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.
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.
Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books
- 20/04/2011 03:18:34 PM
1923 Views
Excellent news!
- 20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM
1241 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure.
- 20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM
1316 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death."
- 21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM
1670 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM
1224 Views
That's exactly right.
- 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
1674 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument.
- 21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM
1354 Views
Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM
1312 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM
716 Views
Not so much. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 07:39:17 PM
593 Views
A bit too melodramatic? Another blow to the desirable dominance of physical books, then. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 10:24:20 PM
611 Views
No. I just don't think this spells the end of physical books at all.
- 21/04/2011 06:11:53 PM
1194 Views
Assuming you're right, that will still wreck the business of physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:47:45 PM
1646 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books.
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1724 Views
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1724 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
1292 Views
Re: Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:41:00 PM
1342 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM
1396 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM
1286 Views
You download them from the Internet using your library card as an ID. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 01:07:54 AM
738 Views
What Ghavrel said, but...
- 21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM
1485 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad.
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
1258 Views
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
1258 Views
Never heard of it. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 01:08:00 AM
627 Views
It's an already existing library ebook service, and it's terrible. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 02:19:25 AM
618 Views
What makes it terrible? *NM*
- 21/04/2011 02:20:12 AM
589 Views
The selection is awful, the interface is awkward, and it requires bizarre DRM installations.
- 21/04/2011 02:40:55 AM
1304 Views
To be fair, Overdrive's problems are software issues, and not inherent to the business model.
- 21/04/2011 05:23:54 PM
1564 Views
I definitely agree; I'm just irritated they're sticking with Overdrive. Ebook libraries make sense. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 07:14:38 PM
631 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears?
- 22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM
1263 Views
