Are physical books going to become obsolete in favor of ebooks and audio books?
by 
Barkley Hound
ANSWERS: 8
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Probably, but it might take at least 50 years to do so.
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i don't think they will ever become obsolete, but their popularity will decrease over time. there will still be those who like to read a book and not an ebook.
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My "knee jerk" reaction is to respond no; people enjoy the feel of a book in their hands. But, it occurs to me that us old folks won't be around forever. New and future generations of people will undoubtedly be weened toward reading with a newer, more convenient and potential more cost effective media. How DARE you make me feel ancient!
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I am over 65 and recently purchased the Sony Reader. What I like is that it is lighter than a book and the pages stay open. There are also thousands of classics available for free on the internet.
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I predict them becoming sort of like collectible/novelty items; they won't ever be totally phased out. Sort of like Vinyl records - there are still some artists who actually record their music on them, and many vinyl collectors. But for the majority of people, the "look and feel" of ink-blotted paper is irrelevant. Books are heavy, take up WAY too much space, attract dust and mold, are subject to physical abuse and simple erosion over time, are difficult to transport, cannot be easily duplicated...I could go on and on. I have a 1 inch SD card, that weighs less than 1 gram - it can hold more books than some school libraries. I can duplicate and store all the books on my hard drive, and transfer them in seconds...Simplicity at its finest.
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I'm sure they will as so much else has but i'm hoping they leave the option open. +5
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Is walking forgotten because we have cars? Are candles a thing of the past because we have light bulbs? Are flowers ignored because we have perfume? Americans are overly fond of their gadgets. A lot of things are still done the old fashioned way in spite of the technology.
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I hope not. As much as I enjoy my ebooks and not complaining of the price difference you pay to get books on there. I still prefer proper books. I do find them very expensive though.
Jewels Vern 
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