E-book: hype or not?

[Alexander Turcic]

Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam hits us with a thought-provoking article in which he argues that e-books don't live up to their hype and that pulp books are still way more convenient.

As it happens, the e-book is the solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Check out my Personalized Literacy Unit, a 2003 release from the Bantam Dell labs. It's an $8 paperback called "Persuader" by Lee Child , and it weighs the same as my stripped-down cellphone and less than my Palm Pilot . (A friend's reaction upon learning that I carry a Pilot: "How 1997!") I've used my PLU on an airplane, in the car, and in a few other places where you wouldn't take electronic equipment.

[Snappy!]

Interesting ... but me thinks ebooks will ultimately supercede pbooks, and if anyone wants to speed it up, start replacing kid's books with them. That will grow the next generation of ebook readers and the need for pbook experience will slowly go away.

The only gripe I have right now is cost and lifespan of the device *and* ebooks. I don't really care about DRM, feel of flipping the pages, smell of book etc. I care just a little for anotation though it would be a bonus. If a DRM format can last say 5 yrs or 10 yrs, that's good enough for me. If it can convert itself to future DRM format, even better!

For me, if the cost of each device is low, then I don't mind having to change devices every 2 yrs, but only if the format on the old and new device is either a) convertible or b) useable without conversion.