Will Tablets Kill Bookstores

[Carouser]

I don't think that's true. Do we have examples of books from the year 1510 all over the place, let alone on your shelf (which is not likely to last 500 years either, not to mention the house in which the shelf sits).

Paper requires less maintenance than electronic media. You can address that point if you'd like, since it's the relevant one.

Also, maybe you can tell me what the oldest digital file is. There's not much of a track record yet for digital longevity; faith and predictions aren't as useful as evidence.

Also, digital media is still stored physically, in ways that are subject to fire, water, deletion, and so on. It's not like every digital file is automatically distributed to a cloud and that when one node fails another two spring up. Digital media disappear, period.

You may be right that paper is on its way out, but it's not because it's been shown to be better in every way.

 

[NebulaClash]

Yes, paper requires less maintenance, I freely concede that point.

It's also on the way out because the advantages of electronic media dwarf paper's advantages.

It's hard for us to fully imagine how quickly our world changes. Think back to what you were doing at home ten years ago, and now think what you do today and you'll see just how much changes in ten years. Flicking videos over to our TV? I couldn't imagine that ten years ago, let alone wireless surfing on a tablet.

So when electronic paper develops further, and we have newspapers that update automatically, no one will want the paper version except for those who have nostalgic memories of books.

Yes, electronic media formats do not last, which is why you transfer media from format to format as needed. Lots easier than packing books into a box every time you move. And if you neglect a file and the format dies, guess you didn't care that much about that document to let that happen. Same thing happens to books that get neglected and weathered because they got ignored.

Enjoy your books. You'll have your entire life to do so, for they won't disappear entirely. But kids today will embrace electronic media and never think twice about books. And they won't miss them.