"E-books had undeniable advantages for publishers. There would be no more returns, warehouse fees, printing expenses, or shipping costs. The obstacle was that no one knew how e-books should be read. Computer screens weren’t portable enough, and for many readers cell phones were too small. E-books remained a niche market, mostly neglected by large trade publishers."
Sometimes I would like to own an iPad or a Kindle but then I remember that I struggle to continually read from the screen. I like to flip pages with my fingertips, write in the margins, and use scrap paper as a bookmark. E-books are becoming more and more popular but I don't think I will be joining the hype.
"Publishers’ real concern is that the low price of digital books will destroy bookstores, which are their primary customers."
It is disappointing to me that bookstores are struggling. I like grabbing a hot tea and heading downtown to Last Exit Books in Kent, Ohio and scoring a deal on used books.
The E-books thing is causing a ruckus among the business of book selling. The worst part of it all is, "As a result, publishers, like the Hollywood studios, are under enormous pressure to create more hits—more books like “Twilight”—and fewer quiet domestic novels or worthy books about poverty or trade policy." I hate to see art suffer because of selling purposes. I'm not interested in reading cheap books sold at Walmart that are about as satisfying as a McDonald's cheeseburger. I want real meat. I'm hungry for quality art. I want a burger made from scratch.
I've never been to Last Exit Books, but I think I'll go check it out now!
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