Going ALL digital

[Questions]

I could part with everything but my books. I have several thousand including some rare first editions and these can never be replaced by a kindle (although I do own one).

Some old Parade and Razzle magazines can hardly be classed as first editions.

Or did you mean fist editions ?

 

[Vegas Seagull]

Yes, my house is easily the most minimalist on NSC I would bet, possibly Sussex, looks sharp & saves dusting

 

[Marshal Josip Tito]

I've never been a big collector of films, but my record collection, on CD and Vinyl, is immense and took up a considerable amount of space back in the days when I needed the physical versions. Of course now all my music is backed up on various hard drives and so the records and CDs reside in the attic of my parents' house. HOWEVER I still find the idea of getting rid of all the hard copies I spent so much of my hard earned cash on a bit difficult to swallow. I guess because I'm not having to store them myself (out of sight, out of mind) I don't see the need to chuck/sell them but of course should my folks ever decide they want a loft conversion, or the ceiling collapses under the weight of such a collection, I will have little choice but to have a clear out.

It's an odd one because I don't miss the clutter of records everywhere and I certainly prefer picking and choosing tracks at will on a computer/iPod/phone etc. with no need to physically change discs BUT in some ways I do miss the big towering CD racks, organised meticulously, and worn but well used leather covered record boxes being around. There is still something reassuring about having these things surround you, even if you have no need for them and they simply remain ornamental and decorative rather than necessary.

Having a physical record collection is like a life story with different discs marking different times in your life and holding sentimental value. I could never feel that way about the x amount of continuous days worth of music I have stored digitally, it just isn't the same.

As a music OBSESSED teenager the first thing I'd do when arriving at someone's house was always peruse their record collection, quietly judging their taste (or lack of). But nowadays the nearest equivalent is staring at their computer screen, clicking through their iTunes collection. And this is nowhere near the same. For one thing, anybody can download the entire discography of an artist, on a whim, with very little effort and no cost. Does this make them ardent fans of said artist? Unlikely. Whereas if you found somebody with the complete works of, say, David Bowie, including rarities and special editions, all neatly organised and on display, you could be pretty confident that you were in the presence of a certified Bowie lover.

So I think it is sad that tangible record collections are increasingly rare, but at the same time fully respect the progress it represents.

I guess history is littered with examples of people spending all their spare cash on things that later became redundant and worthless, but such is life.

 

[Norman Potting]

I've never been a big collector of films, but my record collection, on CD and Vinyl, is immense and took up a considerable amount of space back in the days when I needed the physical versions. Of course now all my music is backed up on various hard drives and so the records and CDs reside in the attic of my parents' house. HOWEVER I still find the idea of getting rid of all the hard copies I spent so much of my hard earned cash on a bit difficult to swallow. I guess because I'm not having to store them myself (out of sight, out of mind) I don't see the need to chuck/sell them but of course should my folks ever decide they want a loft conversion, or the ceiling collapses under the weight of such a collection, I will have little choice but to have a clear out.

It's an odd one because I don't miss the clutter of records everywhere and I certainly prefer picking and choosing tracks at will on a computer/iPod/phone etc. with no need to physically change discs BUT in some ways I do miss the big towering CD racks, organised meticulously, and worn but well used leather covered record boxes being around. There is still something reassuring about having these things surround you, even if you have no need for them and they simply remain ornamental and decorative rather than necessary.

Having a physical record collection is like a life story with different discs marking different times in your life and holding sentimental value. I could never feel that way about the x amount of continuous days worth of music I have stored digitally, it just isn't the same.

As a music OBSESSED teenager the first thing I'd do when arriving at someone's house was always peruse their record collection, quietly judging their taste (or lack of). But nowadays the nearest equivalent is staring at their computer screen, clicking through their iTunes collection. And this is nowhere near the same. For one thing, anybody can download the entire discography of an artist, on a whim, with very little effort and no cost. Does this make them ardent fans of said artist? Unlikely. Whereas if you found somebody with the complete works of, say, David Bowie, including rarities and special editions, all neatly organised and on display, you could be pretty confident that you were in the presence of a certified Bowie lover.

So I think it is sad that tangible record collections are increasingly rare, but at the same time fully respect the progress it represents.

I guess history is littered with examples of people spending all their spare cash on things that later became redundant and worthless, but such is life.

Good post. Until I purchased a couple of cd's at a gig recently I can't remember the last time I bought music in "hard copy" form.

Whilst I miss the times spent browsing round the second hand record shops in North Laine I find that I am listening to more music that I would never have considered before. As I work from home Spotify is permanently on and each month I browse the music mag. reviews to see what takes my fancy. For example, I don't think I would ever have bought a "Swing out Sister" or "Black Box Recorder" album, or discover Justin Earle's back catalogue (Steve's Lad) if I had needed to part with hard cash, but listening to them "free" (£9.99 a month anyway) has led me to appreciate their finer points.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

In the 1980s the BBC did a new version of the Domesday book on the then new and technically advanced laserdisk. Gues which is the only version of the Domesday book that can be easily read now. The one written in 1086 or the one compiled uusing the very latest advanced technology in 1986.

So you might be able to acess your digital stuff now, but eventually you will have to copy it all again and again to the next update - vynal begat the CD which begat the MP3 file which beget.... what?

Paper remains the only universal easy accessible medium

 

[catfish]

Some old Parade and Razzle magazines can hardly be classed as first editions.

Or did you mean fist editions ?

That's the last time I let you browse through my collection.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I've managed to collect some 350 books. I am toying with the idea of selling them all and investing in a Kindle, but I can't quite do it yet. I love having a book to carry round with me. I love having a physical book with a turned corner and the smell of the paper.

Honestly BoF absolutely outrageous. I love books but don't believe in the ownership of them. For me they should be passed on to friends/acquaintances/charity shops once read. Agree on the Kindle thing - just can't beat the physical side of a paperback/smell etc.

 

[Marshal Josip Tito]

Good post. Until I purchased a couple of cd's at a gig recently I can't remember the last time I bought music in "hard copy" form.

Whilst I miss the times spent browsing round the second hand record shops in North Laine I find that I am listening to more music that I would never have considered before. As I work from home Spotify is permanently on and each month I browse the music mag. reviews to see what takes my fancy. For example, I don't think I would ever have bought a "Swing out Sister" or "Black Box Recorder" album, or discover Justin Earle's back catalogue (Steve's Lad) if I had needed to part with hard cash, but listening to them "free" (£9.99 a month anyway) has led me to appreciate their finer points.

Even with my immense digital collection I still consider Spotify worth every penny. Lovely stuff

 

[Norman Potting]

Even with my immense digital collection I still consider Spotify worth every penny. Lovely stuff

Anyone up for a "what are you listening to on Spotify at the moment" thread?? Spotify users of NSC unite!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

In the 1980s the BBC did a new version of the Domesday book on the then new and technically advanced laserdisk. Gues which is the only version of the Domesday book that can be easily read now. The one written in 1086 or the one compiled uusing the very latest advanced technology in 1986.

So you might be able to acess your digital stuff now, but eventually you will have to copy it all again and again to the next update - vynal begat the CD which begat the MP3 file which beget.... what?

Paper remains the only universal easy accessible medium

Blimey, I thought I was the only one with both Black Box Recorder and Swing Out Sister tunes!