Will printed books become obsolete?

I say let's approve it!

issue prior to revisions:

i'm fine with marina's suggestion

I'm not sure about "Are printed works becoming obsolete?" because certain newspapers, journals and magazines have already been replaced (or at least overshadowed) by online versions.

The original issue was specifically about books, which generally haven't yet been replaced by electronic versions. I still think the issue should be "Will printed books become obsolete?" (implying,  in general). But I wouldn't mind "Will printed works become obsolete?" if we want to go broader. It's a prediction issue.

From author Cory Doctorow on Forbes.com:

Many writers fear that in the future, electronic books will come to substitute more readily for print books, due to changing audiences and improved technology. I am skeptical of this--the codex format has endured for centuries as a simple and elegant answer to the affordances demanded by print ... Most people aren't and will never be readers--but the people who are readers will be readers forever, and they are positively pervy for paper.

How about removing the danger part altogether?  Maybe "Are printed works becoming obsolete?"  Also, obsolete in relation to what?  Is there a frame of reference here that I'm missing?

danger is loaded ...  otherwise, i'm fine with this.

I'm fine with paper books but if you guys feel a revision is needed, either works.

I don't think there is an official term for paper books (which is actually a pretty common term), but "printed books" and Jacki's "works in print" could both also work.

isn't "paper books" a little redundant?

how about:

Will works in print become obsolete?

can someone check wikipedia for the appropriate term for this?

Right: "Will paper books become obsolete?" is the way to go.

I like Jenna's suggestion.  I think it's better to debate whether or not they will become obsolete, instead of if they are in danger of becoming obsolete.

I like this one.  Maybe a little pruning, "Will paper books become obsolete?"  or "Will paper books become obsolete in the near future?"

Good one though, I'm for it.

This is a good issue. As Clare notes, there are some of us who want books on paper, despite the obvious trend. I think, though, that since paper books are in danger of becoming obsolete, I might reword it to: "Will paper books become obsolete?" See what people say...

This is interesting.  I actually haven't thought about this only because I'm probably someone who will be holding onto whatever paperback book I'm reading at the time even while all the kids are running around with their laptops reading the latest best seller in the year 2050.  However, I don't know that this is really an issue of "if" so much as a "when".  Computers are taking over.  Even when I was in high school I was using text from Web sites as sources for papers I write.  I almost think library buildings will one day be obsolete as well.  But maybe this is all just my opinion.  Perhaps this is a good issue to get out there -- see what others think.

People have been making this prediction for a while, but the technology is finally catching up... is this for real?