Why eBooks and When?

[Drew, Bill]

The problem with eBooks is that it is, as stated in the press and other
places, a solution looking for a problem.  I am using eBooks now with a
Compaq IPaq 3670 as part of a pilot project on our campus.  I would never
buy a dedicated device to read just eBooks.  The IPaq uses Microsoft Reader
and the quality is ALMOST as good as reading the printed page on paper.  As
others have said here, eBooks make sense for libraries in an academic arena
for texts such as those in the netLibrary collection.  eBooks as general
consumer items are many years away.

Wilfred (Bill) Drew
Associate Librarian, Systems and Reference
SUNY Morrisville College Library 
E-mail: mailto:drewwe at morrisville.edu 
BillDrew.Net: http://billdrew.net/ 
Not Just Cows: http://people.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/njc/ 
Library: http://www.morrisville.edu/library/ 
Wireless Librarian: http://people.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/wireless/
Have Laptop -- Will Travel. 
"I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong."