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.
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.
Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books
20/04/2011 03:18:34 PM
- 1532 Views
Excellent news!
20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM
- 884 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure.
20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM
- 962 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death."
21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM
- 1178 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books.
21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM
- 897 Views
That's exactly right.
21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
- 1186 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument.
21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM
- 1029 Views
Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM
- 957 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM*
20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM
- 528 Views
Not so much. *NM*
20/04/2011 07:39:17 PM
- 410 Views
A bit too melodramatic? Another blow to the desirable dominance of physical books, then. *NM*
20/04/2011 10:24:20 PM
- 422 Views
No. I just don't think this spells the end of physical books at all.
21/04/2011 06:11:53 PM
- 872 Views
Assuming you're right, that will still wreck the business of physical books.
21/04/2011 06:47:45 PM
- 1173 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books.
21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
- 1210 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
- 938 Views
Re: Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
20/04/2011 07:41:00 PM
- 963 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works...
20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM
- 1048 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works...
20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM
- 948 Views
You download them from the Internet using your library card as an ID. *NM*
21/04/2011 01:07:54 AM
- 552 Views
What Ghavrel said, but...
21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM
- 1103 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad.
21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
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Never heard of it. *NM*
21/04/2011 01:08:00 AM
- 434 Views
It's an already existing library ebook service, and it's terrible. *NM*
21/04/2011 02:19:25 AM
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What makes it terrible? *NM*
21/04/2011 02:20:12 AM
- 396 Views
The selection is awful, the interface is awkward, and it requires bizarre DRM installations.
21/04/2011 02:40:55 AM
- 957 Views
To be fair, Overdrive's problems are software issues, and not inherent to the business model.
21/04/2011 05:23:54 PM
- 1081 Views
I definitely agree; I'm just irritated they're sticking with Overdrive. Ebook libraries make sense. *NM*
21/04/2011 07:14:38 PM
- 446 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears?
22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM
- 952 Views