Day 3 - Where have all the bookshops gone?

Today I went to have a browse through the networking and computer security texts that are out there. Well, I *attempted* to see what was out there... But the bookshops have vanished! I knew this was happening; first McGills, then a few others here and there, then Borders (and Angus & Robertson) who went in to voluntary adminstration and they are going, going, *almost* gone.

Myer and DJs don't count as I don't think either of them would recognise a decent book if they fell over it. Even the academic bookshops have packed up and left (except, probably, for the uni bookshops - must check them out...)

What little I did find had the most pathetic computer range of books you could think of! If you were a non-technical "Luser" you would come away thinking there was nothing more to IT than the Internet, blogging and designing websites... Aaaaarrrgggghhhhhh!!!

With [almost] everything available online (e.g. at Amazon) and at usually a lower price, even when you do factor in the exorbitant shipping charges. And then there are the electronic or eBooks that are exactly the same content - assuming you can part with the tactile pleasure of a "real" book - available for your Kindle, Nook or whatever your preferred eReader.

This always held the potential to put general bookshops out of business and force bookshops to become a very unique, niche, narrow market offering, but I didn't think it would happen so fast! But then, looking back, Australians tend to either embrace new technologies completely and enthusiastically or not at all...

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