[jbcohen]

I have heard similar things in the IT news media from such excepted IT sources such as CNet news. However, they have told me that it is unlikely that laptops and netbooks will replace the electronic reader as they are heavier and larger then their reader cousins. However the tablet PCs are a destinct possiblity as they are the same dimmensions as the typical reader, simply pack more power then the typical reader does. I have also heard perdiscitions in the next fifty years of IT we are headed into what is often referred to as holographic computing. There will be no more monitors on your desktops and no more screens on your laptops, blackberries fifty years from now will have no screen. In stead these items will project imiages into the air around you that you will interact with using your bare hands. Fifty years from now you will have a reciever on your belt which you will activate by voice, and it will project your books into the air around you. You will scroll through the book by using your index finger to push the image up, down, left or right. Both the reader and the tablet will be merged into one device that will interact with you no matter where you are. They will operate similar to Star Treck computers do, you will place the device on your belt and will say "computer on, display <and give a title>" that book will be showed in front of you in the air.

I have also heard of the Star Treck transporter technology is being worked on. We can dematerialize a orange, move it across the room but reassembling it on the other side has proved to be a bit dificult. Reassembling the orange tends to get messy scientists have gotten it reassembled but turns out to be a tangled mess. Still work in progress, in fifty years scientists are expecting to have it worked out. Imagine buying a weeks worth of food on the PC and a minute latter the whole order materializes next to you, no need to go to the store. You can still shop around any store can transport you anything at any time.