----- Original Message ----
> From: OrionWorks - Steven Vincent Johnson <orionwo...@charter.net>
> To: vortex-l@eskimo.com
> Sent: Sun, October 17, 2010 8:44:06 PM
> Subject: RE: [Vo]:OT: Will physical books be gone in 5 years
>
> > Following the same pattern as cell phones. Out of necessity, the
> > developing countries will embrace the eBook technology faster than
> >the developed countries...
> >
> >
> http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/10/17/negroponte.ebooks/index.html?h
> > pt=T2
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/2g3va47
>
> I was initially scandalized by this prediction. However, the more I thought
> about the ramifications I realized that from an artistic POV it could be
> advantageous for many authors & illustrators. Printed books will never go
> away totally. It simply means that vast majority of transitory "pulp"
> publications books, editions that have limited shelf life, and
> read-once-and-throw-away-novels will no longer be printed in physical paper
> format. Makes no economic sense to do so anyway.
>
> What could shake out in the aftermath of this process might be a rebirth, a
> thriving market for hand-made special editions like, art books. They could
> take the form of small limited edition print runs, or even one-of-a-kind
> works of art. Such creations won't come cheap. And there will be customers
> who will pay for them.
>
> Certainly, writers/illustrators would find it in their best interest to
> continue producing popular low-cost electronic editions for readers like the
> Kindle, iPad, and successive progeny. The same writers and illustrators
> could however also manually produce unique one-of-a-kind editions,
> commissioned by the rich and famous who are willing to pay for the privilege
> of possessing in their hands an original manually produced physical copy.
>
> I'd like to order mine in a scroll, please! ;-)
>
>
Since theatrical performances did not entirely disappear with the advent of
motion pictures and motion pictures did not disappear with the advent of
television, I doubt paper books will ever disappear.
Harry
