Internet and Free Infromation

With the rise of the internet we are seeing one thing becoming more and more popular, free information. Back in the 80s and early 90s what did you do when you wanted to know how tall the Empire State building is? You spent $5-$20 on a tourists guide the the Empire State Building or asked a friend. (who usually didn't know) With the rise of the internet things have changed. For a small fee every single month you gain access to an answer to almost every single answer you can think of. All you have to do is Google it, the only price is having to look at a few adds on the side of the page. Yes, the information is not free, you have to pay a monthly fee, but you pay the fee for internet access, not for information.

• Why Information is Better on the Internet.

Information is  better on the internet because it is FREE and, most of the time,  written by people like you, people with a sense of humor. OK, I was joking, information isn't real free, there is a cost. That cost is having to look at an add.Unless you are watching a video are have some mental disorder which causes you to stare at adds for long time spans, adds do not take any of your time, money (unless they convince you to buy something)  or energy. Anyway, in a tangible form of information such as a newspaper or magazine, there's still adds. 

•  If both internet Information and Tangible information have adds why do I pay for tangible information? 

I can think of 2 answers for this question. First, the cost for producing Tangible information is much higher. Unlike Internet information whose only cost is a one time payment for a computer and writer, (both of which you still have to pay for when producing tangible information) you have to pay for printing and shipping, two very large fees. Secondly, tangible information is, well, "tangible." It's much nicer to curl up in bed reading a magazine then it is to curl up in bed browsing a website. Screens haven't been perfected to the point where they are easily readable in the dark and over long periods of time without eyestrain. 

•  Will it always be like this?

No, I don't think so. I think tangible sources of information such as magazines and news papers will die within the next 20 years. E-Readers are on the rise, and with 3Qe (I know I'm spelling that wrong) screens, reading without eyestrain will no longer be a problem. With 3g networks you can look up information with these E-Readers anywhere in the US. I'm eagerly looking forward to these great days of free information that will allow humanity become much smarter.