Tablets, Ereaders Signaling the End of Physical Books?
As the abundance of smartphones and tablets continues to grow, the ebook industry grows along with it, pushing out the traditional paper-based book.
Earlier we reported that Amazon saw its best holiday season ever with its Kindle line, selling over 4 million units of the Kindle Fire tablet, the Kindle Touch and the updated barebones Kindle e-reader. The sale of Amazon's tablet points to consumers that want an affordable device that surfs the internet, plays movies, plays HD games and provides a means to read e-books. The latter two devices were ranked as #2 and #3 on Amazon's best-seller list, indicating that consumers may prefer reading an ebook rather than flipping through an old-school hardback.
The AFP has published an interesting article that paints the demise of the traditional paper-based book as consumers flock to electronic devices to flip through virtual pages. "It is only a matter of time before we stop killing trees and all publications become digital," Creative Strategies president and principal analyst Tim Bajarin told AFP on Thursday.
And he may be right -- many organizations are going "paperless," asking patrons to ditch the customary paper bill for one that can be sent via email. In 2011, digital books earned around $3.2 billion in revenue (possibly due to alleged price fixing). However by 2016, that amount is expected to triple to $9.7 billion thanks to the combined momentum of smartphones and tablets. Let's face it: it's easier to store a novel on a pocket-sized phone than cramming a 1,000-page Stephen King hardback or paperback under your arm.
So when will print be truly dead? Bajarin said it will be at least another decade. "For one thing, there is a generation of people above 45 who grew up with this reading format and for many this will remain the most comfortable way for them to consume content for quite a while," he said. "However, younger generations are already moving rapidly to digital representations of publications and, over time, they will be using e-books and tablets to consume all of their publications."
BISG deputy executive director Angela Bole claims that the ebook market is developing very fast, with consumer attitudes and behaviors changing over the course of months, rather than years. Currently most potential ebook readers are more concerned about the price of the actual reader itself than the virtual book. This is partially why Amazon and Barnes & Noble have released devices with low price points. As with other consumer devices, most of the revenue is generated through software.
But even when digital publishing begins to dominate the industry, there will be situations where hardbacks and paperbacks will still be preferred. For some, there's nothing like reading a hardback version of a Stephen King novel or one of Tolkien's Middle-earth masterpieces. Many simply like to collect, treasuring the printed artwork on the front and back, preserving the stiffness of their spines. But that may eventually fade as the new generation of readers grow older and the paper-bound readers pass on.
"I think it is a myth that [digital publishing] is going to kill the print book business," Weiner said. "Will it force publishers to think differently? Absolutely, but it doesn't spell the demise of print (book) publishing."
Unfortunately, newspapers are taking the brunt of the digital attack. These institutions spend a lot of money printing and distributing daily editions that can't be kept as fresh as stories on the Internet. Subscriptions numbers are dropping because consumers are flocking to websites for their fill of news instead of waiting for yesterday's stories to arrive torn or wet. Eventually most will be pushed to digital editions. Magazines, on the other hand, are currently trying to keep their footing while providing both digital and paper-based content.
"Magazines are still figuring it out," Weiner said. "I think they are in evolution."
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What is a book?
/s
and when the human race collapses (like all races do), future generations will have nothing but broken ipads
I will never spend money of a "virtual" book. I like paper. I demand to receive something for them to receive my money.
This "news" article title leaves me feeling trolled into reading it. I'll bite though because I'm bored today.
Tablets, Ereaders Signaling the End of Physical Books?
Answer
Not for me. You can't buy used e-books for used paper book prices.
Besides when civilization collapses in 2012, how will I read without power?
Retailers just aren't thinking progressively these days.
Not everyone has the money to buy e-readers.
Tablets, Ereaders Signaling the End of Physical Books?
No. Can't buy used ebooks at used book prices. Can't sell ebooks when finished with them. Can't check ebooks out for free at the local library
Living in a world as envisioned in "Mockingbird" by Walter Tevis. Hmm... I wonder if it is available for e-readers...
Maybe we will see a resurgence in finely-crafted leatherbound collector books? Low-volume, high profit is the last refuge of the physical book.
