It depends. For a nice linear read (fiction, biography, etc.) I don't see many compelling reasons to buy a print copy even now. But there are some: giving as a

It depends. For a nice linear read (fiction, biography, etc.) I don't see many compelling reasons to buy a print copy even now. But there are some: giving as a gift, getting signed by an author, the physical experience of having a real object, etc. But electronic readers have a long way to go before they're useful for other types of books. A textbook or reference where you might constantly flip around the book would need better navigation or a way to use multiple synchronized displays to view a book. Art / coffee table books need a better display and physical experience. In the future I can see something like a leather-cased super-sized iPad sitting on stuffy coffee tables, loaded with amazing visuals. Kids books still need a cheaper, sturdier reader and color. Electronic readers can never replicate books with popups and textures, but the sound, video and interactivity they can offer could blow that away. I don't think electronic books can ever really replace coloring books for kids, but they should be able to replace workbooks.