Are eBooks the end of *physical* books?

[youbuntu]

eBooks; the most convenient way to read a "book", sans the inconvenience(?) of having to buy the physical paper book, right? What could be more convenient than clicking "buy now", and having the book appear on your Swindle?

Think about it a little deeper - here are the downsides to eBooks:

1/ You don't "own" anything - that is a lie. You are authorised to view a digital representation of a book, which aspires to replace paper books... hmmm.

2/ The "book" you "bought" (supposedly) is not yours to lend to a friend. Have you tried lending an eBook to someone? How do you plan to go about doing so? You would have to lend them the very means of reading ANY eBook - analogous to having to lend someone your eyes too, when you lend them a physical, paper book. You would also have to lend your ENTIRE book collection to that friend as well. Even if you could lend the friend the eBook by some kind of virtual "lending" (like "gifting") of the eBook, your friend then has to have a compatible device to read it on :-/

3/ What resale value do you think your eBook will have, 20 years from now? How do you plan on selling your rare book to a specialist bookshop (if they will even exist then... joking!).

4/ Want to buy an eBook anonymously, for cash? Yeah? I wish you all the best with that.

5/ You can't smash a physical book - it doesn't have a screen. Even if it falls apart, you can still read it. It also doesn't have a battery life, and cannot corrupt (unless it is torn, but you could then repair it with tape).

6/ You can't have a paper book remotely deleted by the vendor, as Amazon did with "1984" by George Orwell (ironic, much?). Do you like the idea of the bookshop peering through your shelves, and then removing the ones they wish they had not sold you?

7/ How long will your swindle last in a rain storm? Paper dries out - it may be a little crinkly, but you could likely still read it.

eBooks; convenience at what cost? The world has gone mad. (Where do the benfits of eBooks outweigh the benefits of a simple, cheap medium that has been around almost forever?)

[jennybrew]

No

[youbuntu]

No

:D:D:D Hooray!

[oldsoundguy]

No

+1

Annotating what you are reading becomes difficult on a screen. I use hi-liters a LOT on reference material.

[Rasa1111]

Eventually, eink screens will surely "kill" paper/physical books.

I was always "against" e-readers myself..
but the nook was awesome enough to tempt me into it..
and Im glad I did! lol

I wanted nothing to do with amazon/kindle, for many reasons..
including what you mentioned.

and I research for months, before deciding that NOOK was the creme of teh crop. lol

When I got my nook (xmas time), I had no intention of actually buying books for it. and nook is awesome for that, because you can load any ebook from anywhere onto it.

I have a massive collection of ebooks/pdfs/epubs, and it would seriously take me years to read all i have (like 4,000 some last i checked)..
and I am able to load any of them on my nook at any time.

I already have more books in my nook than I do on my physical bookshelf that ive been filling for the past 10-15 years. lol

its really an amazing device..
and I honestly dont miss paper books at all.

much cooler devices than I ever gave them credit for. lol

I love the fact I can go anywhere, and be able to choose from literally.. and entire library of books to read.

Nook has far exceeded my expectations, and my presumptions. :D <3

You do bring up good points though, for sure.

There are also methods for being able to share any ebooks you buy with anyone..
Which I would most certainly do, if I ever have to/decide to buy them. lol

The " e book industry" itself has quite a ways to evolve,
but all in all I think its a good thing.

[slackthumbz]

No

This.

[youbuntu]

eBooks are supposedly an example of evolving technology... realllllllly... :roll:


Eventually, eink screens will surely "kill" paper/physical books.

I was always "against" e-readers myself..
but the nook was awesome enough to tempt me into it..
and Im glad I did! lol

I wanted nothing to do with amazon/kindle, for many reasons..
including what you mentioned.

and I research for months, before deciding that NOOK was the creme of teh crop. lol

When I got my nook (xmas time), I had no intention of actually buying books for it. and nook is awesome for that, because you can load any ebook from anywhere onto it.

I have a massive collection of ebooks/pdfs/epubs, and it would seriously take me years to read all i have (like 4,000 some last i checked)..
and I am able to load any of them on my nook at any time.

I already have more books in my nook than I do on my physical bookshelf that ive been filling for the past 10-15 years. lol

its really an amazing device..
and I honestly dont miss paper books at all.

much cooler devices than I ever gave them credit for. lol

I love the fact I can go anywhere, and be able to choose from literally.. and entire library of books to read.

Nook has far exceeded my expectations, and my presumptions. :grin: <3

You do bring up good points though, for sure.