Tablets, Ereaders Signaling the End of Physical Books?No. Can't buy used ebooks at used book prices. Can't sell ebooks when finished with them. Can't check ebooks out for free at the local library
Actually you can check out ebooks at most libraries.
Everyone seems bent on not being able to resale or purchase used books, but I ask how many of you got a free edition of the entire works of Plato, Dickens, Verne, Poe like my wife did this year? At best you would still have to pay a buck or two for used copies of these free out of copyright e-books. Ereaders have some downfalls but I think the upside is well worth it. As far as some Apocalypse ending electricity and society as we know it with books being our only source of information, do you really think libraries will survive if power plants don't?
Tom's has a strange following some are hellbent on getting bleeding edge tech while others cling to keeping things the same. I like the feel of a book in my hands for reading, I also like my wife's e-reader tons of free books/games, acts as a MP3 player, and limited web connectivity no paperback does that for me.
Each has their place. I'm thinking more and more about getting an e-reader if only for the convenience, but I have no intention of abandoning tangible paper books.
What I'd really like is, for a nominal fee (e.g. $0.25-$0.50 per book) to be able to take all the actual books I already own somewhere and get the same book in an e-reader format.
I would consider getting an e-reader mainly since my allergies seem to get the better of me with newspapers and old paperback books. The irony is that I can only afford books through the library, book exchange, or thrift stores so I really can't afford an e-reader. I'll probably wait for a nice faux leather bound e-paper book.
Not everyone can concentrate reading on a tablet with the Angry birds ringing in their head "play me". Paper books are great, they don't need battery.
Maybe saving a few trees here and there will keep from this inevitable end of the world thingy, eh? BTW, if that day does come, there'll be plenty of paper books to loot anyways!!!
Bunch of reactionaries here
ahem...to address a few concerns:
1 - If civilization collapses, trust me. you will have far more pressing matters on your mind than your book of the month club.
2- E-readers will get cheaper and cheaper until in a few years they will almost give them away.
3 - You will be able to check e-books out of libraries. heck, you can now.
I wonder if people made a fuss about moving from engravings in stone and metal to paper? No! paper will never last! What if a civilization collapses? How will anyone ever know if everything burns or erodes!? We'll be doomed!
I'm sure paper will still be used for art and collecting, just like engravings. Some people think print books are nice and will collect them. However, printing is already too burdensome for daily news and periodicals. Top seller books and encyclopedias are following.
I wish I had a million bucks. I'd save bookstores if I did, and get even richer in the process. All it takes is an automated book printing and binding shop. If you want a paper book, just place your order via smartphone or internet connection and it goes into the shop and presto, a freshly printed book for you to read in an hour or less. All books will be printed in the same form factor and same paper. No hardback books. No color pictures.
No books to stock...except maybe a 5 copies each of the best seller list. everything else is made to order.
I will always prefer paper books. I find them easier to read, and more relaxing too.
No matter how flash and fancy these tablets get, paper will always be for me
Ridiculous, books will never die.
enuff said.
As long as there is a need to "plug in to charge said device" (even with solar power) there will always be a need for some form of physical media ( gonna be hard to charge your i-KindleFireDroid when it's dark outside ( leave alone a storm season or cloudy day.
Actually you can check out ebooks at most libraries. Everyone seems bent on not being able to resale or purchase used books, but I ask how many of you got a free edition of the entire works of Plato, Dickens, Verne, Poe like my wife did this year? At best you would still have to pay a buck or two for used copies of these free out of copyright e-books. Ereaders have some downfalls but I think the upside is well worth it. As far as some Apocalypse ending electricity and society as we know it with books being our only source of information, do you really think libraries will survive if power plants don't?Tom's has a strange following some are hellbent on getting bleeding edge tech while others cling to keeping things the same. I like the feel of a book in my hands for reading, I also like my wife's e-reader tons of free books/games, acts as a MP3 player, and limited web connectivity no paperback does that for me.
yes and when the battery in your ereader dies what then?
can't use them on a plane as they will tell you electronic devices interfere with a planes instrument readings. what about those days where you don't have power, any one in the snow or hurricane belt will understand this.
books are old school, your child can't delete them or download tons of them while pushing buttons trying play games like angry birds.
