Online shopping giant Amazon.com debuted their new electronic reading device, the Kindle, which has the potential to change the future of reading. At least, Amazon would like to believe so.

What is the Kindle? Think of an iPod, but bigger and for reading: The Kindle can store more than two hundred titles, including books, newspapers and blogs.

It's light, has a nifty "search passages" tool, can download books in less than a minute wherever there is Wi-Fi access and features an "electronic paper" display screen, meaning you won't get that annoying glare which deters so many from reading on their computer screens. Amazon is practically giddy at its cleverness.

Is it revolutionary? Absolutely. Will it change the face of reading? Probably not.

There's no denying the usefulness of the Kindle. Being able to carry around all of your textbooks in one place is enough to make any college student salivate. Not to mention the ease of finding that exact quote you were looking for, by simply searching for the key word, is something I wish for every time I need to write a paper.

But as a reader, and a writer, I think Amazon is missing the point. There's a lot about the culture of reading that Amazon appears not to understand.

For one thing, people like going to bookstores. They like to see all of those pretty books that they will never have the time to read. People like to look at book covers, browse through titles and look at pictures.

What will electronic reading do for the future of bookstores, not to mention the future of publishing companies who thrive on designing catchy titles and cover art?

And what about the culture of sharing books? The book files you buy on the Kindle are non-transferable, unlike MP3s or CDs you can loan or give to your friends. Many people enjoy borrowing books, but I can hardly see anyone loaning out a $400 reading device just so that their friend can read a book recommendation.

Also missing from the Kindle is the sense of anticipation inherent in turning the pages of a book, and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing a story and closing the cover. Will people get the same satisfaction from clicking a button?

Other drawbacks include the need for wireless Internet, which is too bad, because this invention would have been really valuable for people living in rural areas, miles from their local libraries.

One last complaint: The books you buy on the Kindle are protected through Digital Rights Management (DRM), like certain types of music. In layman's terms, this means that they are only readable on certain devices at a certain time in history, meaning years from now, you probably won't be able to read them anymore. I don't know about everyone, but I when I buy books, I like that they are mine forever.

There is a big difference between practical and pleasurable. Would I use the Kindle for work or school? If I could afford the $400, sure, why not? But 50 years from now, I don't see myself reading to my grandchildren with an Amazon Kindle. At least, I would like to believe so.