My favorite potter pals is still “the mysterious ticking noise one.”

I don’t think the problem will be book readers switching over to the new thing anytime soon, but with kids growing up with the new thing. For that reason I think books won’t be dead for a couple more generations.

Also, I just love books. Even if I’m never going to read a book again, once I buy it I have a very hard time getting rid of it. Part of the reading experience is holding the book in my hand, looking at the cover artwork, checking the business on the back of the title page, and often flipping back to a previous page or chapter to double check something. I don’t know if that works with electronic media or not. I don’t care. There’s a feeling of anticipation that comes from getting a new book, either bought or borrowed, and physically having it in my hands before I start to read. This goes double for previously read and much loved books.

So, yeah, I’m a huge geek about books and somewhat compulsive about actually owning and keeping them, but I still think there are enough other people who like things the way they are that the industry’s not finished yet. Maybe I’m just stubborn. If I am, and I’m wrong, I’ll be disappointed to see books become a laughed-at, old-fashioned technology.

That might be true, but there’s no guarantee that people will pay money for these cool, interesting forms of print.