The price-point advantage that E books have over paper books is a myth.  Sure, most e-books are cheaper, but the truth is that I can probably leave my paper copy of the the book I'm reading at the coffeeshop table next to my coat when I go to the bathroom, but I wouldn’t leave a $450 kindle DX.   The expense creates a trigger of investment protection.  No throwing this in the back seat of your car, leaving it on the table, or anything else you could do comfortably with a paper book.