[spindlegirl]

I had wanted to post more about this in other threads (the drm hating thread and the pirate thread etc), but I didn't want to give off the impression that I approve of copyright theft and robbing authors of money. Nor, was the post really fitting with either topic, actually.

I've posted elsewhere that the main reason I bought the T1 is because of the ease of library borrowing. This is not to replace borrowing paper books or buying paper books, but as a convenient accessory to carry on my normal book habits. It's a bonus for me during times when there are physical or transportation issues, to still be able to read what I like and borrow what I like.

One of the reason I largely still buy and own printed books is because it is still legal to share a book around to an infinite amount of people without breaking any laws. Its low-tech and always works.

I have amassed a large enough amount of printed books that loaning one physical book out to a friend is really not a big deal to me, even if that friend keeps the book for weeks, months, or years. Not to mention that while said friend is reading a book of mine, I am likely simultaneously reading a book of his. The end result is that it's really (physical technicality aside) in *experience* no different that when I have put one book down and stuck it on the shelf to read another.

This is one reason why I think that printed books are not going to be on the way out at least not soon. There is so much more legal flexibility with a paper book that just hasn't made it to the e-book world. Even books that I never share with another single soul, my copy is my copy. E-books are difficult to implement the same flexibilities (legally).

This is why I will happily pay $8 for a paperback book, yet will gasp in horror if I am asked to shell out its equivalent in DRM e-book format. But I will happily pay that much for a book at Smashwords if I think I will like it.