my list isn't at all dependent on what books can do, because we have better technology, so we can improve a lot on what books can do. books are not my dream technology and never have been. :) i basically put everything on this list that i've long wished for from my reading experience. i'll quite happily leave books behind almost entirely at that point -- though there is a special pleasure to holding a beautifully bound and typeset book, and i cherish the few hardcovers i have with personal dedications by friends. but most of my books are mass market paperbacks which fall apart sooner or later anyway.

re transitioning: the main thing that's held me back from buying an ereader before were limited availability of ebooks and the price of the reader. the former has really come along and is steadily continuing, and now finally the latter is in my ballpark as well.

books can do "split screening" because i can have several open at once and arrange them around me (important for research).

i bet the ipad is wonderful for comics / graphic novels / manga. also for magazines, and for craft and art books. but it's just too large for me to read fiction on in bed, which is where i do most of my reading these days. i'll just continue to read those materials on my regular computer for now.