MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

mcgriff · 06-04-2010, 11:45 PM

As I was debating today, once again, on what reader to buy a thought struck me. My first computer was a C64 from the way back 80s. I don't have a shred of media from that machine and if I did I doubt I would be able to do anything usable with such ancient code. I do however have many books from the 80s that are perfectly readable today.

With this in mind, is stressing out about what device to get or what format to buy in to really that important? Fifteen years from now will it matter if one's ebooks are all epub or azw? The frustration of maintaining the usability of old computer files often outweighs the cost and convenience of simply diving into a new format. Yeah, txt, doc, jpg have been around for quite sometime, but should we expect the same from topaz or the like?

Seems to me ebooks are a 10-15 year investment after which time technology will simply no longer support hardware capable of manipulating current ebook formats. I am fairly certain a paper book in hand will last far longer than an electronic book. I'm quite certain this viewpoint has been discussed in the past. It simply gave me a new way to look at my future investment in an ebook reading device.

06-04-2010, 11:45 PM	#1
mcgriff Member Posts: 18 Karma: 40 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ohio Device: Kindle Deux	25 year old computer file? As I was debating today, once again, on what reader to buy a thought struck me. My first computer was a C64 from the way back 80s. I don't have a shred of media from that machine and if I did I doubt I would be able to do anything usable with such ancient code. I do however have many books from the 80s that are perfectly readable today. With this in mind, is stressing out about what device to get or what format to buy in to really that important? Fifteen years from now will it matter if one's ebooks are all epub or azw? The frustration of maintaining the usability of old computer files often outweighs the cost and convenience of simply diving into a new format. Yeah, txt, doc, jpg have been around for quite sometime, but should we expect the same from topaz or the like? Seems to me ebooks are a 10-15 year investment after which time technology will simply no longer support hardware capable of manipulating current ebook formats. I am fairly certain a paper book in hand will last far longer than an electronic book. I'm quite certain this viewpoint has been discussed in the past. It simply gave me a new way to look at my future investment in an ebook reading device.