Why hasn't the electronic book replaced paper books?

Question:

Why hasn't the electronic book replaced paper books?

Wouldn't you rather have a portable device that enabled you to carry many titles at once?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I hated ebooks until I got a Sony Reader for my birthday a few months ago. Now e-books are the only format I want to read, and as a life long bibliophile with a huge personal library, that is somewhat shocking to those who know me. I don't like reading ebooks on my computer, never have, never will.

The Sony Reader is so much like reading a dead tree version that I find I like it better. It's actually easier to read, lighter to hold than the average book, quicker page turns, etc. and I find I'm reading more than my usual 8 to 10 books a week. Other things I like about it are that I don't have to worry about damaging books, creasing pages, etc. I can carry over 100 books in my purse, and since I travel a lot that's a huge plus for me. Battery life isn't a problem, I charge it roughly every 2 weeks or so, and use it many hours daily. Since it doesn't have a backlight it doesn't burn through power much. The size of the screen is nearly the size of an average paperback.

Some of the drawbacks are: finding content. A lot of books I want just aren't available for purchase in ebook format so I've had to be creative about getting content. I think for some people the price of the device is a drawback - spending 350 on something like that is a stretch for some.

The cost of ebooks, with some pricing out at the same or near the cost of a hardcover version. (And since I usually still buy hardcover versions in addition to ebook versions this is especially a drawback to me.)

The tech knowledge required for obtaining content and getting it onto the Reader is a bit much for a lot of people. To get a lot of content requires a person to know how - or learn how to use a lot of different software to do conversions to format them for the Reader.

Some people think it being an electronic device means it can't be used around water, and tub readers have told me that's one reason they don't want them. Being a tub reader myself though I've found that my Reader fits nice in a clear ziplock freezer bag and works great that way. I've used it in the tub, at the beach and poolside, while fishing in a boat, and even in a few jaccuzzi's.

I don't see ebooks going mainstream/commonplace until they get the content/software/format issues worked out.

I love everything about books, not just the stories but also the scent of a book, the feel of the pages, the sound of pages turning, the way they look all lined up on the shelf. Everything like that. So if I'm a convert to ebooks then many many other's will be, too. But for the average reader I think it's too much of a hassle right now.

http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/assets...

*edited to add this bit:

Libraries are not useless with ebooks. I can go to my local library website and download ebooks for free 24/7. Current bestsellers even.