As most of you know, I am an avid reader. Give me a good who done it or a terrifying thriller and I am basking in glory.

Last year, I invested in an e-reader. Not just because it was a cool gadget (which it most definitely is), but because it made my reading experience better. I could pack as many books onto my reader as I wanted when I went on holiday - without having to take a suitcase just for my reading material. I could adjust the print size (the eyes aren't what they used to be). And I could browse the book sections without ever having to go through the hassle of finding a parking space downtown.

I chose the Bookeen CyBook Gen 3 reader because of it's ink technology, no glare screen, and it's ability to read any e-book from any of the e-book providers. I love that it has a leather cover and is the same size as a small hardcover edition.

But it made me wonder how e-readers will affect the printed page.

So, naturally, i googled my concern. Seems like I am not the only one asking the question.

The DocMentor from ZDNet, had this to say in an interview with entrepreneur and writer Paul Hawken,


" In terms of 99% of what we read in books, magazines, and newspapers, I think print is over. When I started writing there were 30,000 titles a year published, now there are 170K+ titles published a year now. There is more drek out there; books that don’t deserve to be published.

The same thing that happened to the music industry is happening to the publishing industry. I’m surprised there’s not more noise in the industry." ( read the entire interview here: link)

Online journals and magazines have challenged the publishing industry, forcing many publications that were print-only to offer their content online as well to be competitive. If you don’t have a subscription and access to them, you can usually pay for a download of the issue, again minimizing the need to have a printed l subscription. A significant number of them even provide free access to many, if not all, of the articles and tutorials.

Ian Cohen of Silicon.com had this to say: " When it comes to publishing, Bob Dylan said it best: "For the times they are a-changin''.

If you believe the prophets of doom, then the publishing industry is in terminal decline. Advertising revenues are shrinking faster than an expensive cashmere sweater in a spin dryer and circulation figures are falling off a cliff in all but the developing world. " ( read the entire article here: link )

Cohen goes on to say that the consumer will be the one to decide how and if there will be a decline in the printed word as we know it today.

I have to agree with him.

Consumerism makes the world go round. And there are as many consumers that like the feel of "real" paper as there are that want the convenience of the e-reader. At least for now, because, as we all know, consumers are a fickle bunch - what's hot today could well be tomorrow's paper weight or doorstop. Remember the beta max players???