Yaay, yet more techno-hyperbole, can't get enough of THAT stuff. Pixel Qi displays, anyone?
Negroponte is just conflating the habits of his affluent techno-savvy social circle with those of the rest of the planet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donnageddon
garygibsonsf, I understand your point, but I just find it hard to comprehend a large number of people in an economically and technologically advanced society who:
1. Only buy a couple of books a year
|
According to a
2008 Zogby Poll, about 50% of Americans purchase 10 or fewer books per year.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Donnageddon
2. Wouldn't purchase anything that resembles a computer.
|
According to the US Census Bureau, about 68% of Americans had Internet access at home. This is pretty much in line with the International Telecommunication Union figures.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Donnageddon
I would assume anyone who fits the first criteria and the second is rare.
|
I wouldn't. We could easily be talking about 30% of US households. And a good ol' computer is a poor device for reading.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Donnageddon
Those that fit only to the second criteria are again, I assume, rare. An ebook reader is not quite as daunting a leap as a computer.
|
It's far more daunting than a book, which does not require a power supply, a credit card, and $150 - $200 of disposable income.
It's unclear what effect all of this will have on book sales. Lots of issues, including orphaned works, digital rights, and international distribution, need to be worked out. Also, recorded music has always required an intermediary device; books do not. The devices also have a long way to go before really being ready for educational use.
I agree that eventually ebooks will outsell paper. But since digital music still hasn't outsold CDs -- despite the closure of pretty much all the major music chains -- I'd say it will take more time rather than less.