Future Of Paperbooks

Nathan Campos · 12-25-2009, 05:35 PM

As I'm just wondered with my Kindle DX that I got since 3 days. I'm going to start a discussion about the future of the paperbooks.

Since the eBooks have arrived and just got more and more popular, I think that the paperbooks will end. With this, we are going to be more ecological, because we aren't going to produce tons and tons of paper for books.

The eBooks are very nice too because they make people read more, because they are more accessible, in terms of price and in terms of way to get, because you don't need to get in a library, you just enter at the Amazon site or other eBook selling/downloading site and got it, also you can preview the book before buy or download it for free(in case of free books).

With more persons been accessible to books, we are going to have more active readers and much more people with a good cultural base and a very nice level of interpretation and creativity.

In my opinion, the eBooks are the best thing on earth after the creation of the computers and can only add more good things for our readers and future readers.

Merry Christmas and Happy Reading!

kenm · 12-25-2009, 06:04 PM

I don't think paper books are going to go away anytime soon. I do think that eBooks are going to become more and more popular as time goes by. The reason I think this is that for me personally I enjoy reading for entertainment on my ereader, but I really don't like reading technical manuals on anything other than paper. Anything with detailed drawings or charts are hard for me to see on my ereader. Now I do have to point out that I haven't used anything large format like the the DX, so my opinion may change if I get the opportunity to use one.

mores · 12-25-2009, 06:07 PM

Well ... of course you are right. It's just that people don't see it that way.
Show people your kindle and you'll have to fight against the "feeling" and "smell" and "soul" of paper books, against poor going-out-of-business bookstores, against any-idiot-can-write-an-ebook and "people don't read anymore" arguments.

Don't worry ... the future is unstoppable. Resistance is futile ... ebooks will assimilate us all

Merry Christmas

ficbot · 12-25-2009, 06:15 PM

I posted the other day about this and linked to an article I wrote for Teleread on this very topic. I think the article is worth a read because I elaborate a lot on future business models for publishers and how I see the customer experience evolving. But basically, I think it's a mistake to say 'books' as you did and lump everything in together, because there are some types of books which will remain paper, some which will likely not, and it depends on function and use. I may buy a paperback for someone as a gift and buy the ebook for myself. It is not an either/or proposition. But as I explain (among other things) in the article, I think that from the standpoint of retail shelf space, we'll see it given over entirely to children's books, cookbooks, art books and anything not suitable for a paperback-sized screen---plus a print on demand machine for those buying gifts or who prefer paper copies. Anything which is primarily words and does not require pictures, tables and fancy layouts (such as fiction) will either be purchased in ebook or via print on demand machines.

Nathan Campos · 12-25-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenm

I don't think paper books are going to go away anytime soon. I do think that eBooks are going to become more and more popular as time goes by. The reason I think this is that for me personally I enjoy reading for entertainment on my ereader, but I really don't like reading technical manuals on anything other than paper. Anything with detailed drawings or charts are hard for me to see on my ereader. Now I do have to point out that I haven't used anything large format like the the DX, so my opinion may change if I get the opportunity to use one.

Remember that eBooks are very nice for people and they help people to read more, because the are very better accessible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mores

Well ... of course you are right. It's just that people don't see it that way.
Show people your kindle and you'll have to fight against the "feeling" and "smell" and "soul" of paper books, against poor going-out-of-business bookstores, against any-idiot-can-write-an-ebook and "people don't read anymore" arguments.

Don't worry ... the future is unstoppable. Resistance is futile ... ebooks will assimilate us all

Merry Christmas

Very good words!

Any idiot can write an eBook, but you can filter your books and searches, to get only the best titles

Also, this is good because make people write more and you can have the chance to interact with new autors

Bob T · 12-25-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan Campos

Remember that eBooks are very nice for people and they help people to read more, because the are very better accessible.

Is that really true though?

Some things have to change before that is true in my mind.

This whole DRM thing needs to be fixed...
If I buy a paper book it's mine, to read anywhere I want...to keep, sell or give away....that is a very important thing missing from ebooks at the moment.
In my family we pass books around, we share, we read and then give the books away...until we can do that with ebooks, (not copy and share, but read and pass on), they will not take over.
I am not going to give my 14 year old nephew my Sony reader...but I will give him a book I finished.

