Books will be obsolete

[Teddyrose54]

its kinda sad that that side slips as the relationship progresses, I get post it notes on the screen of my laptop somedays when OH goes out before I get in which is mushy according to the kids but I think it is sweet

That's lovely~

[damian_steele]

I've been using a Pocket PC for years. It can display ebooks in MSoft's LIT format, in HTML or standard TXT. It's handy because it isn't limited to just being used for ebooks as it can also be used for games (like solitaire or frrecell), for MP3's, email, word processing and much more. I wouldn't bother with a gadget which could only display ebooks.

As for ebooks themselves, it depends on the content. I'll happily read fiction as ebooks (but keep copies on the main PC as a back up).

I won't read instructional books or non-fiction in general as ebooks. Anything which may require me to flip backward and forwards through the information to recap, check or compare is better on paper. It is also far less likely that anything will happen to the paper copies whereas electronic versions are often lost due to hardware failure, device resets or damage to the file itself.

So, all in all, I'd say that there will always be a place for both the electronic versions and the paper versions. Those who predict the future demise of paper books are clearly not thinking about the issue properly.

[deltadelta48]

But this electronic gismo doesnt have the magical feel, smell and sound of a real book, turning the paper pages just have that something special, a facination, that will never be replaced, I have always encouraged my grand children to look through books as well as on the internet when doing their homework and projects, they always have books in their stockings at Christmas and it is the books that are still looked through and read long after the dvd or computer game has lost its appeal and gone out of fashion because the updated version is now available, the giggle from them, when they stay here and have gone to bed with a book , as I go upstairs and they are under the covers with a torch looking through all different categories of book still makes me smile, takes me back my childhood when lights were off by 8pm but my little torch meant I could travel in my mind with the help of all those pictures.
Our generations should feel a responsibility to continue and encourage the use of books as the new generations come along.

Agree, and cost is not cheap for device or downloads. Each download is around $10+??? I heard but am not sure. So for those of us who read 5-10 books a week, no thank you. I will take the hard copy instead of the electronic one even if harder to hold in my hands. I can borrow that hard copy from the library for free, or I can buy it, sell it, read it, pass on to friends, etc. The electroinic version is stored but I am not sure how many books the device holds.

As a collectable, an electronic book has no value. Just like my repro copy of a 1900 booklet on beaded bags, it really is nice to use, but worth nothing. Only the original has value as a collectable. So I wonder with your $10 download what you really have? Something on a chip that you can not resell. It is good for your use only.

For me the convenience of holding a little device instead of a thick book is not very appealing. Each to his own.

[canuckbid]

Lots of good points but I hope they keep making books out of recycled paper then. Millions of trees have been cut down to make them. Trees clean the air we breathe. I'ld like my children to think more enviromently friendly.

[deltadelta48]

I've been using a Pocket PC for years. It can display ebooks in MSoft's LIT format, in HTML or standard TXT. It's handy because it isn't limited to just being used for ebooks as it can also be used for games (like solitaire or frrecell), for MP3's, email, word processing and much more. I wouldn't bother with a gadget which could only display ebooks.

As for ebooks themselves, it depends on the content. I'll happily read fiction as ebooks (but keep copies on the main PC as a back up).

I won't read instructional books or non-fiction in general as ebooks. Anything which may require me to flip backward and forwards through the information to recap, check or compare is better on paper. It is also far less likely that anything will happen to the paper copies whereas electronic versions are often lost due to hardware failure, device resets or damage to the file itself.

So, all in all, I'd say that there will always be a place for both the electronic versions and the paper versions. Those who predict the future demise of paper books are clearly not thinking about the issue properly.

That makes perfect sense, you use yours for other things, sort of like a mini computer to check your mail etc. The small size and convenience is key. Good observation about it not being good for info you have to flip back and forth and like with anything, you can lose your data and getting it back is a problem.

.

[deltadelta48]

E-books have been out for awhile but they are getting better all the time. I can see the day when people will stop buying books. Sure there will always be a few diehards but the new generation likes gadgets. Brother inlaw has the new sony model. I'm impressed with it. A thousand books in the palm of your hand. A bit expensive right now but they will come down in price just like computers.

Sony Unveils Daily Edition E-Book With 3G Wireless

Sony on Tuesday unveiled the newest version of its eBook Reader, the Daily Edition, which will have built-in free wireless capability via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network.
The new Reader, introduced during an event at the main branch of the New York Public Library, will hit SonyStyle stores and sonystyle.com in December and will retail for $399.
The Daily Edition will feature a seven-inch touchscreen, and a high contrast ratio with 16 levels of grayscale; you can read in either portrait or landscape orientation. It will have enough onboard memory to hold over 1,000 standard ebooks and is also expandable via Memory Stick/Duo and SD card slots.
Sony also had a number of its newly available Pocket and Touch Readers available to try out. Those readers, priced at $199 and $299, respectively, are available now for purchase. Each of the Sony Readers employs the E Ink Vizplex electronic paper display.
Steven Haber, president of Sony's digital reader business division, emphasized the importance of access, content, and affordability for ebook readers. He mentioned that Sony is moving from a proprietary ebook format to e-pub format, which will streamline the publishing process immensely.
Sony also announced its Library Finder app, developed in partnership with Overdrive.com. Users of Sony's eBook Store will be able to easily locate their local libraries online and download free ebook content using their library cards. When the lending period is up, the content simply expires.
One of those libraries will be the New York Public Library, which currently offers about 40,000 downloadable titles, with the goal of goal of digitizing over one million titles. That effort has been facilitated through the library's partnership with Google's book-scanning initiative.
"We believe it must be delivered free," said Dr. Paul LeClerc, president and CEO of the NYPL.
Also new is a Web site for book lovers called Words Move Me, a social networking site of sorts where readers will be able to connect and post favorite passages from literary works. Eventual Facebook and Twitter integration is promised.

How much are new downloads, i.e. latest novel etc. I heard about $10 a pop??

[canuckbid]

I also "read" somewhere that if you are not part of the solution then you are a part of the problem.

[canuckbid]

Not sure but I also read somewhere one day they want to make the world libraries virtually free. Look how much free knowledge you can find on the internet already. Is it not worth something to save the planet for our kids? You pay to buy books. What's the difference in buying e-books?

edit: I did a quick search and there is lots of sites that offer ebooks for free. Here is just one for starters.

http://www.planetebook.com/

[victorfrank]

Nothing will replace a good Barbera Cartland for lobbing at the cat when he/she starts plucking at the carpet; also good for lobbing at mother when she is snoring in front of the boxing on TV.

[leadhillsonline]

I would never be without books, won't touch e-books can't see the point. Mainly I read in bed at night and that is the only computer free room in the house.
All my lot read books, even youngest who spends 99% of his time on his computers, he keeps a pile of books next to his bed.