Printed books, a thing of the past?  

I certainly hope not!
There will (hopefully) always be people who appreciate getting away from technology and getting out, sitting down with a printed book - an amazing piece of literature and just escaping.

It would be a sad day when technology completely replaced the written word.

I don't think printed books will go away anytime soon, honestly. They have too much character about them and ebooks and the like aren't nearly as practical. You can still stick a printed book in your bag and go, but to get an ebook around you need a laptop and not everyone has one of those (or wants one)

I remember people saying that newspaper will be *dead* when more people use the www.
In my opinion it's the same with printed books. I don't think they will be not available someday. It is a difference if you read something on screen or in a book. I like both but I don't think I will ever stop reading in a book because I enjoy holdng something in my hands, lying in bed,....

I still prefer reading print books. Being on the computer too long makes my eyes hurt. Besides, I love to read while lounging on the couch, or in a chaise lounge while sitting in the sun. It is just not comfortable to sit at my computer for too long a stretch. I lose interest a lot quicker on the computer than I do with a book in my lap.

Hi eprado, I don't think we have to worry about printed books becoming a thing of the past. At least not for a long time. There are still many people like you who want to read actual books. Blessings.

I do see alot of E-Books out there but I love printed books. I own hundreds and read most of them all the time.

AT PEACE WITHIN

Despite I read a lot of articles and blogs everyday, I still prefer to read a printed book instead of an e-one. I generally read in my bed just before sleeping, and e-books are not really practical in such circumstances.

I really think that printed books will NEVER be obsolete, simply because they are impossible to be reproduced digitally. I mean, I know it's possible to have a digital version of a book, but the sensation of reading it is completely different. So, I don't think ebooks will ever take their place.

I work in book publishing, so I really hope printed books never become obsolete! I doubt they ever will. At least, not until the technology behind ebooks improves by a lot. I mean, people also thought that TV and movies would completely kill live theater. And while theater may not be as popular as it was in its prime, it certainly isn't dead. There will always be something to watching actors that are two feet away from you--and there will always be something to holding a real book in your hands.

I love the internet, but nothing will ever replace the printed paper book for me. You can take it anywhere with you i.e. on a plane or on the beach where you cannot take your laptop. You can get annoyed with it and throw it down and you can also re-sell in on the internet and make money from it.
As for paperless offices I am very dubious whether this will ever happen due to the amount of computer breakdowns we have at work and we always have to resort to printed reports for the information we need to be able to carry on working.
Yes the printed paper book for me anytime