Also, the monthly fees of internet connection for a variety of gadgets is prohibitive for those on limited incomes. So I see a continued call for the physical book as really the only realistic form of access for a significant number of people.

If I look far enough into the future I can imagine the price of ereaders to fall, used ereaders to become more available at flea market or tag sale prices and the internet to become a more moderately priced or free commodity. Until then, I imagine there will be a significant number of people who remain firmly attached to the paper and cover sort of book as the only realistically kind accessible to them.

This might all seem trivial but physical books carry physical information and physical experiences that are lost when we use the same device for all books.

These experiences might not drastically alter the reading experience, but personally I like the fact that it feels physically different to read Ulysses than it does to read People Magazine. Reading online or reading with an ereader homogenizes the experience.

A pDictionary rests on a book stand, easily accessible. My current reads are on the bedside table and kitchen counter. My sentimental-but-seldom-read stuff is on hard-to-reach shelves. With an eReader, dictionary = current read = seldom used. My relationship with my books is affected by proximity, and it’s affected by the frequency of interaction. Can’t manage that with an eReader.

Also, I’m an artist and I frequently have multiple books open on my work table to inspire and use as source material.

There is something cherishable about reading a really incredible novel and holding in your hands, placing it on your bookshelf and knowing it’s there to go back to over and over. Which, I suppose you can do with a gadget; but, it doesn’t feel the same.

And I buy a ton of books, only keep the best ones, and sell the others to a used bookstore. I would buy less if I couldn’t sell off the stuff I didn’t want.

I’m a librarian too. I deal with technology all day and when I go home I like to relax with a good book. I really can’t picture myself using a gadget for this; but, perhaps future generations will find comfort curling up with an e-reader.

On the other hand: the college and scholarly market seems ripe for ebook to keep control of costs and maybe save the university publishers.

Lendability. One of the reasons I like keeping books I’ve read is to be able to lend them to others. I guess if everybody carried a compatible reader around with them, this is solved. But it’s a critical mass problem. It will be a while. I don’t even know, are eBooks easily transferable?