In a recent study 500 undergraduates at the University of California were asked to compare printed books with e-books. Most of the students said they still preferred reading from books pages rather than screens. Many of the students commented on the difficulty they have learning, retaining, and concentating when looking at a computer screne. A typical complaint is " E-Books divide my attention.
It is easy to flip through the pages of a physical book, forward and backward. It's easy to go quickly between widley separated sections, marking your place with a book marker, thumb, or piece of paper.You can write anywhere on any page of a book. And when you just want to read, the tranquility of a printed page provides a natural shield againt distraction.
All sorts of modes of navagation and reading that are easy with printed books become more difficult with electronic books. A printed book adapts readily to the reader but an e-book requires the reader to adapt to it. People tend to be more easily distracted from screnes. There's always the temptation to click on a link, visit Facebook, or play a quick game.
What the survey tells us that it is rash to assume e-textbooks are a perfect substitute for printed text books. The printed page continues to be a remarkably powerful tool that's well suited to the needs of students.
Printed books, magazines, and new papers are in my opinion not going to disappear.