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That's exactly right. Aemon Send a noteboard - 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
As you rightly point out, ebooks cost less. They're also instantly available from (almost) any part of modern civilization. Hundreds of thousands of them can be carried on something the size of a thumbnail. Their text can be reformatted to suit individual preference. They can be easily backed up, and are not subject to physical damage or the ravages of time. They can be searched for specific passages. They're easy on the environment.

In short, the cost issue is just one advantage among many of ebooks over physical books, and I'm not sure why you feel that my argument was specious. Both products are available online, both have their advantages and disadvantages, and consumers are choosing ebooks. Why is that not evidence of the decline of physical books? It is not (in itself) evidence that ebooks are a superior product, as consumers may prefer physical books and just not want to pay more for them, but it's definitely evidence of medium decline.

Am I missing something? I'm not trying to be argumentative.
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Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books - 20/04/2011 03:18:34 PM 1542 Views
Excellent news! - 20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM 893 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure. - 20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM 971 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death." - 21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM 1187 Views
Re: I guess it depends on what you mean by "death." - 21/04/2011 05:40:28 PM 1044 Views
Re: I guess it depends on what you mean by "death." - 21/04/2011 06:04:16 PM 1357 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books. - 21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM 907 Views
That's exactly right. - 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM 1196 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument. - 21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM 1037 Views
I understand. - 21/04/2011 07:26:28 PM 1099 Views
Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy. - 20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM 967 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM* - 20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM 532 Views
Not so much. *NM* - 20/04/2011 07:39:17 PM 415 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books. - 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM 1217 Views
You are right, of course. But all the rationalizing in the world doesn't make me happy about it. - 21/04/2011 05:57:12 PM 948 Views
Yeah, I hear you. - 21/04/2011 06:16:24 PM 1156 Views
Considering you can print out an ebook, your argument is silly. - 21/04/2011 01:09:18 AM 893 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works... - 20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM 1058 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works... - 20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM 958 Views
What Ghavrel said, but... - 21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM 1111 Views
That's pretty cool then - 21/04/2011 06:25:03 AM 907 Views
Yes and no. - 21/04/2011 05:10:24 PM 1211 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad. - 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM 932 Views
Never heard of it. *NM* - 21/04/2011 01:08:00 AM 439 Views
It's an already existing library ebook service, and it's terrible. *NM* - 21/04/2011 02:19:25 AM 425 Views
What makes it terrible? *NM* - 21/04/2011 02:20:12 AM 401 Views
The selection is awful, the interface is awkward, and it requires bizarre DRM installations. - 21/04/2011 02:40:55 AM 967 Views
I'm not a fan of the interface, either. - 21/04/2011 03:08:53 AM 1042 Views
I agree. *NM* - 21/04/2011 01:35:12 AM 395 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears? - 22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM 960 Views
Better than it being written on the margins - 22/04/2011 05:27:12 AM 890 Views

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