I am sad to think of the end of books and print-based media so this article was interesting to me. I, for one, just love physical books because it feels like you have something substantial, something you can touch and smell. There's a nostalgia I attach to printed books. When I try to read an e-book on my laptop, it feels less personal (and it's much easier to get sidetracked!)
Coover discusses some of the pros and cons of hypertext. I had never heard of this term used for online text or books, but then I saw the article was written in 1992 so that's probably why. He discusses that hypertext easily escapes the linear structure that printed novels are basically stuck with. This can be a benefit, allowing the reader to explore links within the text and choose their own options rather than following a structure that someone else pre-determines for you. However, there's a downside to this; that people may not know where to go next–that the lack of structure makes it difficult to navigate. I think these are all very valid observations and concerns.
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