Will e-book readers make your library obsolete? - Page 2

Sweetpea · 02-17-2009, 10:28 AM

We bought our current house with more than enough room to spare to create a lounge. So, that's where the library will go to. And it will stay, even though I do read ebooks.

Two hammocks, some couches, and books on all walls, that's what I have in mind....

MsAstoria · 02-17-2009, 10:34 AM

I agree with the general consensus here, E-readers are not the same as books. Books often have pictures which aren't in e-books and have a certain "sensual" value to them. They can also increase in value which e-books don't. You can't get the visual satisfaction from a e-book like from a "real" book, for example, an atlas with maps or reference materials with drawings.
On the other hand, you can't beat the convenience and portability of an e-reader! Mine goes everywhere with me and it's so cool to be able to download today's news stories or pick up where I left off last night in my thriller book, any time, anywhere.
So my vote is that both can co-exist and compliment each other quite nicely in my world. I just wish that e-readers were a more affordable for the masses. It takes a big chunk of change to buy one, yet like computers, I am sure they will eventually come down in price so everyone can have one. How great for a student to be able to have their textbooks on a reader! I think it will happen.

nelsonescorcio · 02-17-2009, 10:37 AM

None of us will miss the paper, because this will not happen in our lifetime.
But it will happen.

And if it is easy (and fashionable) to feel sorrow for it, it should also be "in" to adopt the green revolution. Yes, libraries are made of trees.

So stop crying. Be intelligent. Love your children.

Moejoe · 02-17-2009, 10:40 AM

I hope e-books take off in a way that I no longer need a bookshelf, and no longer have to do my yearly cull *shudders*. That's the worst part, picking and choosing which books to either get rid of, or put in storage because I'm running out of space. With e-books I never have to think about that awful process again.

There's a clip in an episode of Futurama where Fry looks in through the window of the Library of Congress. On a table there are two discs, one says Non-Fiction, the other Fiction. Maybe that's where we're heading?

seabadger · 02-17-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

"NO, e-books and paper books can co-exist beautifully"?

Absolutely. Some books are fine as e-books: 'read once' books, books where I might want to do a lot of searching (e.g., reference books), etc (though some of those are, arguably, better as web sites

. Others I want to physically have on my shelf, re-read periodically, and feel the aging paper under my fingertips. Plus, I get much more of a warm and fuzzy feeling from seeing a row of familiar book spines than from seeing a title list on the screen

Alexander Turcic · 02-17-2009, 10:49 AM

My bookshelf at home is still there - only now it's filled with different content. I don't collect any fiction paper books anymore (Sony Reader thank you), but I still collect non-fiction books in particular IT-related books that are not suitable for the small e-reader screen. Just last week I ordered four O'Reilly tech books in paper format and I didn't feel bad about it at all.

lomax · 02-17-2009, 10:52 AM

I carted around my "must keep" books with me for years, across oceans, in and out of multiple apartments, and finally to my current home, where they sat, protected yet untouched, in my attic, because I simply didn't have the space. Bit by bit, and box after box, I went through them all, thinking- have I really kept this old thing? I know I'll never read it again, and I have no place for coffee table books- my little ones would happily Crayola them over a few times before ripping them to pieces.

I sold them. Yes, just about all of them. the only ones I've kept are ones that I know I would never be able to find again, and the sheer "that's interesting" factor has saved them from a life in a second-hand bookstore. An example of this is a Bruce Lee instructional book with photos that is written in Persian-Farsi. You just don't really see those anymore.

Most of my daily reading is done with a Sony Reader, which will keep me more than occupied with Gutenberg and paid-texts alike. When I want something in particular that doesn't have an electronic cousin, I go to the library. Once read, I don't need to keep it, so off it goes again.

I like both, but don't realistically see myself buying books by the ton anymore, to plan on lining walls in my home.

DixieGal · 02-17-2009, 10:53 AM

I can't hardly wait to trash my pbooks! For over a year now, I've been planning on scanning and burning, but I haven't gotten around to getting a new scanner. My old flatbed isn't up to the challenge. AND is not compatible with Vista. AND the company no longer exists.

