Quote:
Originally Posted by Clancy_s
Define "takeover". Outnumber, for prose - within 10 years.
Entirely replace - IMO, never.
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Clancy makes a great point. When I responded to the poll I was considering the Amazon announcement that e-Book sales had surpassed hard back sales and were on target to overtake paperback sales in the foreseeable future. But, that is one company and not a whole industry and certainly not the whole world.
I own an iPad and find that I actually prefer reading on it to a "real" book. This was actually an unexpected outcome as I've always loved the experience of reading and holding a book. My preferred format has been hardback or trade paperback. Despite my enjoyment of the iPad there are some books that I am so fond of that I want to own the real thing.
I think the price drop on devices like the Kindle and Nook will make them an attractive option for many people. As we see more e-publishers and more low cost e-books I think the trend will accelerate. But, just like TV didn't kill radio and film, and paperbacks didn't kill hardbacks, the e-book won't kill off the physical books.