Hardly even threatened

Speculation is all over the net about e-book sales as they began to plateau soon after years of sales rocketing upwards.  Due to its popularity, some think e-books will soon eradicate print books altogether.

But why?

E-books have outsold print for several years, but why would that mean the print market is disappearing?  Beyond a new format outselling it, is there any indication print is dying?  In every debate over which format is ‘the best’, many people still proclaim preferences to print.  While publishing houses have been failing or claiming to have disappeared altogether, many of those that are going strong still sell print books. Despite the sales, electronic reading devices and hype about overzealous companies still drive customers away form e-books.  Thanks to the economy, caution has replaced much of the past frivolousness.

As hard as it is to conceive in first world countries, there are areas that lack the internet, let alone wifi coffee shops.  There are still many neighborhoods that have been in disrepair for decades and there are still families that struggle to meet rent.  Literacy is still greatly important in these communities and money is scarce.  If any literary entertainment is to be bought, it will never be on an expensive electronic begging to be stolen.

Libraries are slow to pick up e-books, also affected by the economy.  Lack of funds means a lack of replacing the old with the new.  Some books have yet to be converted into e-books, in fact.

Even bookstores, still thriving now that the excess were pruned away, exist. Some even choose not to sell e-books.

Just because technology changes to the point that more than 1% can access it on their credit cards, why would one assume it will change the entire world next year?