Will books become antiques?

There's an interesting question - will books become antiques?

Why do I ask this question? Well, every day I deal with readers, authors, publishers and fellow booksellers, and this question keeps popping up. even today, a publisher emailed me the response We are devoted to the old-style book as artefact. What a scary idea.

Even as an eBook publisher and retailer, the idea of the book dying out really scares me. I have fond memories of reading Stephen King under the covers as a kid, scaring and thrilling myself in equal measure by flashlight. There is something undefinable about the relationship book lovers have with their physical books which is difficult to replicate in the digital world.

Having said that, for everyday reading and the portability factor, the e-reader is my preferred literary companion. The transition from printed page to e-ink screen is not a big one. Anyone I have given my Sony Reader too has taken to it instantly. It's been difficult to get back at times!

So here's to a happy medium, a world where the book and e-reader can live happily alongside each other. I see a future where readers will research and discuss books online, deciding what to purchase. Book stores will have a limited number of bestsellers on display as well as having expresso like machines which can print any book, as well as hubs where you can download the latest eBook. Good quality printed books such as hardbacks will be luxury items, highly collectable and desired. All tastes will be catered for and the choice for the consumer/reader will be unparallelled. Virtually every book ever printed will be available in a one-stop shop.

That to me is a happy compromise.

News from IFA 2009.

It seems like every week we are presented with a new Ereader. Many are run of the mill, clones of successful competitors or plastic, cheap alternatives. Occasionally one catches the eye, and this is the case with the Pocketbook 360.

Kindly recorded by a visitor for Youtube - what isn't these days? - this video was spotted on techvideoblog.com.
It details a new Ukranian built ereader which supports several different languages. Its a relatively straightforward e-ink reader, but a nice touch is that it contains an accelerometer. Much like the i-phone, whichever way you turn the device, the page turns to match so you can read your book in landscape or portrait. It also seems to support a wide variety of formats.

There is a nice look and feel to the product and priced at $300 or €220 euros it has a chance in the market, despite it's comparatively small 5" screen. It also has support for music, dictionary and photos as well as an excellent interface. With Sony's new basic Pocket edition, without those extras, retailing in europe for €240 approx, the pocketbook seems to offer real value for money.

In the video they also preview an "under development" model touchscreen with wi-fi and bluetooth, and most intriguingly, a usb port. All in all, it seems that this manufacturer is one to keep an eye on.

This sparks the question - what do you, the readers want in an eReader? Does size really matter?, Is selection of books the most important factor?
Post your responses here or visit us at www.directebooks.com.