By still want books

July 29, 2010 7:56 AM | Link to this

I had the opportunity to look at a Barnes & Noble Nook yesterday at Best Buy and I was not impressed. There’s something about having a physical book in hand that cannot be replaced with an electronic device. If someone wants an e-reader, I’m not saying they shouldn’t have access to it, but books are going to be around for a long, long time.

By dale1

July 29, 2010 8:11 AM | Link to this

No this will not happen. Remember the paperless office. There is actually more paper used today than ever before. I’d rather get a book free from the library than spend money to download a book I’m only gonig to read once. If they started letting you download books for free in the library I may consider it but until then forget it.

By Sue

July 29, 2010 8:22 AM | Link to this

I have a kindle and use it and the local library almost equally. Some ereaders do have capability to borrow from the library. While some will embrace the technology fully, there is still a need for the library - as you can see by the quantity of books being returned and borrowed daily. But ereaders will find a place too. Personally, my reading has more than quadrupled since I got the Kindle….I buy about 1 of every 10 books I download.

By Random

July 29, 2010 8:46 AM | Link to this

I hope not. If I drop a Kindle in the hot tub I loose that book and every book on it and the Kindle. If I drop a paperback I loose one book. How do I share my book with my wife? Can I lend the book to a friend?

By Max

July 29, 2010 8:54 AM | Link to this

I used to think I just wanted to have a book to read because it was such an anachronism that it was cool in our overly technical world. I can tell you after getting a Nook that it is very cool and I am reading more than ever. It is small, easy to hold, and you can carry a variety of books with you at all times. As for getting books for free - more and more libraries are letting you check out digital content just like a book.

By Book Worm

July 29, 2010 9:07 AM | Link to this

What’s the price difference?

By Ann N.

July 29, 2010 9:17 AM | Link to this

I think electronic books are the new fad, and while some people will continue to read that way, most avid readers love the feel of the book in their hands, the trips to the library, and so many other reasons already shared in the comments posted here. No, books and libraries are not going to become obsolete.

By NCF

July 29, 2010 9:20 AM | Link to this

Hey, dale1, and others with similar mindset: Thanks for supporting those authors whose efforts you enjoy for free. I’m sure they appreciate your mooching more than they would appreciate you paying for their books. You should try it sometime. Write or publish a book or two, and instead of sell them, just loan them to people to read. See how long it then takes for you to recoup the costs of producing the books.

By Bob

July 29, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this

The Dayton Metro Library offers a downloadable page on their catalog. You can download audiobooks as well as e-books. And NCF, writers are still making plenty of money from their books. The libraries do pay to purchase multiple copies of titles.

By Jeff

July 29, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this

Yes and No. For the average everyday reader the ebook is a better choice. You can carry with you it takes up no space except for the book reader. But if you like selling your used books then no. The ebook is not a good choice. You cannot sell it. If you are a collector then the ebook is not for you. Collecting data bits just is not the same as a physical book. Myself I prefer reading my ebooks. I can carry them with me all of the time and read any time I get a chance. I do object to paying the same price as a physical book. The production cost of an ebook are lower and I think the price should reflect that.

By NCF

July 29, 2010 10:00 AM | Link to this

Sure, Bob, but they don’t make what they could, or even ought to, thanks to the lending library. At least a radio station has to pay each time they broadcast copyrighted material. A library can pay $25 for a single book, and loan it to hundreds of people for free. “making plenty of money” still doesn’t justify what is being done to authors & publishers. How would you like to be told that you’ve made “plenty of money”, so you’re not going to be paid for a portion of your work anymore?

By GravyTrain

July 29, 2010 11:22 AM | Link to this

I don’t automatically believe these sales statistics. How do we know that they are accurate? One of the oldest gimmicks in sales is to suggest “everyone is buying this or that”

By GravyTrain

July 29, 2010 11:28 AM | Link to this

Also, there is no indication that “many people” are buying ‘electronic’ books. A few people may be buying many books.

By Max

July 29, 2010 2:11 PM | Link to this

No, at least not in the over 40 age group; eye strain is an issue.

By Michael

July 29, 2010 3:31 PM | Link to this

I truly hope so!

By Rob

July 29, 2010 3:36 PM | Link to this

@Max: Actually, eye strain really isn’t much of an issue. The Kindle isn’t backlit like a computer screen, so it really looks just like you’re reading printed text off of newsprint. Unlike physical books you can also increase the size of the font on the fly so you can always comfortably read the text. @Random: Actually, if your Kindle breaks you don’t lose every book on it. You still own them because they’re tied to your Amazon account and not your individual Kindle. If your Kindle breaks you can just get a new one and download ever book you’ve bought in a matter of minutes. Likewise you can share books with your family members so long as their Kindles or Kindle apps (Kindle books can also be read on PCs and even phones) are associated with your Amazon account.

By Rob

July 29, 2010 3:38 PM | Link to this

@Max: Actually, eye strain really isn’t much of an issue. The Kindle isn’t backlit like a computer screen, so it really looks just like you’re reading printed text off of newsprint. Unlike physical books you can also increase the size of the font on the fly so you can always comfortably read the text. @Random: Actually, if your Kindle breaks you don’t lose every book on it. You still own them because they’re tied to your Amazon account and not your individual Kindle. If your Kindle breaks you can just get a new one and download ever book you’ve bought in a matter of minutes. Likewise you can share books with your family members so long as their Kindles or Kindle apps (Kindle books can also be read on PCs and even phones) are associated with your Amazon account.

By Julie

July 29, 2010 3:45 PM | Link to this

Remember when microwaves came out and we thought stoves and ovens would soon be obsolete? Now we have multiple cooking devices in our kitchens and put each technology to its best use. I think the same will apply to ebooks and paper books - the technologies and formats will exist side by side. More and more libraries are offering free access to ebook downloads, continuing the valuable tradition of free information for all.

By Susan R

July 30, 2010 10:32 AM | Link to this

I doubt paper books will become obsolete any time in the near future. Printed books and ebooks each have their advantages and disadvantages. However, it is NOT cheaper to produce an ebook. Publishers still must pay the authors, editors, proofreaders, designers and illustrators, the sales and marketing staff, purchase advertising, and pay the staff that formats the books for all the different ebook readers out there. The price difference comes to about $2.00 less per book for an ebook.

By Gary Bedard

August 5, 2010 2:12 PM | Link to this

I used to think that nothing would or could replace the physically printed book. It was unimaginable. And since I am a baby boomer..you know the ones who are resistant to change, it will never happen. We love the old ways, so why change? Well, I did change and am glad I did. I bought a Nook, and have not regretted it.It is easy to download a book from B&N, and from purchase to reading, it only takes about three minutes. The convenience of purchasing, reading, and storing books surpasses the older method of buying a book. You can order online and wait a week to receive your order. You can travel by car to the nearest bookstore to locate the book you want, and then stand in line while a seemingly slow cashier finalizes your book purchase. This vs. a three minute transaction? In this day and age it just seems like a natural progression to eventual conversion to all digital reading format.