There are also methods for being able to share any ebooks you buy with anyone..
Which I would most certainly do, if I ever have to/decide to buy them. lol

The " e book industry" itself has quite a ways to evolve,
but all in all I think its a good thing.

You sure seem impressed :) - maybe you've got carried away with the "cool" factor (is a book supposed to be "cool"? Is that even the point) iPod touch is pretty "cool" for the first week or so, and then gets pretty meh-worthy.

Okay - you say you can share an eBook with ANYONE? Right - I don't have an eBook swindle or crook, but I want to read one now - share one with me please...

[handy]

No, but there will be probably end up being less books printed as more people become used to reading on their various sized screens.

Which is a good thing for the environment, especially when the growing population pressures are taken into consideration.

Our site has a project recently started that is assembling, converting, tidying up & presenting a growing collection of public domain eBooks.

See my signature if you are interested?

[usagiakumu]

No, but there will be probably end up being less books printed as more people become used to reading on their various sized screens.

Which is a good thing for the environment, especially when the growing population pressures are taken into consideration.

Our site has a project recently started that is assembling, converting, tidying up & presenting a growing collection of public domain eBooks.

See my signature if you are interested?

I am sorry but e-waste is WAY worse for the environment with heavy metals and leaking acid from dead batteries than recycled paper... this made me lol just google "plastic island" for starters.

[youbuntu]

Okay, so Swindle and crook are nothing new now, they have been around ages. So if this technology is so flipping amazing, then why has it not taken the public by storm, instead of me knowing the odd one or two people who have one, and talk about it like it just got hand delivered by UFO, and treat it like a novelty?

You'd expect to see people with eBook readers almost everywhere, like you see people with laptops and mobile phones & iPods. Revolution? Meh. Whatever. Oh, hang on - that's right - Steve Jobs made eBooks better, and more accessible with iPad didn't he! :D - yeah, just go and spend £429 on an iPad, and read COLOUR eBooks! WooHoo!!! :-/


http://www.wastecycle.co.uk/SiteData/Root/Image/Recycling/Paper%20Bales.jpg

VS

http://www.cornerstonepcservices.com/ewaste.jpg

[usagiakumu]

Okay, so Swindle and crook are nothing new now, they have been around ages. So if this technology is so flipping amazing, then why has it not taken the public by storm, instead of me knowing the odd one or two people who have one, and talk about it like it just got hand delivered by UFO, and treat it like a novelty?

You'd expect to see people with eBook readers almost everywhere, like you see people with laptops and mobile phones & iPods. Revolution? Meh. Whatever.

95% of people are ignorant who don't read anyhow sans the select few.

[usagiakumu]

Okay, so Swindle and crook are nothing new now, they have been around ages. So if this technology is so flipping amazing, then why has it not taken the public by storm, instead of me knowing the odd one or two people who have one, and talk about it like it just got hand delivered by UFO, and treat it like a novelty?

You'd expect to see people with eBook readers almost everywhere, like you see people with laptops and mobile phones & iPods. Revolution? Meh. Whatever. Oh, hang on - that's right - Steve Jobs made eBooks better, and more accessible with iPad didn't he! :D - yeah, just go and spend £429 on an iPad, and read COLOUR eBooks! WooHoo!!! :-/


http://www.wastecycle.co.uk/SiteData/Root/Image/Recycling/Paper%20Bales.jpg

VS

http://www.cornerstonepcservices.com/ewaste.jpg

I love the picture of the kid with the "Hard Rock" 1980s T-Shirt XD priceless proof of my point, thanks.

[youbuntu]

95% of people are ignorant who don't read anyhow sans the select few.

The majority of the western world read, they just probably see no "benefit" in eBooks - well, please sell them to me if you can? Benefits? How?

Lol! :D

[ki4jgt]

No, they won't. I constantly visit places which do not have cell coverage, internet lines, phone lines, or power. If I have to rely on an ereader in those places, I fear my book reading days would come to an abrupt end.

[usagiakumu]

The majority of the western world read, they just probably see no "benefit" in eBooks - well, please sell them to me if you can? Benefits? How?

Lol! :D


I am not talking about street signs and short e-mails. I know some people who can't send an e-mail if their life depended on it simply because they are too lazy to read the screen "where is the send button?"

[handy]

I am sorry but e-waste is WAY worse for the environment with heavy metals and leaking acid from dead batteries than recycled paper... this made me lol just google "plastic island" for starters.

I won't argue with that. The only way it will stop is if we stop using this technology.

The young ones are being born into the mobile phone & computer information age.

