Will e-book readers eventually go back to paper books? - Page 7

Skip Wyona · 09-19-2011, 08:39 AM

E-readers will not go away but neither will paper. E-readers are a perfect substitute for mass market paperbacks which is why mass market paperbacks have decreased in sales by over 15% over the past year. The e-reader will also help get authors out from under the thumb of publishers because authors can now easily self-publish. I also hope that e-readers will replace newspapers, magazines and other examples of disposable print. Disposable print resources, not permanent book resources are what e-readers are best for as a substitute paper saver and (hopefully) cost reducer to consumers.

luqmaninbmore · 09-19-2011, 08:54 AM

While totally going back to paper books is unlikely (barring an EMP), I have noticed that my reading habits swing back and forth like a pendulum between e and p. I'll go on a kick and read primarily ebooks and then go back to paper and vice versa. The rise in ebook prices to the point that frequently the hardback is cheaper has influenced this trend in my reading habits. It helps that I have accumulated a massive library of unread paper books (having good used book stores and frequent library sales makes it easy). I've recently put together a physical library with wall to wall shelving (thank you Borders!) in my basement, so I can see swinging back to paper books for a while. The main issue with E is that the long term durability of the electronic books you "own" is still unknown. For public domain books there is no question. For recent books, it remains to be seen how individual purchased books will endure. I don't think it is reasonable to judge these matters by the relatively small sample of committed enthusiasts we see on Mobileread. I doubt most members of the general public will be nearly as disciplined as us when it comes to de-drming and backing up our books to "future proof" them. And then comes the issue of long term archiving and upkeep to avoid the decay of the physical media. I have MMPBs from the 50's that are still perfectly serviceable. Will I (or my heirs) be able to access my Jim Butcher ebooks in 2061? How about my electronic collection of Fritz Leiber's works?

mldavis2 · 09-19-2011, 09:55 AM

Responses on this forum are, of course, skewed towards MobileReaders as would be expected. And, yes, given a choice of reading a book today, my personal preference is my eReader.

BUT, one of the "value added" features of pBooks that so many eBooks lack is portability among friends. This assumes DRM, of course, but most new releases of popular literature are DRM-crippled. Even today, one of my main sources of reading material comes from swapping books with non-family friends who are avid readers. I can break the law and remove the DRM, but that's illegal and I don't go there. So for those books I wish to share with others (and we usually predetermine who buys what to share), I'm stuck with pBooks for swapping. If and when the DRM is abandoned by publishers and authors, then it's no contest for all the reasons given above in this thread.

kennyc · 09-19-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

While totally going back to paper books is unlikely (barring an EMP),..

If there is an EMP that destroys ebook readers we're gonna have much bigger problems than what to read!

Tattncat · 09-19-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

You can't get the genie back in the bottle.

Ditto. Paper books are too inconvenient and take up too much room.

theducks · 09-19-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

I wonder how many people with ereaders actually use them?

The ones that don't probably bought the Cheap Model or forgot to research the availability/usefulness of the source material format they wished to read on that model.

theducks · 09-19-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

If there is an EMP that destroys ebook readers we're gonna have much bigger problems than what to read!

I was thinking EMP also.

Huge Solar flare wipes out e-readers.
All the info needed to rebuild technology was only available for viewing on electronic devices

kennyc · 09-19-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I was thinking EMP also.

Huge Solar flare wipes out e-readers.
All the info needed to rebuild technology was only available for viewing on electronic devices

The dangers of technological advance....there are many SF stories....

theducks · 09-19-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Rotary engines? Are they still used?

Yes! Wankel engines are used, just not for Automobiles.

They have very good HP to weight for portable applications, or constant speed use (Alternators, pumps).

Hellmark · 09-19-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Yes! Wankel engines are used, just not for Automobiles.

They have very good HP to weight for portable applications, or constant speed use (Alternators, pumps).

Mazda still uses Wankel rotary engines.

anamardoll · 09-19-2011, 12:02 PM

I'm going to be so sad when we go back to VHS and I have to rebuy everything I have in DVD and Blu-ray form.

Taylor514ce · 09-19-2011, 12:16 PM

I have largely abandoned e-books and gone back to paper.

For one, I travel much less than I did, so the convenience factor doesn't loom as large. I read mostly at home, and it's no problem to pick a book off the shelf.

Secondly, I was tired of fighting the battle of getting the specific title I wanted in e-book format.

Thirdly, I swap computers often, and hated the hassle of de-registering and re-registering computers / accounts (granted, this is only a problem with my particular Reader, the Sony PRS-505).

Lastly, partly in order to solve THAT problem, I'd need to get a Kindle and thus be locked into a vendor and pricing model I abhor.

In short, working with ebooks was just too much of a hassle for me. Nowadays, I'd rather just pick up a book or borrow one from a friend... no flicker, no format shifting, no DRM to remove, battery to charge, USB cable to relocate, etc.

Plus my local library is a very cool place and I often meet interesting people there.

kennyc · 09-19-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I have largely abandoned e-books and gone back to paper.

For one, I travel much less than I did, so the convenience factor doesn't loom as large. I read mostly at home, and it's no problem to pick a book off the shelf.

Secondly, I was tired of fighting the battle of getting the specific title I wanted in e-book format.

Thirdly, I swap computers often, and hated the hassle of de-registering and re-registering computers / accounts (granted, this is only a problem with my particular Reader, the Sony PRS-505).

Lastly, partly in order to solve THAT problem, I'd need to get a Kindle and thus be locked into a vendor and pricing model I abhor.

