Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic
The long and painful wait is almost over (at least for UK residents): As previous rumors have already hinted, and the Independent is reaffirming in their Business section today, the UK's leading bookseller, Waterstone's, is gearing up to launch the Sony Reader device. |
I should rejoice at this, at least short-term, because I have a few shares in HMV, who own Waterstones.
But at the same time, though it's good for us ebook enthusiasts, I can't help but feel that it's like turkeys voting for Christmas.
It's a fact that I don't buy from book-stores much any more. Paper books come by mail, ebooks over the net. Presumably the people who buy an ereader from Waterstones won't be buying their ebooks from Waterstones. In effect, they are selling their own customers - or at least part of their book-spend.
I suppose they have no choice but book-selling in the UK is becoming more and more threatened. I'll be sad - and slightly guilty - to see specialized book-stores wither away.