New Study: Both e-books and print are popular

[Jim]

My publisher e-mailed this AP wire to me.

Thursday, Jan. 16
New York (AP) - A new survey from the Pew Research Center reports more adults than ever own an e-reading device, but print books are doing just fine.

Based on interviews conducted earlier this month, the study released Thursday shows 50% of respondents saying they have a tablet or stand-alone device such as Amazon.com's Kindle. That's up from 43% in September.

The survey says nearly 3 of 10 adults read an e-book over the past year, compared to 23% who had done so when asked in 2012. Only around 4% read e-books exclusively.

Sales for e-books are growing, but have leveled off over the past couple of years. They're believed to comprise 25 to 30% of the general trade market, with commercial fiction especially popular for e-books.

Associated Press

[Justin]

Good to hear that physical copies of books are dying out in the slightest because of e-books.

[Sherri]

I find myself gravitating toward reading ebooks more often, but I occasionally do enjoy a paperback. Hardbacks, however, are out for me. Too expensive, too big, too bulky, too inconvenient!

[Stan]

I just purchase the latest David Weber in ebook form, but at some point I will buy the hardback, because I own all the others in the series.

[Sherri]

I liken this to how streaming video hasn't killed DVD sales just yet. And as in that area, you really have to keep your eyes open. Sometimes, the ebooks are a better buy, and sometimes a paperback is cheaper. Although I prefer ebooks, there are times when buying a paperback is cheaper.