Will e-book readers eventually go back to paper books?

[Graham Coulson]

O helpful feedback , like a vivid light
Whose beam doth make essential points to shine;
Substantial wisdom and a fresh delight
Is in thy voice benign.

O witty feedback , like a rapier blade;
Your cut and thrust make sharp your views to see,
Driving with passion whimsies to dissuade,
Against what cannot be.

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In mighty splendour, are the words you say;
So strong and forceful, other notions shake
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You drown men’s fancies with a swell and beat,
Then, grinding all their thoughts relentlessly,
You fling them at your feet.



Thanks again,

Graham.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

I can understand the other reasons but expense?? Ebooks are not really cheaper (some are more) and buying a new ereader every couple years at $100+ a pop is going to ruin any savings you MAY get buying some ebooks.

You are making a lot of erroneous assumptions.

1. I don't buy best sellers so I'm able to find lots to read of my favorite genres at prices I am willing to pay.

2. You're making the assumption that I am obsessed with having the latest & greatest hardware by upgrading every 2 years. You would be incorrect. There is nothing wrong with my 1 3/4 year old Sony 600 reader, so there is no reason for me to replace it until it dies.

I'm not tech obsessed the way many of you are on here. Do I like new toys? Sure but not enough to endlessly spend money over & over again on a slightly improved machine when what I have does the very same thing that the new one does.

[junkml]

I've been reading on a dedicated ebook device for 12 years. Started with the Nuvomedia Rocket Ebook. I still read some paper books, but I still prefer to read on my ebook device. If there is an author/series that I absolutely love, I'll buy the hardback versions, but I definitely don't even fool with paperbacks anymore.

[Kai Winters]

The convenience of my ereader surpasses my need or desire to buy a paperback/hard cover book. I can carry as many books with me in my little reader as I desire, though typically only have 6 to 10 in my reader's library...I find looking at all the titles a bit much.

I'm not saying they are perfect...imagine the battery losing power while on vacation and no source to recharge it...ugh...but with a little forethought and planning such things don't happen.

[OtterBooks]

Paper simulating devices will likely remain for a while. Get back to me when their sales start to diminish rather than triple yearly.

[bookmeal]

Well, eReader is still kind of pricy and the quality control needs a lot of improvements (esp the e-ink screen). So may be people may be back to paper books instead. And hopefully, the e-ink / e-paper technology can improve.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by bookmeal

Well, eReader is still kind of pricy and the quality control needs a lot of improvements (esp the e-ink screen). So may be people may be back to paper books instead. And hopefully, the e-ink / e-paper technology can improve.

Um....exactly what would you say is wrong? What quality problems?

I've owned half-a-dozen different eReaders and have yet to see any problems.

[pete_1967]

I've never given up paper books. I like the reader, especially the convenience of having hundreds of books at my disposal without needing extra storage space or adding weight to my pocket, but I still buy paper books as well.

[bookmeal]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Um....exactly what would you say is wrong? What quality problems?

I've owned half-a-dozen different eReaders and have yet to see any problems.

Please let me know the brand and model of that half-a-dozen eReaders that you own.

I would like to know which brand / model have a strong e-ink /e-paper screen.

Thank you

Yes, I found that device list (under you avatar) now. I know the PRS 505 is sony, and Kindle, they are both e-ink. Are Droid X and Xoom e-ink screen?

[Phogg]

Chariots are coming back.

Everyone really prefers horses.

Nothing beats a chariot.

[DuskyRose]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

I can understand the other reasons but expense?? Ebooks are not really cheaper (some are more) and buying a new ereader every couple years at $100+ a pop is going to ruin any savings you MAY get buying some ebooks.

A lot of ebooks are cheaper. Besides the Amazon Freebies, (of which there have been quite a few this last year that I've snagged, some weeks 30 or more), the Amazon lending feature, (which I've also borrowed quite a few) the 99 cent sales and the other sales under a $7 price tag that I'd compare to a new MMPB purchase, an ereader can actually pay for itself in savings.

(And then there's the Kindle with Special Offers. I'm paying off that with sales a bit at a time.)

Not to mention my thousands of fanfic stories I've collected over the years that convert to ePub with Calibre quite easily....

And then to check out MMPB prices at the Used book Stores. By me they're almost all up to $5 for a used copy of anything current. And a cheap credit at my on-line paperback swap site is still around $2.30 or so, which is still higher than some ebooks.

So, yeah, if you know where to look, and what you're interested in, ebooks can be quite a bit cheaper.

Originally Posted by bookmeal

Please let me know the brand and model of that half-a-dozen eReaders that you own.

I would like to know which brand / model have a strong e-ink /e-paper screen.

Thank you

I've had fours Sony's in all, Still have two, got a cheap Kobo when Borders had their local closing, got a Kindle and just yesterday got a Nook touch to play with. But I've had an e-ink screen since they first came out and haven't broken one yet.

And I know it can happen, so am careful with them, but it can also happen with my iPhone and my iPad. Or my ex-Palm Pilot, or my ex-Gemstar reader, or my ex-Ipaq, or any device I've ever had with a screen. (None of which died of breakage, knock-on-wood)

So I don't see eInk screens any different in that regard.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by bookmeal

Please let me know the brand and model of that half-a-dozen eReaders that you own.

I would like to know which brand / model have a strong e-ink /e-paper screen.

Thank you

Yes, I found that device list (under you avatar) now. I know the PRS 505 is sony, and Kindle, they are both e-ink. Are Droid X and Xoom e-ink screen?

I asked you first ....but several Sony's an Aztec?,kindle....the Droid and Xoom are both LCD...

[Nyssa]

This question makes me wonder...is there any consumer technology that was completely phased out for whatever came before it? There have been competitions where one of the newer things in question completely overshadowed or knocked out its opponent (ie. VHS vs Betamax), but I've never heard of consumers going in reverse.

[susan_cassidy]

Adjustable font sizes and portability mean that I will never go back to paper books. Not to mention ease of access to a wide variety of books. The local bookstores never had enough books in the genres that I was interested in.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

This question makes me wonder...is there any consumer technology that was completely phased out for whatever came before it? There have been competitions where one of the newer things in question completely overshadowed or knocked out its opponent (ie. VHS vs Betamax), but I've never heard of consumers going in reverse.

Yeah those round Edison cylinders for playing music.