Maybe it's time for a new scanner.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-17-2009, 10:57 AM

Gawd, I hope so.

RWood · 02-17-2009, 10:57 AM

I have already cleared almost two 3' x 6' bookcases and many boxes of books from the basement. All replaced with electronic copies. Most of the books went to Walter Reed Hospital for the returning veterans and their families.

I did keep the first editions and the autographed copies (they were marked as somebody wrote in them.) Somehow, after about a week of enjoying uncluttered shelves, they seem to be filling again with reference books that are not suitable for the Sony Reader. Either they contain graphics that cannot be enjoyed on the small b+w screen or they require indexes to properly access them.

The clean-up, clean-out continues.

=X= · 02-17-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

Will e-readers make your library obsolete?
I'd say just the opposite. I now have a library of wonderful classics (thank you, Mobileread)

Touché, best comment in this forum.

It's hard for me to grasp why there is such an obsession with the media. For me it's all about the content, how accessible the content is and how fast I can consume it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsonescorcio

None of us will miss the paper, because this will not happen in our lifetime.

Not sure if I agree. I'm in agreement more with Bezos, paper will not go away just like horses have not gone away. There will always be a use for them, just not mainstream.

If you've followed the development of ePaper you can see they're striving to replicate paper and doing a great job of it today. In a few years they will come out with a low cost solution that will have color ePaper device. Embed a low power wireless protocol like zeebee and you will have all that is necessary to replace paper.
I think this will happen in about 10 years.

=X=

Wario · 02-17-2009, 11:01 AM

One of the main reason why I bought the ebook, so that I won't have to store any books any where.

Digital living, the way to go.

akira28 · 02-17-2009, 11:02 AM

e-Readers can (and should) replace temporary print media such as newspapers. However, they can not replace books (not including today's mass market, self destructing paperbacks), at least not for me. I would no sooner replace the books that I have with electronic versions than I would replace the paintings on my walls with LCD screens.

Remember:
"A room without books is like a body without a soul" (Cicero).

=X= · 02-17-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Gawd

What does that mean?

Curly · 02-17-2009, 11:16 AM

I have books in every room of the house and can't imagine not having pbooks around. Many are reference / non-fiction books, who am I kidding, I have tons of fiction books as well. Floor loading will become an issue if I don't stop buying books -- so the 505 will probably not only save a forest but also save me some expensive house repairs!

View Poll Results: Will e-readers make your library obsolete?
Yes, happily so. It's called progress.	178	60.14%
Yes, unfortunately. The trend is unavoidable.	23	7.77%
No, I'd always miss getting newsprint on my fingers.	95	32.09%
Voters: 296. You may not vote on this poll

02-17-2009, 10:40 AM	#19
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I hope e-books take off in a way that I no longer need a bookshelf, and no longer have to do my yearly cull shudders. That's the worst part, picking and choosing which books to either get rid of, or put in storage because I'm running out of space. With e-books I never have to think about that awful process again. There's a clip in an episode of Futurama where Fry looks in through the window of the Library of Congress. On a table there are two discs, one says Non-Fiction, the other Fiction. Maybe that's where we're heading? Last edited by Moejoe; 02-17-2009 at 10:42 AM.

02-17-2009, 11:02 AM	#28
akira28 Nameless Being	e-Readers can (and should) replace temporary print media such as newspapers. However, they can not replace books (not including today's mass market, self destructing paperbacks), at least not for me. I would no sooner replace the books that I have with electronic versions than I would replace the paintings on my walls with LCD screens. Remember: "A room without books is like a body without a soul" (Cicero). Last edited by akira28; 02-17-2009 at 11:17 AM.

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02-17-2009, 10:28 AM	#16
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	We bought our current house with more than enough room to spare to create a lounge. So, that's where the library will go to. And it will stay, even though I do read ebooks. Two hammocks, some couches, and books on all walls, that's what I have in mind....

