Remember the shock of learning last year that men’s colored briefs outsold tightie-whities for the first time in history? I mean, who could forget? Well, this is just like that – only digital!
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com is now selling more electronic books than actual printed books.
Since April 1, Amazon has sold 105 Kindle books for every 100 print books sold. The company has sold more than three times as many Kindle books so far this year as it did at the same time a year ago.
Imagine that. It took colored underwear 75 years to overtake white. E-books have done it in four years! It’s a $1 billion business, and they think it will triple in the next 5 years.
How about you? Do you use an e-reader (like Kindle or Nook) or are you old school? Why or why not?
The electronic book is a true innovation and will serve its place in history. However, the printed page has stood the test of time and truly can not be replaced. No price can be placed on the value of a young child holding his/her first picture book and walking around with their treasure. The beauty of the child’s awe and joy is beyond expression. Nor can the value of someone picking up a very old, beautifully bound, book that has highly intrinsic value and reverently opening its pages realizing that they are gazing on words that were read 100 or 200 or more years ago. No electronic device can do that.
Sorry…. didn’t complete…. I am pretty old school, but do see how some folks will find a kindle or e-book beneficial. Frankly, I have no desire to own one.
thanks vera!
I haven’t bought one yet….would love to. Maybe I’ll get one for Christmas? 🙂
hint hint! 🙂
I have always been an avid reader and am now an enthusiastic convert to ebooks. Yes, I still have paper books and some things are best left that way. It is still easier to look things up in paper books (reference books) than electronically and I have always enjoyed holding a book. It is hard for a paper book to compete, though, with the convenience of carrying hundreds of books on a single, slender eink device. I can keep reading material with me wherever I go and whenever I find myself waiting can read. That was not the case with paper books. Also, the eink reading experience is plenty comfortable and does not get in the way (not the case, in my experience, with backlit LCD displays).
i do like the feel of a book. on the other hand, it’s a lot of pressure picking that ONE book for a long flight!
I got an eReader last year and it is the best purchase I’ve ever made. I had always been an avid reader until medical problems that affected both my hands and my eyes made reading more of a chore than a pleasure. After several years of not reading, my eReader gave that back to me. It is so much easier to hold, and with adjustable fonts, so much easier to see. I don’t go anywhere without it and I’m back to reading two or three books a week. I borrow digital books from my library, so I don’t even have to worry about the cost of books. Buying an eReader gave me back a very important part of my life. I can’t praise it enough.
Sure do use one; I’m on my second Kindle. Last week we were in St Petersburg about to get on the plane to come home….I had just finished reading my last book! What to do, a very long trip ahead of me with nothing to read! Well, I had my Book Group list with me, went on the Kindle and bought one of the books…within 5 minutes it was downloaded and I had plenty to read on my trip! And remember that pile of books on the night table…no longer there!
Nothing, and I do mean NOTHING will ever replace the look, the feel, the smell of a real book for me! I don’t care how many electronic books they come out with, it will NEVER be the same!!!
I love my Nook. I have a leather cover for it so it feels like holding a book. It is great to have a selection of books to choose from instead of having to pick just one. Going to the library can be done from my computer. Talk about convenient!!
I guess I am still “old school!” I am way behind on a ll these electronic gadgets. I thought a blackeberry was one of my favorite fruits, until I got an email from my sister on one! I have a desktop computer I do these surveys, emails, and coupon clipping & shopping. That is the extent of my world. If one of these books happen to fall in my lap, I’m sure I would enjoy reading it!
I have the larger kindle, I do love it. I do most of my reading while camping, or riding in the car, so carrying many books all together and not taking up any room at all, what could be more convenient. Unfortunately, being a foster Mom for infants has cut down on my reading time. Having several books to choose from, when I get a few minutes is just so helpful… I mean who would have thunk… don’t have to spend time at the library or book store to get the books you want and in just a few minutes pretty mind boggling.
I am still old school. I do not own an e-reader yet. I have a background in the printing and publishing industry. I also have a hobby in collecting old and rare books. But I do realize the value of the e-reader. I am sure I will own one someday. For now give me the traditional book. Ink upon paper has no batteries to run down. Ink and paper does not break when dropped. Ink and paper needs no software update.
the “look and feel” is very powerful!