What happened to the print-based encyclopedia industry when PC CD-ROMs and now the internet (Wikipedia) rose to prominence?
Encyclopedia Britannica still has an online presence, but do salesman still sell the 30 volume set? Do only schools and libariries buy them now?
Are Collier's and the World Book still alive?
Is it an undustry that has blossomed with the PC or suffered?
2006-09-27 19:06:17 · 6 answers · asked by Dando 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
The encyclopedia industry must go online or die. Paper books will be obsolete and collector items in our lifetime.
2006-09-27 19:16:34 · answer #1 · answered by answer annie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I vaguely remember reading some time ago that Encyclopedia Britannica would cease to have door to door salesmen
In general the publishing industry has embraced the new technology and where as information tends to be more on-line other areas such as the novel and in depth non- fiction tends to be print matter.
I think the public likes the Internet for bite size information but nobody wants to sit in front of a screen to engage in reading anything longer than a news paper sized article.
2006-09-28 02:34:16 · answer #2 · answered by philipscottbrooks 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reference books are obsolete, I think. My 12-year-old just doesn't understand the concept of 'looking it up in a book'!
He says 'but that's what the internet's for'. When I point out internet entries could be written by anyone and are likely to be inaccurate (like 'wiki', or here!) he argues that the same is true of books.
So, yep, RIP printed reference books.
2006-09-28 02:35:08 · answer #3 · answered by guernsey_donkey2 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know!!! I loved the leather bound books of the day! I miss them! And No they no longer sell them in hardback form unfortunatley. I found them way more interesting through the book version then the CD version. I love books and am afraid that they will be obsolete someday. I hope not. I am afraid the world likes everything NOW! push a button and BAM! Its a sad sad thing. So keep reading!
2006-09-28 02:16:29 · answer #4 · answered by dabesgirl 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Problem with books is, that they're getting outdated faster and faster - one example that stands clear in my mind is of an atlas (Reader's Digest) which we received some years back (the exact period will be clear shortly)
I checked the map of Berlin and said "Send it back, the wall's still there."
We got the atlas one year after the wall had been torn down.
2006-09-28 02:12:31 · answer #5 · answered by Walter W. Krijthe 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You tell me.
2006-09-28 02:07:49 · answer #6 · answered by riettebotha2 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