From what I’ve read, electronic books are becoming more popular. With today’s generation of iPod users and PDA fans, that’s no surprise. Once e-book devices become standardized with a common format, back lighting, and a way to vary the font size, what’s not to like? You could download dozens of books into one gizmo, make the font large enough to reduce eye strain, and carry this reader in a pocket or handbag. Add in convergence of all our different handheld devices, and soon we’ll just have one item to haul around. Will this leave bookstores in the dust? The smaller indies will feel the sting first. The larger chains may have their own download kiosks. But will everyone succumb to electronic fervor? Will libraries with real books become relics of the past? Not if I have any say. I like to hold a book in my hand, manually turn the pages, release a sigh of satisfaction when I close the back cover. I like to leave a book on my bedside table, keep one in the bathroom, and put another in the car. How can you do that if you have only one device? Hopefully, e-books will encourage more people to read, young people who are being raised in the technology age, but they’ll add to the armory of reading choices rather than tolling a death knell. What’s your opinion? Do you have an e-book reader already? Or maybe you’re a fan of both techniques: carry an electronic device in your purse and keep real books at home? Do you see digital libraries replacing our current system?

I have been an avid reader since childhood. I still get excited when I walk into a library. But, I do own an E-Book. I bought the 1st generation, that had issues, so I bought the 2nd generation, and I enjoy using it. I love the fact, you can enlarge the font, it has a backlight, for night reading, no blowing pages,and it's a conversation starter... that said, I will never give up the library!

I love the tactile sensation of a book, but I came to computers late in life, as opposed to the next generation, who grew up with USB ports implanted behind their ears. Anything that gets people reading is okay with me.

Amazon's new "Kindle" sounds pretty exciting!

I also have been an avid reader since I can remember. I have a house full of books. I probably would not find an E-Book very useful or desirable, but one technological development I absolutely wouldn't want to be without is my MP3 and downloaded unabridged books from Audible and from my local library. I listen while exercising, and get to double my reading in this way. But there really is nothing like a book in hand!