office, or dorm room. But not all people feel this way. Sometimes with ordering online, it can take FOREVER, to get what you ordered. Also, sometimes what happens is when you do the initial order it’ll say that your product is available, so your thinking that it’ confirmed and will be on it’s way. But what actually happens is they’ll end up sending you another e-mail about how it was back ordered, or they ran out and for people who don’t check their emails multiple times a day this is a problem. To me, this new method of buying books via Amazon, reminds me of the transition from television to newer media, like Netflix, or Hulu. I, personally, like the idea of being able to go into a book store and pick out the books I need. Call me old fashion, but I think it’s just a better way. I like being able to see and touch the books I guess before I buy them. Most people these days don’t care about that kind of stuff, they just want what’s more convenient for them, which in this case would be clicking a few buttons on their computers.

Don’t get me wrong, Amazon is great. You can literally find whatever you want on there. I mean ANYTHING, but I still like the idea of going into a book store and hand selecting my books and other supplies. It’s not that way about all things via Amazon, I am not totally ANTI-AMAZON. I still use Amazon to order some things whether clothes, knives, little things, big things… Amazon is good for stuff like that, especially around Christmas. I also like how I can use my American Express member points to pay for my items.

Also, while listening to the final project from the group who did Amazon and Netflix, I’ve realized how important Amazon is to television too. That show TRANSPARENT, which is an Amazon original, looks super great. That’s what I love about this class, literally learning about new things, which I would have never guessed I would like prior to this class. Watching that show is on my to-do list, just like the podcasts where on my to-do list from this class. This class introduced me into podcasts ad now I’m literally addicted. I watch podcasts about everything.

So overall, I do like Amazon, (for certain things), just not ordering books. I like to keep it old school by going into the store and buying my own books. This is just how I am, even with a Kindle, I prefer to hold a book in my hand rather than reading from a Kindle. I think this carries over to the way I like to order books.