I was born into the auto-mobile age; my parents were born into the what was still primarily a horse age.

We usually don't think about this stuff when we are a kid. It takes a while to dawn on us.


Okay, so Swindle and crook are nothing new now, they have been around ages. So if this technology is so flipping amazing, then why has it not taken the public by storm, instead of me knowing the odd one or two people who have one, and talk about it like it just got hand delivered by UFO, and treat it like a novelty?

You'd expect to see people with eBook readers almost everywhere, like you see people with laptops and mobile phones & iPods. Revolution? Meh. Whatever. Oh, hang on - that's right - Steve Jobs made eBooks better, and more accessible with iPad didn't he! :D - yeah, just go and spend £429 on an iPad, and read COLOUR eBooks! WooHoo!!! :-/


Nothing personal, but under these circumstances you sound like a hypocrite.

[youbuntu]

I am not talking about street signs and short e-mails. I know some people who can't send an e-mail if their life depended on it simply because they are too lazy to read the screen "where is the send button?"

I think I know them!

http://epguides.com/BeavisandButthead/cast.jpg
(http://epguides.com/BeavisandButthead/cast.jpg)

[sydbat]

I never expected Luddites to embrace the technology they hate in order to put it down.

Ironic, don't you think?

[youbuntu]

I never expected Luddites to embrace the technology they hate in order to put it down.

Ironic, don't you think?

I think the word "ironic" is massively over-used, in order to carry across a point on forums. How's that for ironic!

[usagiakumu]

Don't get me wrong I love the advancing technology, and I am not a conversationalist or a super tightwad environmental nut, however my concern is strickly and simply that it is directly effecting me. I can't walk down the street and not see trash, Verizon came to fix my DSL line and a piece of glass popped a tire on the man's bucket truck. I mean I am not so ignorant to simply throw trash on the ground, but it was from the recycle bin that was there, the people are so violent when picking up the glass, smashing it in the truck then leaving it. We can't even recycle properly, so what makes you think that one more piece of "must have" junk we wont use after the 1st recharge is a good idea. I like holding a book, I don't have to worry about falling asleep and wake up being impaled by a broken glass screen.

[youbuntu]

Don't get me wrong I love the advancing technology, and I am not a conversationalist or a super tightwad environmental nut, however my concern is strickly and simply that it is directly effecting me. I can't walk down the street and not see trash, Verizon came to fix my DSL line and a piece of glass popped a tire on the man's bucket truck. I mean I am not so ignorant to simply throw trash on the ground, but it was from the recycle bin that was there, the people are so violent when picking up the glass, smashing it in the truck then leaving it. We can't even recycle properly, so what makes you think that one more piece of "must have" junk we wont use after the 1st recharge is a good idea. I like holding a book, I don't have to worry about falling asleep and wake up being impaled by a broken glass screen.
Very valid points.

[tgm4883]

I like the fact I can purchase a book anywhere I am at and read it on any device I happen to have with me. That I can carry multiple books around with me at a time (thousands even) and not feel that weight on my shoulders is great. I just with they had ebook textbooks when I was in college, as those books got pretty heavy during the end of the day.

When I do purchase an ebook reader (I currently use my evo and computer to read ebooks), it will be a nook, as it isn't as locked down as the kindle. (BTW it's kindle, not swindle, and nook, not crook. For something that pretends they are so higher than thou you should learn to spell :) ). Paper books will continue to exist, as there will always be a market for them (there is still a market for the home phone).

[youbuntu]

I like the fact I can purchase a book anywhere I am at and read it on any device I happen to have with me. That I can carry multiple books around with me at a time (thousands even) and not feel that weight on my shoulders is great. I just with they had ebook textbooks when I was in college, as those books got pretty heavy during the end of the day.

When I do purchase an ebook reader (I currently use my evo and computer to read ebooks), it will be a nook, as it isn't as locked down as the kindle. (BTW it's kindle, not swindle, and nook, not crook. For something that pretends they are so higher than thou you should learn to spell :) ). Paper books will continue to exist, as there will always be a market for them (there is still a market for the home phone).

Gosh, you mean I spelt them wrong? Thanks for pointing that out :lol:

SomeTHING? I'm a thing? :-/

You tell me that I think I am holier than thou, and yet proceed to correct my personal choice of renamed words (do you think I am so stupid to have mis-spelled BOTH words?)

ROFLCOPTER! thanks for helping me spell - I've taken a nice photograph of you, and you may purchase a signed print for $1 on your way out:

http://steveffisher.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/sas1.jpg

[Copper Bezel]

Home phone nothing - it's the same reason there's still a place for lithographs.

