However, I think there is something to your argument–e-book readers could learn something from how people use “p-books.” In particular, I would like to see e-book readers with multi-touch interface, so that I can flip or flick pages across the screen. Moreover, a screen without glare would be nice!

The closer the e-book reading experience becomes to that of p-books, the more people will make the switch. However, until that comes along, I’ll continue to try and find free printing venues to print those e-books out onto paper. It sure beats paying $100+ for a textbook.

“The e-book will also revolutionise the economics of the industry. The cost of publishing books will fall dramatically, the result of savings on materials, labour, manufacturing and distribution. In the process, a lot of trees will also be saved and even the most obscure author will be able to self-publish, which means more choice for readers. The retail price of books will fall; sales will explode.”

P-books are a luxury item. Most people can’t afford to pay $30 for a hardback book. That’s why public libraries are thriving. But e-books don’t require a retailer (about 40% of the cost of a p-book) and they don’t need to be printed or shipped either. They can be effectively marketed worldwide to an increasingly English-reading world. Authors and publishers can make more money on high-volume, low cost e-books than they now make on low-volume, high cost p-books. Of course it will take a while for this to happen, but it will happen.