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That's exactly right. Aemon Send a noteboard - 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
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.
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Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books - 20/04/2011 03:18:34 PM 1454 Views
Excellent news! - 20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM 813 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure. - 20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM 908 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death." - 21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM 1141 Views
Re: I guess it depends on what you mean by "death." - 21/04/2011 05:40:28 PM 969 Views
Re: I guess it depends on what you mean by "death." - 21/04/2011 06:04:16 PM 1270 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books. - 21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM 832 Views
That's exactly right. - 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM 1115 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument. - 21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM 955 Views
I understand. - 21/04/2011 07:26:28 PM 1048 Views
Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy. - 20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM 901 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM* - 20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM 499 Views
Not so much. *NM* - 20/04/2011 07:39:17 PM 387 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books. - 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM 1138 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 871 Views
Yeah, I hear you. - 21/04/2011 06:16:24 PM 1096 Views
Considering you can print out an ebook, your argument is silly. - 21/04/2011 01:09:18 AM 830 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works... - 20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM 987 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works... - 20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM 896 Views
What Ghavrel said, but... - 21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM 1040 Views
That's pretty cool then - 21/04/2011 06:25:03 AM 839 Views
Yes and no. - 21/04/2011 05:10:24 PM 1132 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad. - 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM 845 Views
Never heard of it. *NM* - 21/04/2011 01:08:00 AM 407 Views
It's an already existing library ebook service, and it's terrible. *NM* - 21/04/2011 02:19:25 AM 393 Views
What makes it terrible? *NM* - 21/04/2011 02:20:12 AM 370 Views
The selection is awful, the interface is awkward, and it requires bizarre DRM installations. - 21/04/2011 02:40:55 AM 898 Views
I'm not a fan of the interface, either. - 21/04/2011 03:08:53 AM 977 Views
I agree. *NM* - 21/04/2011 01:35:12 AM 368 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears? - 22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM 891 Views
Better than it being written on the margins - 22/04/2011 05:27:12 AM 822 Views

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