ST Alpha - "I would liken eBooks to Blockbuster. 10 years ago, I wouldn't have predicted Blockbuster would declare bankruptcy." (Reading a Post)

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I would liken eBooks to Blockbuster. 10 years ago, I wouldn't have predicted Blockbuster would declare bankruptcy.

Posted by JaxSean (aka JaxSean) Aug 6 '10, 12:58

I don't think it'll be in 10 years, but when Kindles cost $40, and you can buy a book on it for less than $10 from the beach or in your underwear, then going to a bookstore or a library will become a thing of the past for a large majority. Just like waiting a day for Netflix to deliver it or streaming has become the norm.

However, there are people that won't be able to afford them, and there will still be bookstores and libraries - albeit fewer I think. (Sorry, mara and Amy.) :)

Responses:

Who cares about the cost of Kindles? I'm reading Dragon Tattoo on my phone. ($7 on Amazon) - Dr.Vermin Aug 6, 13:04 14
- that sort of thing is hugely popular in japan... - xi Aug 6, 13:08 4
  - I read a novel that was done as emails last year. you get 3-5 emails a day that tell an entire mystery over two weeks. highly enjoyable and would - Andie Aug 6, 13:13 1
    - i could see those catching on here....nm - xi Aug 6, 13:15
  - How are you not a candidate for Jeopardy? -- nm - Mop (223 lbs) Aug 6, 13:11
  - "Faster tentacle porn?! Why didn't you say so sooner!?" -- nm - Reagen Aug 6, 13:08
- Yeah, I can't take my 'book' being that small. I tried it on my phone. -- nm - JaxSean Aug 6, 13:06
- *finger to nose* The Kindle is an in-between medium. As we consolidate computing on a single handheld tablet, video, books, music... - Mop (223 lbs) Aug 6, 13:05 3
  - No device is going to be perfect for everything. There will also be devices dedicated to specific purposes - oblique Aug 6, 13:06 2
    - I really want to see color eInk. "Eventually", there will be one product. Sure, maybe it'll take a hundreds years... - Mop (223 lbs) Aug 6, 13:09 1
      - excatly. size is the factor now (as well as the eink thing). The phone size is great for somethings but fails at others. If they get too big (EVO) - oblique Aug 6, 13:10
- that, I find, goes too far in the direction of screen size. - Reagen Aug 6, 13:05 2
  - I agree. Likewise, the iPad is better than the Kindle as far as page size. - Callisto Aug 6, 13:11
  - It's not as uncomfortable as I expected it to me, but I can see why it could be untenable for some. - Dr.Vermin Aug 6, 13:07
- I read it for free from the library. Nice new paperback and everything. -- nm - the liioulu with Aug 6, 13:05
I wouldn't pronounce libraries dead yet. According to one report I heard, the top distributor of DVDs right now appears to be libraries. -- nm - Mop (223 lbs) Aug 6, 13:03 11
- Even with my Netflix account and streaming, the majority of our "kid" DVD rentals is from the library - oblique Aug 6, 13:05 10
  - I really wish they would get to the point of everything streaming. -- nm - JaxSean Aug 6, 13:07 8
    - 30 years away from that. the networks couldnt handle it -- nm - Remlik on the 'droid Aug 6, 13:10 2
      - No, I just mean I wish New Releases were streamable on Netflix. Not 80% crap and 20% watchable stuff. -- nm - JaxSean Aug 6, 13:13
      - We're victims of the shitty ISPs. The bandwidth is more than available. Look at 50mbps+ cable and FIOS - oblique Aug 6, 13:12
    - We use the streaming on a daily basis. No question about it's value - oblique Aug 6, 13:08 4
      - My kids watch it all day long. -- nm - JaxSean Aug 6, 13:10 3
        
        Spongebob? - oblique Aug 6, 13:13 2
        
        Christina is into all the anime they have, and catching up on movies we've recommended. - JaxSean Aug 6, 13:14 1
        
        Did you show her the Robotech series? -- nm - oblique Aug 6, 13:15
  - I just didn't want Netflix to know I was checking out the Star Wars prequels, and our library purges all check-out history for legal reasons. - Mop (223 lbs) Aug 6, 13:07
sure. the process will just be much, much slower and staggered than the techno-optimists say. there'll also always be room for the physical object... - xi Aug 6, 13:03
My library loans eReaders -- nm - oblique Aug 6, 13:01 3
- Ditto. -- nm - Mop (223 lbs) Aug 6, 13:09
- I remember just 12-13 years ago in college an exgf worked at a video store that rented vhs players. -- nm - Don Homer Aug 6, 13:03 1
  - for like $20 a night. Yeesh. -- nm - Reagen Aug 6, 13:04

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I would liken eBooks to Blockbuster. 10 years ago, I wouldn't have predicted Blockbuster would declare bankruptcy.

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