Oxford English Dictionary 'will not be printed again'

[LadyBrooke]

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

Because computer files have virtually no physical space needed to be kept, they keep all the various drafts and notes and ideas, on their computers, and backed up on other storage media, just in case the computer dies, or in case they might want to use in a later project what they're editing out of the current one. And they keep drafts so they can compare versions, decide which really is better, and what was just an interesting idea that they aren't using, but don't want to throw away forever. Certainly, there are some who always destroy everything but the finished product, but that's true even if a person uses no electronic media at all. Tolkien was a pack rat, and would've been that way regardless, I think. I'm much the same way creatively, and I know young people who are, too.

Exactly I still files on my computer from when I was in Middle School of essays and stories and while some of them are very embarrassing, I rarely delete anything. They are the background to my current writings (and to some extent my political ideals.)

I just realized that some people may be getting the idea that I am against electronic readers and all that, which I'm not. In fact I'm trying to save money for one that I can take to college next year so I can fill it up with books instead of trying to pack all of mine into my suitcase.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by LadyBrooke

Exactly I still files on my computer from when I was in Middle School of essays and stories and while some of them are very embarrassing, I rarely delete anything. They are the background to my current writings (and to some extent my political ideals.)

I think that all pack rats keep things like that. I have drafts and drafts of different things that I have done for school that are written out by hand. There were a lot of things that I stuffed in a drawer in my desk and at one time I couldn't even open it any more because it was so full. Though I like writing, and I like it even more now that I own a fountain pen. Of course, I don't just keep around papers that I've written on, I also horde things like cardboard boxes and envelopes and old, empty bags of sweets.

The thing is that no matter what happens and how far technology expands and grows, there are always going to be people who like writing things out by hand and there are those who want to keep around every little document.

Besides, what happens when all computers crash and all of that saved data is erased?

[Rumil]

I agree that books are still the best way to read,

but as for the Oxford English Dictionary, well, it consists of 21,000 pages in 20 volumes and costs over 650 pounds, so more of a consideration for the larger libraries and insitutions. I don't see any plan to discontinue the Shorter or Concise dictionaries.

I think Douglas Adams put it best-

In many of the more relaxed civilizations on the Outer Eastern Rim of the Galaxy, the Hitchhiker's Guide has already supplanted the great Encyclopaedia Galactica as the standard repository of all knowledge and wisdom, for though it has many omissions and contains much that is apocryphal, or at least wildly inaccurate, it scores over the older, more pedestrian work in two important respects. First, it is slightly cheaper; and secondly it has the words DON'T PANIC inscribed in large friendly letters on its cover.

The reason why it was published in the form of a micro sub meson electronic component is that if it were printed in normal book form, an interstellar hitch hiker would require several inconveniently large buildings to carry it around in.

[LadyBrooke]

Originally Posted by Rumil

but as for the Oxford English Dictionary, well, it consists of 21,000 pages in 20 volumes and costs over 650 pounds, so more of a consideration for the larger libraries and insitutions. I don't see any plan to discontinue the Shorter or Concise dictionaries.

But I'd bet it'd look pretty cool on the shelf of a law office... Even if I'd much rather just stock my future office with Tolkien books.

[Rumil]

Of course lawyers will simply need to write half-a-dozen extra letters to afford it LadyB ;-)

[LadyBrooke]

Of course, Rumil

Related to the ongoing electronic book debate I was just browsing Amazon as I updated my wish list. I decided to see which of Tolkien's books they offered for the Kindle. Strangely they have almost all of his books LotR, Silm, Hobbit, CoH, UT, even the Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun but not any of HOME. This perplexes me. Isn't HOME the exact type of book most publishers would want to put out electronically? It's a book with a relatively low demand.