E-Books are wonderful. I make this statement as someone who loves books. I love collecting them, holding them, reading them, displaying them. Books, books, books, I have loved them my entire life. They are my first choice for entertainment and relaxation.
When e-books first entered the scene, they were cumbersome to access and read due to the limited format (using a computer and Adobe or other reader). Even on a laptop, kicking back in bed to read a book was kind of a drag. I experimented with a few but went back to print.
Then came the e-readers. Slim, light and portable, they seemed the answer to the e-book issue. But, at $100 or more for a single function gadget, impractical. Finally, with the addition of apps for the smartphone and tablets, I have jumped fully on board the e-book revolution. With reservations.
Wired makes a compelling statement regarding the flaws of e-books. There must be a way to view all e-book titles in one spot instead of opening 3 or more applications. Also, there should be a rental option for books one does not intend to keep (like DVDs and on-line movie rentals). And of course, there is the huge issue of pricing. No one wants to spend $15 to $30 on an e-book unless it is a highly needed technical manual.
With the use of coupons, it is often cheaper to buy the print version of books. It does not seem justified to charge $16 for a print book and the same amount for a book that is downloaded with none of the additional costs of the print issue. Some type of discount must be negotiated between publishers and sellers.
If e-books become more user friendly, with the addressing of these issues, I think they will create a surge in popularity not just of e-books, but reading in general.