when is the last time you plugged in a book and it over volted and destroyed the book? when is the last time a books OS got a virus or it's drive or CPU failed? your entire library is gone.
sure books rot and can be burned, they also don't suffer from glare and have to be read in the dark, they can be read any time, anywhere. i also typically get them in a size that isn't 7"-10"
digital copy has a great many advantages, you can get it changed to any language immediately, the tombs of volumes can be transported significantly more easily, anywhere and is immediately available provided you have a working machine with enough power and aren't outside in the sun or on a plane or in the hospital or getting an MRI. acquiring new books can happen at the touch of a button and a few moments wait but it's only a few seconds faster then using my credit card at a book store.
i'm not sure how an ereader would handle magnetism, but i'd keep it away from children and their toys with magnets like the thomas trains with magnet hitches, or the magna-doodle and such. i also do not know how well they would handle being read near a campfire or fireplace or in a hot or humid climate like brasil, a desert, or any place with fog snow or rain, i do not know how well they would handle the cold either but i know a great many people will leave them in their vehicles which are subject to great temperature swings. in the northern states and canada -50ºF is typical every year and in the summer temp will go as high as 200ºF in your vehicle. i already know this is not good for computer type electronics and cd players that aren't factory built as several of them died after being subjected to such conditions while being powered up in those conditions before i even turn the vehicle on.
ereading material should be supplemental and be supplied in the jacket of a book you purchase or available to d/l with a code from the book serial#
i do think ereaders are great as they will cut down on the trees being wasted to print news papers and magazines and other pamphlets and work documents.
i will never give up purchasing books and due to my fondness for water, books can be wiped off and dried off how ever ereaders can not, fish prove this every time some one gets into my boat
yes and when the battery in your ereader dies what then?can't use them on a plane as they will tell you electronic devices interfere with a planes instrument readings. what about those days where you don't have power, any one in the snow or hurricane belt will understand this.books are old school, your child can't delete them or download tons of them while pushing buttons trying play games like angry birds.when is the last time you plugged in a book and it over volted and destroyed the book? when is the last time a books OS got a virus or it's drive or CPU failed? your entire library is gone.sure books rot and can be burned, they also don't suffer from glare and have to be read in the dark, they can be read any time, anywhere. i also typically get them in a size that isn't 7"-10"digital copy has a great many advantages, you can get it changed to any language immediately, the tombs of volumes can be transported significantly more easily, anywhere and is immediately available provided you have a working machine with enough power and aren't outside in the sun or on a plane or in the hospital or getting an MRI. acquiring new books can happen at the touch of a button and a few moments wait but it's only a few seconds faster then using my credit card at a book store.i'm not sure how an ereader would handle magnetism, but i'd keep it away from children and their toys with magnets like the thomas trains with magnet hitches, or the magna-doodle and such. i also do not know how well they would handle being read near a campfire or fireplace or in a hot or humid climate like brasil, a desert, or any place with fog snow or rain, i do not know how well they would handle the cold either but i know a great many people will leave them in their vehicles which are subject to great temperature swings. in the northern states and canada -50ºF is typical every year and in the summer temp will go as high as 200ºF in your vehicle. i already know this is not good for computer type electronics and cd players that aren't factory built as several of them died after being subjected to such conditions while being powered up in those conditions before i even turn the vehicle on.ereading material should be supplemental and be supplied in the jacket of a book you purchase or available to d/l with a code from the book serial#i do think ereaders are great as they will cut down on the trees being wasted to print news papers and magazines and other pamphlets and work documents.i will never give up purchasing books and due to my fondness for water, books can be wiped off and dried off how ever ereaders can not, fish prove this every time some one gets into my boat
All good reasons why cell phones will never catch on...
I don't buy hardcover books anymore. E-reader is the only way to go. I do believe that online book stores are going to have to get a lot better though. Right now I still go to bookstores to browse, and sometimes buy books there. This is because online book stores make little or no sense and I can never find what I want.
The same question can be applied to Compact Disks replacing vinyl records. Commercial audio CDs and CD players go back to 1982 and we can still buy a record player and used records. Look at the dark ages and how texts were being preserved by monks. It would take a thousand years to wipe out book reading and only if an efficient and systematic approach is implemented. Can you imagine any governmental entity actually working efficiently enough to implement such a book elimination program.
can't fill a bookshelf with tablets, would get mighty expensive
can't fill a bookshelf with tablets, would get mighty expensive
or you could simply get 2tb hdd
it would not be replaced until at least 3-4 generation die off imo
Maybe we will see a resurgence in finely-crafted leatherbound collector books? Low-volume, high profit is the last refuge of the physical book.
adding to that that modern books uses self-degrading acid compound
As much as I love technology, it also kind of makes me cringe.
Internet killed the music stores being able to distribute music online. (Think of how many music stores your state had 10 to 15 years ago, and now hardpressed to see or need one now-a-days). Multiply that by the amount of employees in each store losing jobs. The people who made CD's. The people who distributed them (Drivers). The sales people to get them sold in stores...
Then books. Foresters, less work. Papermill, less work. Printing presses, less work. Shippers, less work... jobs lost again.
Then Post Offices. Hell, all ya need now is Fed-Ex or UPS as email has dominated.
I'm no activist, but makes me wonder, when are we going to print our clothes on a clothes printer and just eat bio-paste while generating our own power. Sounds cool, but pretty soon, internet will rule all.
Bunch of reactionaries here ahem...to address a few concerns:1 - If civilization collapses, trust me. you will have far more pressing matters on your mind than your book of the month club.2- E-readers will get cheaper and cheaper until in a few years they will almost give them away.3 - You will be able to check e-books out of libraries. heck, you can now.
if you've ever been in a position where you're without power for an extended period time books are very good fallback item to have. Let's assume you and the world does come, for the first couple of months yea you'll have better things to do. But after you get settled in, get a food source and a water source, you'll quickly run out of things to stave off boredom and that's where books coming. Granted I don't believe that crap but oh well.
The reader will get cheaper and cheaper, but they won't be of quality. Look at the current cheap kindles, they're not even as good as the previous generation.
There are many books I want to check out from the library that are for adults and aren't information books. Most books are in the public domain I could download online for free.
I wonder if people made a fuss about moving from engravings in stone and metal to paper? No! paper will never last! What if a civilization collapses? How will anyone ever know if everything burns or erodes!? We'll be doomed!I'm sure paper will still be used for art and collecting, just like engravings. Some people think print books are nice and will collect them. However, printing is already too burdensome for daily news and periodicals. Top seller books and encyclopedias are following.
just like all the past civilizations collapsed and left nothing behind…
encyclopedias are going digital because it costs a lot to make them, people don't buy those kind of books in bulk so the cost of the book goes up. Going digital would just allow them to sell just the information not all the necessary printing. Newspapers are also digital just because it is a huge huge amount of paper to the newspaper. Considering information newspapers are usually out of date before they even get to the people, TV news is already reported on or before the newspapers out, or it's been online before either of those two sources got that information.
I wish I had a million bucks. I'd save bookstores if I did, and get even richer in the process. All it takes is an automated book printing and binding shop. If you want a paper book, just place your order via smartphone or internet connection and it goes into the shop and presto, a freshly printed book for you to read in an hour or less. All books will be printed in the same form factor and same paper. No hardback books. No color pictures.No books to stock...except maybe a 5 copies each of the best seller list. everything else is made to order.
if only it was that easy to print the book.
All good reasons why cell phones will never catch on...
they never caught on with me, then again I don't like talking to people.
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the only reason I buy digital anything is because it's cheaper than the physical counterpart. If I can get the physical counterpart in the digital, as much if not more than the physical I have very little qualms with pirating it. I won't pay $50 for videogame digitally, I won't pay $1.50 for a drm free song, and I sure as hell won't pay as much if not more in some cases than a physical copy for book.
Oh puh-leeease.
Remember those big black vinyl records? Remember how they got replaced by cassette tapes, then CDs and eventually by MP3 players?
Remember those big heavy stones? Remember how they got replaced by cattle skins, paper and then by e-books?
Remember Betamax? VHS? Netflix? Youtube?
PAPER IS DEAD TO ME! But then again, I'm not over the age of 45...
Oh, the same thing is happening with video games, btw. PSP Go, PS Vita? Hmmm... Steam? PSN?
...PSN, OnLive?
You really should add an edit button, tomsguide.