My daughter got Under the Dome for Christmas yesterday...a paper book...
I know at least 6 or 7 people in my family will read that copy over the next year for the $20 it cost.
I bought the ebook version for myself for $10...and I will be the only one to read it.
So which is the better value?

I love my reader...but we have a long way to go before paper goes away...

Just my $0.02

Bob

Nathan Campos · 12-25-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ficbot

I posted the other day about this and linked to an article I wrote for Teleread on this very topic. I think the article is worth a read because I elaborate a lot on future business models for publishers and how I see the customer experience evolving. But basically, I think it's a mistake to say 'books' as you did and lump everything in together, because there are some types of books which will remain paper, some which will likely not, and it depends on function and use. I may buy a paperback for someone as a gift and buy the ebook for myself. It is not an either/or proposition. But as I explain (among other things) in the article, I think that from the standpoint of retail shelf space, we'll see it given over entirely to children's books, cookbooks, art books and anything not suitable for a paperback-sized screen---plus a print on demand machine for those buying gifts or who prefer paper copies. Anything which is primarily words and does not require pictures, tables and fancy layouts (such as fiction) will either be purchased in ebook or via print on demand machines.

Humm, I've liked very much your article.

Merry Christmas!

Nathan Campos · 12-25-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob T

Is that really true though?

Some things have to change before that is true in my mind.

This whole DRM thing needs to be fixed...
If I buy a paper book it's mine, to read anywhere I want...to keep, sell or give away....that is a very important thing missing from ebooks at the moment.
In my family we pass books around, we share, we read and then give the books away...until we can do that with ebooks, (not copy and share, but read and pass on), they will not take over.
I am not going to give my 14 year old nephew my Sony reader...but I will give him a book I finished.

My daughter got Under the Dome for Christmas yesterday...a paper book...
I know at least 6 or 7 people in my family will read that copy over the next year for the $20 it cost.
I bought the ebook version for myself for $10...and I will be the only one to read it.
So which is the better value?

I love my reader...but we have a long way to go before paper goes away...

Just my $0.02

Bob

Think what you want

It's a very personal thing, there are some classical persons that like to read paperbooks.

I have many paperbooks on my home too, but now I just read all on my Kindle

Bremen Cole · 12-25-2009, 07:40 PM

Technology changes. When cars first came along most though they could never replace a real horse and buggy. Printing with ink and paper is a hundreds of years old technology, its time to move on. It will be slow, but will happen. I have not bought a paper book in over 7 years. Same with CD's and DVD's and such, digital delivery is changing everything. I remember and used records, 8 tracks, cassette, and CD. Thank God I live long enough to enjoy mp3's and an iPod. I carry hundreds of full albums with me. And for years I have carried several ebooks with me as well. I think the new is so much more convenient and easier to use.

50 years from now it will an an extremely small minority that use paper reading material. Just like today there are a few groups (Amish...etc) that hang on to horse and buggys. Change takes time, but it will happen.

Nathan Campos · 12-25-2009, 08:11 PM

Very nice words. Congratulations!

I've liked very much your comparison, pricipally because you have already seen this changes.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!

David Derrico · 12-25-2009, 08:36 PM

I think the two can definitely co-exist. For many, it's a matter of personal preference. Some people will always prefer paper books (for whatever reasons), while many of us prefer the convenience of eBooks and will never go back. But I think it's clear that the market for eBooks will continue to increase, especially as the technology improves and eBook readers get better and better for lower cost.

We also have to remember that there are many places on Earth that have never seen a smartphone or computer, let alone an eBook reader, and that $259 is a month's (or more) pay in some parts of the world. Computers and wireless access seem ubiquitous in many parts of the world, but are not everywhere. Paper books don't require computers or credit cards or electricity or wireless access.

Additionally, some people will always prefer to give paper books as gifts. There is something different about unwrapping a paperback under the tree, as opposed to getting an Amazon gift card or a card that says "A book has been wirelessly delivered to your e-reader."

Finally, the format wars and hassles and restrictions and DRM currently plaguing the eBook industry will turn many people off until they are straightened out. Hopefully, publishers and retailers will soon settle on a single format that can be transferred to multiple devices, and will either remove DRM or will allow sharing and gifting and re-selling that people can still do with paper books.

