REF: Online verses Print

Harold Peters wroteSecond point: Right now the print copy people control the decision making process. Once there are enough computer oriented users paying enough to control the decision making, we will not have the put up with the current limitations being imposed by the printed copy people.

        Harold what you wrote interests me. As one who has spent the last 15 years compiling information for checklists, I am concerned as to whether my final effort, of an Iris encyclopedia will ever be published. I certainly see the value of online data, especially because of the search tools. There are some things one can accomplish with a search/find that would take hours getting from the printed word. But in the same way, I find a number of benefits to having printed books also. Because I am trying to complete a five volume encyclopedia, I ponder whether I will ever be able to sell enough copies, to justify the printing, especially, if most of the material could be retrieved from a Google search. Fortunately at the moment most of the information is not available in that way. But if were, how many people would buy the books. It is not that I am trying to make any profit. I just want the books to be affordable. In order to provide them at a low cost a minimum number of 500-1000
 must be printed. 

        It also seems to me that if everything is on line, than what would be the virtue in having an Iris society. I wonder about these things and am concerned about how the future will evolve. I greatly appreciate online services, but I also like having an Iris Society and printed matter. In my mind, I have not been able to reach a conclusion as to whether they are all compatible. I would like to believe that printed matter and online products will compliment each other rather than compete. I would love to hear others thoughts.

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