Over the past year, there has been much debate about e-readers vs books. Which is greener? Books may be made from a sustainable, renewable and recyclable material, but just think of the energy required to make and ship them. The e-reader, on the other hand, is a device that may not be so friendly in the landfill, and who are we kidding? No e-reader is going to last as long as a paper volume; we're going to upgrade and replace them constantly.
So the new iPad seems to be good news. According to Mother Nature Network: "It looks like the iPad will have some greener features, namely that the energy-efficient LED-backlit displays will be free of arsenic, mercury, PVC and BFR (brominated flame retardant) as well as being 'highly recyclable,' which I assume to mean that it's built to be easily taken apart at the end of its life."
We're wondering what book stores will look like in a few years? We picture a space filled with the obligatory coffee and tea counter, e-reader rentals and download stations and a selection of gorgeous old-fashioned (paper) coffee table books. The Apple store meets Barnes and Noble. Let's hope the local, independent booksellers adapt and survive.









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