Rambles and Shambles

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/10/201110128740171182.html

I’ve taken a passing interest in the “war” between the e-book industry and the publishing industry. I love my books - I love the feel of them, the smell of them, the old-school vibe about them. They just feel right. But then, my husband has a kindle, and I really like it. It’s cheaper, portable, easy to read, and you just can’t deny the convenience. Plus, with the whole no-paper thing, it’s pretty eco-friendly. 

I don’t think that print media will go away forever. We will always need “hard copies” of things. I also like reading graphic novels, and as it is now, the kindle is not big enough or colourful enough for them, or any other picture-based book, for that matter. To make the kindle bigger means making it heavier and less portable. I also hate touch screens and it seems that all the e-readers are moving towards that technology. Jon’s kindle has a keyboard - in my opinion it’s a necessary feature. You can’t replace a tactile button. 

You simply cannot deny the easiness and price of the e-reader, however. When books are far cheaper digitally you’re able to get more books and you’re able to read more books. This is something I wholeheartedly endorse. It could eventually lead to a world-wide rise in the amount of books being sold. Which is excellent. I also suspect that there are many people like my husband that buys hard copy books of the books he really loves, just to have them.  

Ultimately, I think both markets will eventually even out. 50% e-books, 50% print books. We’ll get the best of both worlds without bankrupting the other. That’s the most optimal solution, at any rate.