02-17-2009, 10:34 AM	#17
MsAstoria Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 47344 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, Oregon, USA Device: Kindle Fire HDX, iPhone (yes, I read on my phone)	I agree with the general consensus here, E-readers are not the same as books. Books often have pictures which aren't in e-books and have a certain "sensual" value to them. They can also increase in value which e-books don't. You can't get the visual satisfaction from a e-book like from a "real" book, for example, an atlas with maps or reference materials with drawings. On the other hand, you can't beat the convenience and portability of an e-reader! Mine goes everywhere with me and it's so cool to be able to download today's news stories or pick up where I left off last night in my thriller book, any time, anywhere. So my vote is that both can co-exist and compliment each other quite nicely in my world. I just wish that e-readers were a more affordable for the masses. It takes a big chunk of change to buy one, yet like computers, I am sure they will eventually come down in price so everyone can have one. How great for a student to be able to have their textbooks on a reader! I think it will happen.

02-17-2009, 10:37 AM	#18
nelsonescorcio Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 102 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Portugal Device: Cybook Gen 3	None of us will miss the paper, because this will not happen in our lifetime. But it will happen. And if it is easy (and fashionable) to feel sorrow for it, it should also be "in" to adopt the green revolution. Yes, libraries are made of trees. So stop crying. Be intelligent. Love your children.

02-17-2009, 10:49 AM	#21
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	My bookshelf at home is still there - only now it's filled with different content. I don't collect any fiction paper books anymore (Sony Reader thank you), but I still collect non-fiction books in particular IT-related books that are not suitable for the small e-reader screen. Just last week I ordered four O'Reilly tech books in paper format and I didn't feel bad about it at all.

02-17-2009, 10:52 AM	#22
lomax Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	I carted around my "must keep" books with me for years, across oceans, in and out of multiple apartments, and finally to my current home, where they sat, protected yet untouched, in my attic, because I simply didn't have the space. Bit by bit, and box after box, I went through them all, thinking- have I really kept this old thing? I know I'll never read it again, and I have no place for coffee table books- my little ones would happily Crayola them over a few times before ripping them to pieces. I sold them. Yes, just about all of them. the only ones I've kept are ones that I know I would never be able to find again, and the sheer "that's interesting" factor has saved them from a life in a second-hand bookstore. An example of this is a Bruce Lee instructional book with photos that is written in Persian-Farsi. You just don't really see those anymore. Most of my daily reading is done with a Sony Reader, which will keep me more than occupied with Gutenberg and paid-texts alike. When I want something in particular that doesn't have an electronic cousin, I go to the library. Once read, I don't need to keep it, so off it goes again. I like both, but don't realistically see myself buying books by the ton anymore, to plan on lining walls in my home.

02-17-2009, 10:53 AM	#23
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I can't hardly wait to trash my pbooks! For over a year now, I've been planning on scanning and burning, but I haven't gotten around to getting a new scanner. My old flatbed isn't up to the challenge. AND is not compatible with Vista. AND the company no longer exists. Maybe it's time for a new scanner.

02-17-2009, 10:57 AM	#24
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Gawd, I hope so.

02-17-2009, 10:57 AM	#25
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	I have already cleared almost two 3' x 6' bookcases and many boxes of books from the basement. All replaced with electronic copies. Most of the books went to Walter Reed Hospital for the returning veterans and their families. I did keep the first editions and the autographed copies (they were marked as somebody wrote in them.) Somehow, after about a week of enjoying uncluttered shelves, they seem to be filling again with reference books that are not suitable for the Sony Reader. Either they contain graphics that cannot be enjoyed on the small b+w screen or they require indexes to properly access them. The clean-up, clean-out continues.

02-17-2009, 11:01 AM	#27
Wario Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 11 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505	One of the main reason why I bought the ebook, so that I won't have to store any books any where. Digital living, the way to go.

02-17-2009, 11:16 AM	#30
Curly I need a holiday! Posts: 1,227 Karma: 4622 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Device: PRS-505, ipod touch	I have books in every room of the house and can't imagine not having pbooks around. Many are reference / non-fiction books, who am I kidding, I have tons of fiction books as well. Floor loading will become an issue if I don't stop buying books -- so the 505 will probably not only save a forest but also save me some expensive house repairs!