5 ms·

Let's assume ebooks are 20% (I know that's the upper bound you're positing, but let's start with that). If my salary were reduced by 20%, I would definitely say

by hexis 8y ago

Let's assume ebooks are 20% (I know that's the upper bound you're positing, but let's start with that). If my salary were reduced by 20%, I would definitely say that I was making "much less". Would I say the same if my salary were reduced by, say, 10% rather than 20%? Maybe, maybe not, but I doubt I'd go so far as to say that characterization was simply "not accurate".

ghaff 8y ago
I think it's fair to say that eBooks haven't revolutionized the way the majority of people read books to anything like the degree that was expected (or has happened with music and video).
- the_watcher 8y ago
  While ebooks are somewhat similar to the shift to streaming in music and video, the actual experience of watching a streamed show or listening to streamed music is essentially the same as it was when you owned a movie on DVD/VHS or had an album/CD (Play-Stop-Pause-Rewind-Fast Forward). It's the discovery process that's been revolutionized). With an ebook, the experience is fundamentally different - the concept of "pages" essentially disappears or is redefined substantially, the physical act of reading is different, and the relative standardization of displays and ability of the user to customize fonts and sizes limits some of the options available to physical books (that said, ebooks have wildly improved the footnote experience). I imagine that this is a big reason the ebooks haven't taken off in the same way. As an example - while my grandfather may have a bit of trouble figuring out how to get started on Netflix, once he's chosen something to watch, he won't really notice a difference from when he watched things on VHS in terms of how to navigate. The same is not true for giving him a book on a Kindle.
  - ghaff 8y ago
    >ebooks have wildly improved the footnote experience I actually disagree with that one--at least for certain types of footnotes. When I was an IT industry analyst I got into the habit of using footnotes at the bottom of the page to provide parenthetical detail, substantiation, caveats, etc. that I thought might be useful but which would break up the flow of the writing. On the page, this works well because you can just glance down. On an ereader, it's often more distracting than just putting it inline would be. For just references that you'll only sometimes want to look at, it's fine but for the way I often use them, I liked the old way better. I mostly agree with your broader point. The fact that used books are often cheaper and you can't typically lend your ebook when you're done probably also contribute.
    - the_watcher 8y ago
      Probably true about types of footnotes. If it's just citing sources, doesn't improve. But if the footnotes add additional detail, I find it much better. More than anything, it improves the endnote experience.

by hexis 8y ago

ghaff 8y ago

I think it's fair to say that eBooks haven't revolutionized the way the majority of people read books to anything like the degree that was expected (or has happened with music and video).

the_watcher 8y ago
While ebooks are somewhat similar to the shift to streaming in music and video, the actual experience of watching a streamed show or listening to streamed music is essentially the same as it was when you owned a movie on DVD/VHS or had an album/CD (Play-Stop-Pause-Rewind-Fast Forward). It's the discovery process that's been revolutionized). With an ebook, the experience is fundamentally different - the concept of "pages" essentially disappears or is redefined substantially, the physical act of reading is different, and the relative standardization of displays and ability of the user to customize fonts and sizes limits some of the options available to physical books (that said, ebooks have wildly improved the footnote experience). I imagine that this is a big reason the ebooks haven't taken off in the same way. As an example - while my grandfather may have a bit of trouble figuring out how to get started on Netflix, once he's chosen something to watch, he won't really notice a difference from when he watched things on VHS in terms of how to navigate. The same is not true for giving him a book on a Kindle.
- ghaff 8y ago
  >ebooks have wildly improved the footnote experience I actually disagree with that one--at least for certain types of footnotes. When I was an IT industry analyst I got into the habit of using footnotes at the bottom of the page to provide parenthetical detail, substantiation, caveats, etc. that I thought might be useful but which would break up the flow of the writing. On the page, this works well because you can just glance down. On an ereader, it's often more distracting than just putting it inline would be. For just references that you'll only sometimes want to look at, it's fine but for the way I often use them, I liked the old way better. I mostly agree with your broader point. The fact that used books are often cheaper and you can't typically lend your ebook when you're done probably also contribute.
  - the_watcher 8y ago
    Probably true about types of footnotes. If it's just citing sources, doesn't improve. But if the footnotes add additional detail, I find it much better. More than anything, it improves the endnote experience.