Nice article. I don't use an e-reader either, but I do recognize them as being the more practical option for certain media.
Here in my office I have a shelf full of art books (special exhibits, museum collections, ect.), none of which are available electronically and probably won't be any time soon.
As much as I love physical books, in this day and age I just couldn't justify purchasing something like a full volume set of Encyclopedia Britannica, which actually issued their last print edition earlier this year. Considering certain information is already be outdated at the time by the time it reaches press, it just makes sense to use their continually-updated website instead.
I also love comic books, but instead of dragging out my old back issues whenever I want to revisit a particular story, I just go to my folder of pdf scans instead, if applicable.
There will always be a market of people who enjoy and appreciate tangible media over electronic data. It's just depends on the priorities of the user. Some people would much rather purchase an analogue photograph as opposed to a digital ink jet print.
On a side note, it seems weird to me that kids these days are being introduced to music by way of digital files. I grew up with vinyl records and cassette tapes. Hell, someday even cds will be obsolete. Although digital music files are more convenient, I don't necessarily believe that qualifies at an improvement to one who truly enjoys the tangible aspects of experiencing music. But that's just my little opinion. Regardless, someday I'll show my son how to use a record player so he can take notes on how all of us lived in the Stone Age!
Yeah, I think to "kids these days" CDs are already obsolete. Cd drives aren't even standard on new laptops...and I've been to shows where they don't sell CDs at the merch table, but rather just tell you where you can download the album.
Vinyl will endure, though...hipsters are helping to save that analog medium.
Here in my office I have a shelf full of art books (special exhibits, museum collections, ect.), none of which are available electronically and probably won't be any time soon.
As much as I love physical books, in this day and age I just couldn't justify purchasing something like a full volume set of Encyclopedia Britannica, which actually issued their last print edition earlier this year. Considering certain information is already be outdated at the time by the time it reaches press, it just makes sense to use their continually-updated website instead.
I also love comic books, but instead of dragging out my old back issues whenever I want to revisit a particular story, I just go to my folder of pdf scans instead, if applicable.
There will always be a market of people who enjoy and appreciate tangible media over electronic data. It's just depends on the priorities of the user. Some people would much rather purchase an analogue photograph as opposed to a digital ink jet print.
On a side note, it seems weird to me that kids these days are being introduced to music by way of digital files. I grew up with vinyl records and cassette tapes. Hell, someday even cds will be obsolete. Although digital music files are more convenient, I don't necessarily believe that qualifies at an improvement to one who truly enjoys the tangible aspects of experiencing music. But that's just my little opinion. Regardless, someday I'll show my son how to use a record player so he can take notes on how all of us lived in the Stone Age!
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Vinyl will endure, though...hipsters are helping to save that analog medium.
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