In short, working with ebooks was just too much of a hassle for me. Nowadays, I'd rather just pick up a book or borrow one from a friend... no flicker, no format shifting, no DRM to remove, battery to charge, USB cable to relocate, etc.

Plus my local library is a very cool place and I often meet interesting people there.

Interesting. Thanks for that post and analysis.

DMB · 09-19-2011, 12:49 PM

To those who worry about the durability of electronic media (and yes, it is a problem), I would point out that dt books don't always last all that well. University libraries have to invest a lot in conservation and it is not easy. The older books -- handwritten on vellum or printed on rag paper -- last better than those on many modern papers with high acid content.

I have had to throw away some paperbacks that I've had for 40 or 50 years because of severe deterioration of the paper.

cakefordinner · 09-19-2011, 01:12 PM

I have, and read, both. I love the feel of holding one in my hands, but most of my literary purchases/acquires are now in ebook format as I don't have room to have hard copies of everything. I have over 3,000 ebooks; only about 100 hard books. I love using my iPad/iPhone ebooks for when I'm out (traveling or just using public transportation).

For me, I don't want either version to go away.

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09-19-2011, 08:39 AM	#91
Skip Wyona Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 21188 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: none	E-readers will not go away but neither will paper. E-readers are a perfect substitute for mass market paperbacks which is why mass market paperbacks have decreased in sales by over 15% over the past year. The e-reader will also help get authors out from under the thumb of publishers because authors can now easily self-publish. I also hope that e-readers will replace newspapers, magazines and other examples of disposable print. Disposable print resources, not permanent book resources are what e-readers are best for as a substitute paper saver and (hopefully) cost reducer to consumers.

09-19-2011, 08:54 AM	#92
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	While totally going back to paper books is unlikely (barring an EMP), I have noticed that my reading habits swing back and forth like a pendulum between e and p. I'll go on a kick and read primarily ebooks and then go back to paper and vice versa. The rise in ebook prices to the point that frequently the hardback is cheaper has influenced this trend in my reading habits. It helps that I have accumulated a massive library of unread paper books (having good used book stores and frequent library sales makes it easy). I've recently put together a physical library with wall to wall shelving (thank you Borders!) in my basement, so I can see swinging back to paper books for a while. The main issue with E is that the long term durability of the electronic books you "own" is still unknown. For public domain books there is no question. For recent books, it remains to be seen how individual purchased books will endure. I don't think it is reasonable to judge these matters by the relatively small sample of committed enthusiasts we see on Mobileread. I doubt most members of the general public will be nearly as disciplined as us when it comes to de-drming and backing up our books to "future proof" them. And then comes the issue of long term archiving and upkeep to avoid the decay of the physical media. I have MMPBs from the 50's that are still perfectly serviceable. Will I (or my heirs) be able to access my Jim Butcher ebooks in 2061? How about my electronic collection of Fritz Leiber's works?

09-19-2011, 09:55 AM	#93
mldavis2 Coffee Nut Posts: 410 Karma: 298350 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre	Responses on this forum are, of course, skewed towards MobileReaders as would be expected. And, yes, given a choice of reading a book today, my personal preference is my eReader. BUT, one of the "value added" features of pBooks that so many eBooks lack is portability among friends. This assumes DRM, of course, but most new releases of popular literature are DRM-crippled. Even today, one of my main sources of reading material comes from swapping books with non-family friends who are avid readers. I can break the law and remove the DRM, but that's illegal and I don't go there. So for those books I wish to share with others (and we usually predetermine who buys what to share), I'm stuck with pBooks for swapping. If and when the DRM is abandoned by publishers and authors, then it's no contest for all the reasons given above in this thread.

09-19-2011, 12:02 PM	#101
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I'm going to be so sad when we go back to VHS and I have to rebuy everything I have in DVD and Blu-ray form.

09-19-2011, 12:16 PM	#102
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	I have largely abandoned e-books and gone back to paper. For one, I travel much less than I did, so the convenience factor doesn't loom as large. I read mostly at home, and it's no problem to pick a book off the shelf. Secondly, I was tired of fighting the battle of getting the specific title I wanted in e-book format. Thirdly, I swap computers often, and hated the hassle of de-registering and re-registering computers / accounts (granted, this is only a problem with my particular Reader, the Sony PRS-505). Lastly, partly in order to solve THAT problem, I'd need to get a Kindle and thus be locked into a vendor and pricing model I abhor. In short, working with ebooks was just too much of a hassle for me. Nowadays, I'd rather just pick up a book or borrow one from a friend... no flicker, no format shifting, no DRM to remove, battery to charge, USB cable to relocate, etc. Plus my local library is a very cool place and I often meet interesting people there.

09-19-2011, 12:49 PM	#104
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	To those who worry about the durability of electronic media (and yes, it is a problem), I would point out that dt books don't always last all that well. University libraries have to invest a lot in conservation and it is not easy. The older books -- handwritten on vellum or printed on rag paper -- last better than those on many modern papers with high acid content. I have had to throw away some paperbacks that I've had for 40 or 50 years because of severe deterioration of the paper.

09-19-2011, 01:12 PM	#105
cakefordinner Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: US Device: iPad and iPhone 4	I have, and read, both. I love the feel of holding one in my hands, but most of my literary purchases/acquires are now in ebook format as I don't have room to have hard copies of everything. I have over 3,000 ebooks; only about 100 hard books. I love using my iPad/iPhone ebooks for when I'm out (traveling or just using public transportation). For me, I don't want either version to go away.