Nathan Campos · 12-25-2009, 08:57 PM

I agree, because as Bremen Cole said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

50 years from now it will an an extremely small minority that use paper reading material. Just like today there are a few groups (Amish...etc) that hang on to horse and buggys.

We have groups that like to use old technologys, like me that have a Palm M, because I like old Palm OSs and the samething for my Apple Newton that I've buyed since 2 months

lene1949 · 12-26-2009, 01:28 AM

I think the people using e-readers are less than 1%.. Not counting the developing countries...

Maybe there are some stats on this...

I know about 100 people, and I'm the only one reading on an electronic device. When I went to Denmark last July, I found no one I knew, using one.

Marcy · 12-26-2009, 01:52 AM

Books will never die out. They are different from music, because you don't need a device to use them. New music technology has almost 100% acceptance, because the old music still needed technology and the old equipment is obsolete and near impossible to obtain. I still have a couple of 8-tracks from my childhood, but my parents' 8-track player died so I don't have any way to play them any more, and no way to lay my hands on a new 8-track player.

However books will never be obsolete. All you need to read a book is a book. Pbooks only come in a single format that can be used by everyone. You don't have to shell out a couple hundred bucks for a device to read them on. You can easily lend them to friends and sell used ones to other people.

Pbooks are also more durable. Throw two people on a deserted isle, one with 10 pbooks and one with a reader and 1000 ebooks on it. For the first couple of weeks the reader guy has a lot more books to read. Then his battery dies and he has nothing. The 10 book guy still has his 10 books and if he takes care of them, will have them for life. I ran into this today, when my PRS-600 had some sort of glitch that I was finally able to fix. It made me realize I really want to have a backup reader -- one problem with my device and all my books become inaccessible. The only glitch I ever had with a pback was forgetting where I left it.

-Marcy

eGeezer · 12-26-2009, 02:54 AM

Yeah, but the ereader person was smart and had packed a solar battery charger.

12-25-2009, 05:35 PM	#1
Nathan Campos Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 250000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brazil Device: Kindle DX & Kindle (2011)	Future Of Paperbooks As I'm just wondered with my Kindle DX that I got since 3 days. I'm going to start a discussion about the future of the paperbooks. Since the eBooks have arrived and just got more and more popular, I think that the paperbooks will end. With this, we are going to be more ecological, because we aren't going to produce tons and tons of paper for books. The eBooks are very nice too because they make people read more, because they are more accessible, in terms of price and in terms of way to get, because you don't need to get in a library, you just enter at the Amazon site or other eBook selling/downloading site and got it, also you can preview the book before buy or download it for free(in case of free books). With more persons been accessible to books, we are going to have more active readers and much more people with a good cultural base and a very nice level of interpretation and creativity. In my opinion, the eBooks are the best thing on earth after the creation of the computers and can only add more good things for our readers and future readers. Merry Christmas and Happy Reading!

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12-25-2009, 06:04 PM	#2
kenm Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 200 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Sony PRS-500, iPod Touch, Nook Color, Acer Iconia Tab A500	I don't think paper books are going to go away anytime soon. I do think that eBooks are going to become more and more popular as time goes by. The reason I think this is that for me personally I enjoy reading for entertainment on my ereader, but I really don't like reading technical manuals on anything other than paper. Anything with detailed drawings or charts are hard for me to see on my ereader. Now I do have to point out that I haven't used anything large format like the the DX, so my opinion may change if I get the opportunity to use one.

12-25-2009, 06:07 PM	#3
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	Well ... of course you are right. It's just that people don't see it that way. Show people your kindle and you'll have to fight against the "feeling" and "smell" and "soul" of paper books, against poor going-out-of-business bookstores, against any-idiot-can-write-an-ebook and "people don't read anymore" arguments. Don't worry ... the future is unstoppable. Resistance is futile ... ebooks will assimilate us all Merry Christmas

12-25-2009, 06:15 PM	#4
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	I posted the other day about this and linked to an article I wrote for Teleread on this very topic. I think the article is worth a read because I elaborate a lot on future business models for publishers and how I see the customer experience evolving. But basically, I think it's a mistake to say 'books' as you did and lump everything in together, because there are some types of books which will remain paper, some which will likely not, and it depends on function and use. I may buy a paperback for someone as a gift and buy the ebook for myself. It is not an either/or proposition. But as I explain (among other things) in the article, I think that from the standpoint of retail shelf space, we'll see it given over entirely to children's books, cookbooks, art books and anything not suitable for a paperback-sized screen---plus a print on demand machine for those buying gifts or who prefer paper copies. Anything which is primarily words and does not require pictures, tables and fancy layouts (such as fiction) will either be purchased in ebook or via print on demand machines.

