Is the book a dying technology?

This is a question I have been asking myself lately, with the collapse of Borders, and the growth of eBook readers, like the iPad and the Kindle, it seems like the days of the book are numbered. Maybe one day, we will be telling our grandchildren that we actually used to read on paper...

Of course, there are two sides to any argument, and here are my thoughts on both sides:

One on hand, I can see the value of the eBook approach. Digital media is much more transferable, the information is instantly available and you can duplicate it. It is also much more environmentally sound, as no trees are needed to make the paper.

On the other hand, I know there is a certain joy in laying down to read a book, turning the pages, and experiencing it as a physical object. The paper book doesn't need batteries, and can be stored for years or given away to someone else once finished.

The main concern I have with books going digital is that all the older books may not make it into digital format. I have one particular book in my collection I bought on eBay for only a few dollars, that is over 100 years old. It is an old business how-to guide from the turn of the 19th century. I have personally loved reading it, not just for the knowledge, but also the aesthetic. You can feel the history in the pages, and even though I'll never know who owned it before me, I know this book once helped someone else too.

Now that I have shared my thoughts, what do you think? Do you think eBooks are the way of the future, or will the book be around for centuries to come? Which format do you prefer?

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