The E-Book Revolution

Recently I released an Airsoft book on Kindle (The Airsoft Bible: Book of Comm) and I'm starting to realize most people 'don't get it' and don't understand what the E-Book revolution is really about.

Well. Sometimes it is nice to have something to hold in your hands. I don’t think many people are comfortable with e-books just yet because of all the questions and unknowns. A book gives one a sense of ownership and distinction when sitting on a book shelf. People can’t see e-books unless you show them. A physical book is something you can lend out.

There are a great many advantages with an e-book. These days most people have smart phones, computers and tablets. Android, iPhone, Blackberry, etc. All these types of phones have the Kindle application available to them, along with pretty much every type of computer. This gives people the ability to carry an entire library with them wherever they go. They can read their books whenever they want and wherever they want. They can reference their books at any time, they don’t have to run home or out to the car to get it. They can’t lend it out and then forget who they lent it out to. If you leave it out in the rain, or if the dog eats it, or it gets stolen, you just download it again on your new device, no charge or hassle. Your reading place is saved as well.

The software is available on pretty much every platform and is free from http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_ipad_mkt_lnd?docId=1000493771 there is also Nook software and many others.

From the Author’s point of view it is great as well. You can actually update the book, clean up errors, add more content and it costs you nothing. Almost like having a subscription to a specific manual. Amazon is also fighting tooth and nail to keep the cost of e-books LOW.

The printed book on the other hand costs a lot more (initial startup, shipping and handling, proofing, etc) and if it gets lost or destroyed, too bad, so sad, you have to buy a new one. There are no updates unless you buy a new copy, etc.

The dog can eat your book, you can spill coke on it, someone can use it for fire kindling, it can get old and fade, pages can get ripped out, the binding can get ruined, etc.

An E-book? Well. If your cell phone or whatever gets destroyed, stolen, etc, you do not lose your e-book. It can be downloaded at anytime to any device that you register with your account.

I have an entire room full of paperback books. These days I really don't buy any book unless it is an e-book for many of the reasons I stated.