OMG! Horrors! But even as I am horrified at the thought, I guiltily want an iPad. And I do feel guilt. This is a very good take on the (slim) likelihood that books will become obsolete any time soon. But...they probably will be, eventually, won't they? Rufus is but one of many very sharp and interesting thinkers who write at a place called The League Of Ordinary Gentlemen. One of my faves. 
http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/

Bookless Libraries

by Rufus F. on April 6, 2010
Allow me to disagree with those who agree that the disagreement between Jason and me, which was more an agreement, was not useful or instructive. Ahem! (Note: I can’t promise this will be interesting…)


Okay, I see that we were both coming to the same point: that there are some scales of value that market economics cannot “read” and remain legitimately scientific. An economist can’t tell you if the Bible or The Skinny Bitch’s Diet will have a deeper cultural relevance because it’s not what they’re measuring. They can’t tell you if it would be more valuable to your intellectual life to take a course in Socratic philosophy or in pole dancing. This is not their job. Nor should it be. Note to economics: I ‘aint mad at ya’!