I have the Kindle app on my netbook (which has a portrait mode, so it's like iPad with a bit of computer sticking out) and I've bought exactly one short story. They're absurdly expensive for what they claim to be, and never mind for what they actually are. I do more reading (online or in .pdf) on my netbook than I do on paper, though.

I did have a moment of horror the first time I realized I'd really rather have a (particular) book on my netbook than carry it about, though. It was a hardback, so it took up more space in my bag than the computer did. (In the same sense that I sometimes think Ctrl+Z when I make a mistake writing freehand, I briefly pictured dropping the book into a file folder.)

[tgm4883]

Gosh, you mean I spelt them wrong? Thanks for pointing that out :lol:

SomeTHING? I'm a thing? :-/

You tell me that I think I am holier than thou, and yet proceed to correct my personal choice of renamed words (do you think I am so stupid to have mis-spelled BOTH words?)

ROFLCOPTER! thanks for helping me spell - I've taken a nice photograph of you, and you may purchase a signed print for $1 on your way out:

<SNIP IMAGE>

Oh I know you did that on purpose, I was just pointing out that it doesn't make you as cool as you think it does.

[youbuntu]

Oh I know you did that on purpose, I was just pointing out that it doesn't make you as cool as you think it does.

Don't you think I am cool, then? How cool do I think I am?

:sad:

Thanks for spoiling my illusions!

Hang on - how about now?
http://images.sugarscape.com/userfiles/image/editors/sequin%20blazer/gold-jacket.jpg

[Rasa1111]

eBooks are supposedly an example of evolving technology... realllllllly... :roll:



You sure seem impressed :) - maybe you've got carried away with the "cool" factor (is a book supposed to be "cool"? Is that even the point) iPod touch is pretty "cool" for the first week or so, and then gets pretty meh-worthy.

Okay - you say you can share an eBook with ANYONE? Right - I don't have an eBook swindle or crook, but I want to read one now - share one with me please...

lol, No,
I havent gotten "carried away" with the "cool factor"
I could care less about what's "cool" and what's not.

I only use the word "cool" but how useful I find it, and by how great it works. lol

I dont know if books are supposed to be "cool"..
But I find them "cool", because I enjoy them and learn from them.

Not sure what you're going on about there..
and what this whole "cool" kick is, but you're barking up the wrong tree with that one . lol

Im not one for what's "cool and trendy", quite the opposite actually.

Yes, I can share an ebook with anybody.
Give me your email and I'd be happy to send you a book. lol
Or I could send you a "pile" of them at once. lol

Which you could then read on your computer, your android device, your phone, e-reader, whatever.

I may seem impressed..
but you seem surprised? lol

Anyway..
How cool am i now huh? :lolflag: lol

[youbuntu]

<snipItAll>
Eh? Ah - yeah - okay... "cool".

Thanks for the offer, but I can get eBooks too, just don't need them... or want them.

[tgm4883]

Don't you think I am cool, then? How cool do I think I am?

:sad:

Thanks for spoiling my illusions!

Hang on - how about now?
<SNIP image>

Judging by this thread, and some of your past threads, you obviously think you are better than anyone that disagrees with your point of view. I like ebooks as do other people in this thread. Is it going to replace paper books, not in the near future. Might it? Yea, if there ever isn't a market for paper books then they will die off.

Sheesh :roll:

/me goes to be more productive

[usagiakumu]

Gosh, you mean I spelt them wrong? Thanks for pointing that out :lol:

SomeTHING? I'm a thing? :-/

You tell me that I think I am holier than thou, and yet proceed to correct my personal choice of renamed words (do you think I am so stupid to have mis-spelled BOTH words?)

ROFLCOPTER! thanks for helping me spell - I've taken a nice photograph of you, and you may purchase a signed print for $1 on your way out:



ROFLCOPTER, what are you like 10 years old? This is the mentality I was talking about earlier. Quit reading toilet humour on the Internet and for the sake of God if not all of humanity please think before trolling. Think "this is a public place, would I act like this if there was a female/male I would most likely want to impress standing by? How would this effect my chances to win his/her affection?"

[youbuntu]

Judging by this thread, and some of your past threads, you obviously think you are better than anyone that disagrees with your point of view. I like ebooks as do other people in this thread. Is it going to replace paper books, not in the near future. Might it? Yea, if there ever isn't a market for paper books then they will die off.

Sheesh :roll:

/me goes to be more productive

Take it easy, no need to get all offended - I was lightening you up... and failed. Does it matter?


