Thinking in Java

" .....But then I started hearing “OK, fine, it’s nice you’ve put up an electronic

version, but I want a printed and bound copy from a real publisher.” I

tried very hard to make it easy for everyone to print it out in a nice looking

format but that didn’t stem the demand for the published book. Most

people don’t want to read the entire book on screen, and hauling around a

sheaf of papers, no matter how nicely printed, didn’t appeal to them

either. (Plus, I think it’s not so cheap in terms of laser printer toner.) It

seems that the computer revolution won’t put publishers out of business,

after all. However, one student suggested this may become a model for

future publishing: books will be published on the Web first, and only if

sufficient interest warrants it will the book be put on paper. Currently, the

great majority of all books are financial failures, and perhaps this new

approach could make the publishing industry more profitable. "

Excerpt from Thinking in Java Edition 3 by Bruce Eckel.