12-25-2009, 07:40 PM	#9
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	Technology changes. When cars first came along most though they could never replace a real horse and buggy. Printing with ink and paper is a hundreds of years old technology, its time to move on. It will be slow, but will happen. I have not bought a paper book in over 7 years. Same with CD's and DVD's and such, digital delivery is changing everything. I remember and used records, 8 tracks, cassette, and CD. Thank God I live long enough to enjoy mp3's and an iPod. I carry hundreds of full albums with me. And for years I have carried several ebooks with me as well. I think the new is so much more convenient and easier to use. 50 years from now it will an an extremely small minority that use paper reading material. Just like today there are a few groups (Amish...etc) that hang on to horse and buggys. Change takes time, but it will happen.

12-25-2009, 08:11 PM	#10
Nathan Campos Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 250000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brazil Device: Kindle DX & Kindle (2011)	Very nice words. Congratulations! I've liked very much your comparison, pricipally because you have already seen this changes. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

12-25-2009, 08:36 PM	#11
David Derrico Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 510132 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Florida Device: Kindle 3 & Kobo Wireless	I think the two can definitely co-exist. For many, it's a matter of personal preference. Some people will always prefer paper books (for whatever reasons), while many of us prefer the convenience of eBooks and will never go back. But I think it's clear that the market for eBooks will continue to increase, especially as the technology improves and eBook readers get better and better for lower cost. We also have to remember that there are many places on Earth that have never seen a smartphone or computer, let alone an eBook reader, and that $259 is a month's (or more) pay in some parts of the world. Computers and wireless access seem ubiquitous in many parts of the world, but are not everywhere. Paper books don't require computers or credit cards or electricity or wireless access. Additionally, some people will always prefer to give paper books as gifts. There is something different about unwrapping a paperback under the tree, as opposed to getting an Amazon gift card or a card that says "A book has been wirelessly delivered to your e-reader." Finally, the format wars and hassles and restrictions and DRM currently plaguing the eBook industry will turn many people off until they are straightened out. Hopefully, publishers and retailers will soon settle on a single format that can be transferred to multiple devices, and will either remove DRM or will allow sharing and gifting and re-selling that people can still do with paper books.

12-26-2009, 01:28 AM	#13
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	I think the people using e-readers are less than 1%.. Not counting the developing countries... Maybe there are some stats on this... I know about 100 people, and I'm the only one reading on an electronic device. When I went to Denmark last July, I found no one I knew, using one.

12-26-2009, 01:52 AM	#14
Marcy Guru Posts: 897 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	Books will never die out. They are different from music, because you don't need a device to use them. New music technology has almost 100% acceptance, because the old music still needed technology and the old equipment is obsolete and near impossible to obtain. I still have a couple of 8-tracks from my childhood, but my parents' 8-track player died so I don't have any way to play them any more, and no way to lay my hands on a new 8-track player. However books will never be obsolete. All you need to read a book is a book. Pbooks only come in a single format that can be used by everyone. You don't have to shell out a couple hundred bucks for a device to read them on. You can easily lend them to friends and sell used ones to other people. Pbooks are also more durable. Throw two people on a deserted isle, one with 10 pbooks and one with a reader and 1000 ebooks on it. For the first couple of weeks the reader guy has a lot more books to read. Then his battery dies and he has nothing. The 10 book guy still has his 10 books and if he takes care of them, will have them for life. I ran into this today, when my PRS-600 had some sort of glitch that I was finally able to fix. It made me realize I really want to have a backup reader -- one problem with my device and all my books become inaccessible. The only glitch I ever had with a pback was forgetting where I left it. -Marcy

12-26-2009, 02:54 AM	#15
eGeezer NE1 seen my glasses? Posts: 396 Karma: 4864 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Nook Glowlight (following previous nook STR and STR w/GL)	Yeah, but the ereader person was smart and had packed a solar battery charger.

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