ROFLCOPTER, what are you like 10 years old? This is the mentality I was talking about earlier. Quit reading toilet humour on the Internet and for the sake of God if not all of humanity please think before trolling. Think "this is a public place, would I act like this if there was a female/male I would most likely want to impress standing by? How would this effect my chances to win his/her affection?"

Trolling? We Brits call it humour. Take it easy :D

What's wrong with "ROFLCOPTER" - did someone remove your sense of humour? Don't take it to heart - I wasn't trolling, just being as plainly ridiculous as the person who told me I had "mis-spelt" some words. Life isn't all about serious faces - I am a Christian mate, but I know how to laugh; it is a good quality to have in myself :)

Lmao

[Rasa1111]

Eh? Ah - yeah - okay... "cool".

Thanks for the offer, but I can get eBooks too, just don't need them... or want them.


Then don't play dumb and pretend like you do, just to be "funny" or "wise" or whatever it is you think you're doing.

Its quite childish and silly.
and your posts in this thread make me think of a child on the other end.

Seems rather ignorant .
But if that's what you embrace. enjoy!

You dont like ebooks? we get it, and still don't care.

Maybe time for your meds? lol

Ill waste my time elsewhere.
embrace your damage.

[youbuntu]

Then don't play dumb and pretend like you do, just to be "funny" or "wise" or whatever it is you think you're doing.

Its quite childish and silly.
and your posts in this thread make me think of a child on the other end.

Seems rather ignorant .
But if that's what you embrace. enjoy!

You dont like ebooks? we get it, and still don't care.

Maybe time for your meds? lol

Ill waste my time elsewhere.
embrace your damage.

Personal attacks? Psycho-analysis? How does a report grab you? I don't THINK I am "wise" - I am a happy person, and yeah - I'd act like this in front of ANYONE, because I am not pretetious, and am happy with who I am thanks. Why so serious? :lol:

Man, lighten up - noone got killed :)

[forrestcupp]

It doesn't really need to be this big of a deal. If you like ebooks, buy ebooks. If you like paper books, buy paper books. Just let everyone use what they want, and we'll all be happy. ;)

And it's probably wise to not forget how some of the other company bashing threads have turned out.

[Rasa1111]

lol, whatever.
do what you feel you must.
Im fine either way.

Peace

[youbuntu]

lol, whatever.
do what you feel you must.
Im fine either way.

Peace

Obviously you're not fine, or did you just make a needless fuss and get my back up for the sake of it? Wow, talk about ultimately ironic.

I aprreciate it, if you actually mean it, however. Maybe my humour is lost in translation?


It doesn't really need to be this big of a deal. If you like ebooks, buy ebooks. If you like paper books, buy paper books. Just let everyone use what they want, and we'll all be happy. :wink:

And it's probably wise to not forget how some of the other company bashing threads have turned out.

This is a debating thread, no companies have or will be bashed :)

[usagiakumu]

Personal attacks? Psycho-analysis? How does a report grab you? I don't THINK I am "wise" - I am a happy person, and yeah - I'd act like this in front of ANYONE, because I am not pretetious, and am happy with who I am thanks. Why so serious? :lol:

Man, lighten up - noone got killed :)

You remind me of me when I was younger. This mentality got me beaten up when I was like 15 or so and since then, IDK it might have rattled something loose in my brain. I am not pretentious (you spelled this word wrong) I learned to be down to earth and respectful of other people around me, there is a time and place for this humour, its kindergarten.

-Why take offence when you can take the gate, its over there please leave through it. <-- That is humour, ignorance is not funny, it is bohemianism mixed with laziness of thought.

[youbuntu]

You remind me of me when I was younger. This mentality got me beaten up when I was like 15 or so and since then, IDK it might have rattled something loose in my brain. I am not pretentious (you spelled this word wrong) I learned to be down to earth and respectful of other people around me, there is a time and place for this humour, its kindergarten.

Thanks for the judgement of my personality, great. I am a Christian, but I would *never* be so smug as to talk down to someone as you just did to me. How dare you. Reported.

[SEisch]

Regular books will still be around for a long time. There still are a lot of people who don't care for new technology. I like regular books just fine. I borrow them from the library all the time.

Not much of an Ereader can be reused at the end of its life. In contrast most of a book can be shredded and turned into pulp, then into another paper product. The downside of that is the chemicals used to strip all the ink and coloring from paper.

[overdrank]

Closed for review.

Any topic or discussion that causes problems or drama will be closed.
Thread closed.