Quote:
Originally Posted by Pulpmeister
That may or may not be the case for new books, but just as we have libraries today with books on bamboo slips, rolls of papyrus, vellum, hand-made linen paper, and so on, physical books will continue to exist.
And no, those many millions of existing books will not all be converted to digital format, and available on an e-reader-- ever. Just too big a project. Of all the millions of physical books on the British Library catalogue, ask yourself what percentage are also avaialble as ebooks. A very small percentage indeed.
It's possible, even likely, that printed books may evolve towards the luxury end of the market, with digital books occupying the mass market currently occupied by paperbacks. Trying to predict future trends from past trends is useless. Just a while ago, vinyl was dead; now some bands are successfully marketing new vinyl albums as well as CDs and downloads.
And just think: all those stately mansions with libraries full of leather-bound printed books: The punters might not be impressed to see the library of, say, Chatsworth, adorned with a dozen Kindles on otherwise empty shelves. "That's our Library" says the guide proudly. "Ten thousand historical volumes..."
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You have the points but, how much these museum style libraries count in a commercial sales, perhaps researchers go there. And old dusting books before bugs eat them it is necessary to digitize them, once we have digital copies it wouldn't make a lot of effort to roll out ebooks. Also once these books have come to end of their life do you think publishers will reprint them without much commercial return.
i thinking what will be the hybrid form of after resurrection of printed books, in that case even these ebooks wont exist.