So with all of these draw backs of which only a couple can be over come with technology why would people as a whole choose to give up paper. I think people are over reacting.
Yay Failing Book Stores?
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So with all of these draw backs of which only a couple can be over come with technology why would people as a whole choose to give up paper. I think people are over reacting.
The thing to remember is that there are always consequences.
I mostly use Amazon nowadays--but then I've always been an odd duck as I don't like to "go shopping", and I embraced the mail order world.
However, there are always consequences to actions. If you choose to get products at the cheapest price, that is good for the consumer, but not always good for the industry. Right now independent bookstores are struggling to battle the loss-leader strategy of selling the best selling hardcovers at below cost. That can hurt the smaller stores and it can hurt the publishers and authors by artificially reducing prices.
A good example of seeing what consolidation can lead to are the results in other industries. There is a good documentary that you can rent now on DVD/PayPerView called "Food, Inc." which I highly recommend and it goes into the problems we have with the food supply in the western world--as there is a lot reduced competition and some of the things done for mass production can hurt us, not just in an economic sense. (It goes into things like how the fast food industry reduced the price of some foods and changed how they do business).
In short, one of our biggest flaws in our modern culture is to look at short term vs. long term. That is something I encourage more people to look at.
I mostly use Amazon nowadays--but then I've always been an odd duck as I don't like to "go shopping", and I embraced the mail order world.
However, there are always consequences to actions. If you choose to get products at the cheapest price, that is good for the consumer, but not always good for the industry. Right now independent bookstores are struggling to battle the loss-leader strategy of selling the best selling hardcovers at below cost. That can hurt the smaller stores and it can hurt the publishers and authors by artificially reducing prices.
A good example of seeing what consolidation can lead to are the results in other industries. There is a good documentary that you can rent now on DVD/PayPerView called "Food, Inc." which I highly recommend and it goes into the problems we have with the food supply in the western world--as there is a lot reduced competition and some of the things done for mass production can hurt us, not just in an economic sense. (It goes into things like how the fast food industry reduced the price of some foods and changed how they do business).
In short, one of our biggest flaws in our modern culture is to look at short term vs. long term. That is something I encourage more people to look at.
Jeremy Ackerman-Yost
Explorer
It's not about what they can afford. It's about what they are allowed to do.
Depends on the TV... or at least on its manufacturer.
Lots of items that are popular are basically set in stone by the manufacturer. Apple and Nintendo products are notorious for this, for example. Some of the e-readers are the same way for the same reason. They're not selling a product, they're selling a lifestyle and a gateway to their product.
Mark
CreativeMountainGames.com
Increasing population numbers versus limited resource potential. "The planet's population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2 billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1988, and 6 billion in 2000." (. . .) "6,790,062,216 (July 2009 est.)"
I'd like to think so, too.
Ah, but if we are talking about limited resources, moving from paper to e-books has might actually turn out to be an increase in resources.
Which is Greener: Paper or Digital? The Answer May Surprise You | The DocuMentor | ZDNet.com
Metaprinter – News Media Innovation, Convergence and Sustainability – Interview with Don Carli
Basically, Don Carli points out that transitioning out of print will not help us in the long run, as we will consume electricity, and contribute to the use of toxic metals from e-waste. (Those kindles won't last forever, not counting "planned obsolescence" from computers in general.) It's not a simple case of "saving trees".
It goes back to what I said in my previous post--short vs. long term thinking can be pretty lacking.
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No culture has ever been good at long range more then 5 year planning. Our personal focus is to short, but we stumble through any way. Now a days changes in technologies make it even harder.
Example a what most consider a good period of 50 years for planning at the difference in just plain automobiles.
For an example. It is 1960 you have the responsibility and authority to plan all highway construction for the next 50 years. Would you have been any clue as to the current make up of sizes, types and number of vehicles? How about current gas consumption rates? Lets assume that some else would be able to dictate where people where going to live so that is not a problem but how about family size?
Economic forecasting isn't particularly reliable beyond a few months to a year or so, especially these days. Economists are constantly doing revisions to their recent calculations.
If one really had a 100% reliable way of predicting the future precisely, then they'll use that information to make easy money on the stock market.
jdrakeh
Front Range Warlock
Yeah, we have one or two here. We had more, but some went under (though it was due to bad management, not being forced out by chain book stores).
Mark
CreativeMountainGames.com
The toxic waste produced for print versus eProducts aside (no figures at hand but from what I have read in the past, recycling electronic equipment could be better but in no way comes close to toxic byproducts of printing), citing energy/electricity usage isn't an argument against electronics, it's an argument for better electicity production (wind farms, solar collectors, etc.). Longterm, we currently could conceivably mine other planets for mineral resources but have no ability to grow organic materials in abundance off-world. What we need are more modular components for eBooks so they can be upgraded without requiring they be completely trashed/recycled.
Economic forecasting isn't particularly reliable beyond a few months to a year or so, especially these days. Economists are constantly doing revisions to their recent calculations.
If one really had a 100% reliable way of predicting the future precisely, then they'll use that information to make easy money on the stock market.
I meant the whole tech part. Higher gas mileage, Smart Cars, SUV's, ect.
Right, but cultures don't do this forecasting well. If we did we would have put a lot more effort in the the space program for the last 30 years. We would have been looking for a replacement for gasoline (petrol) in the 30's. It is not just the western culture it is every culture. Humans as a group just don't predict things well.
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