Monday, October 18, 2010
Will physical books be gone in five years?
In one interview with cnn, author Nicholas Negroponte, founder of One Laptop per Child, said the physical book's days are numbered. "It will be in five years," said Negroponte. "The physical medium cannot be distributed to enough people. When you go to Africa, half a million people want books ... you can't send the physical thing."
It is sad to see the end of paper books but with ebook it is easy to access anyway from the world and it will be lot cheaper compare to printing a book.
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I find it sad as well. I enjoy the feel of a book, the weight, turning the pages, that little creak it makes when you open a new book for the first time. But, I see the end coming too. Especially as I find myself willing to give up all that I find dear for the really slick new iPad that gives me access to books gallore whenever and where ever I want!
ReplyDeleteJeewan,
ReplyDeleteI think the books will always be around in some degree. But I do think that technology will effect what technology we use.
I'm with JT. Not everyone can afford an iPad or a Kindle, and there is something to be said for highlighting pages, and grabbing a book off a shelf. No worries about corrupted memory (except your own).
ReplyDeleteYou can't have the author sign your e-book.
I had not heard the estimate of 5 years as the end of books. I thought the end was coming, but had no idea it was just around the corner.I guess I am not quite on board with all the technology, I cannot give up the book yet.
ReplyDeleteSame here. There are just too many things you can do with a physical book that you cannot do (as well) with e-books. Yes Kindle lets you underline passages and so forth, but for me, nothing replaces writing notes in the margins of my books. Sometimes its interesting to re-read something I read 20 years ago, just to see what I had to say about it then vs. how I view it now. Not to mention, I think its absolutely true that we will never reach a time when EVERYONE can afford an e-reader. Not a high priority for an avid reader who knows they can read it free at the library.--Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteMy husband would lose his mind if books were gone. He refuses to read things on a computer monitor. He often prints out things that he will never look at again just so he can "touch it" while he reads.
ReplyDeleteBut I believe that the newspaper will be the first in print item to go. I guess we'll just have to see!