Is end of traditional books near?
For lovers of paper-and-cardboard books, here is some sobering news: Amazon.com Inc., after less than four years of selling electronic books, is now selling more of them than printed books.
Since April 1, it has sold 105 e-books for every 100 printed books, including printed books for which there is no electronic edition.
Printed books include both hardcover and paperbacks. In July Amazon said e-book sales had passed hardcover sales. Itís now selling three times as many e-books as it did a year ago.
Analysts estimate that Amazon accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. e-book sales.
Amazon also said the latest and cheapest version of its Kindle is the best-seller of the line, five weeks after it was introduced. The Kindle with Special Offers costs $114, and shows ads in standby mode.
Is this the end of the bibliophile world as we know it? Tell us what you think by commenting on this story or emailing dp1@salisburypost.com. Weíll share your feelings next week.