Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
...What makes a paper book have more "inherent value" than a data file?...
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I think what he was getting at was the value of possessing a copy of a paper book vs. a copy of an ebook. By its physical nature a paper book has certain qualities that give value to possessing it that an electronic book does not have or diminishes to almost zero. A paper book is an exclusive use item. If I am using my copy you cannot use it. If I purchase a copy nobody else can purchase that same copy. It may take some time and effort to locate a physical copy and then it has to be transported to my location or I have to physically go to a location to get it. All of those things give value to having possession of a physical book. An ebook on the other hand can be had almost instantly from almost any location on the planet and never need go out of stock. There is little to no value in possessing a copy before the moment that you want to read it.