The managing director of a book printing operation, Kate McFarlan, has suggested that whilst e-books are proving popular, they can't satisfy all markets as well as those crafted using printing machines.
Speaking to Printweek.com, McFarlan explained that although e-books are winning when it comes to works of fiction, they aren't even close to taking over the entire market for books.
"E-books are winning in genre fiction. Crime, romance and thrillers - what I call a throwaway read," she said. "E-books are having the most success at the extreme ends of the mass-market reads - and obviously online access to serious academic work as well - but the bit in the middle is still owned by the printed book."
What's more, McFarlan added: "There's also an element of people reading the e-book then thinking: 'I like that so I want to own and keep it in print'."
Fellow industry expert Francis Atterbury, who works for Hurtwood Print, likened the situation to the evolution of the music industry. She explained that while many people do buy into music downloads, they also have many CDs that they wouldn't dream of ditching for an MP3. The same could be said of the book industry, she implied.
However, others are still firmly on the side of the printed book - like author Victoria Fox, who explained that print creates a more "attractive" and "enjoyable" reading experience due to its interactive nature. In fact, such is the delight of holding something in one's hands that willitchangeyou.com suggested that some are even downloading e-books then printing them out.
