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Electronic readers have seen a big jump in sales this year.

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They've been around for a while now, but there's been a sudden boost.

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Megan Hughes reads between the lines.

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When you hit the beach this summer, what kind of book will you bring:

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old-fashioned paper back or high-tech e-reader?

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While some say they prefer not to hop on the e-train...

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There's something I like about holding a book in my hands looking at the cover and turning the pages.

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...others have grown to love the edge the devices have to offer.

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Not needing to ship around dead tree bark.

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Or the fact that you can buy new books without hitting a bookstore.

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Or you can load it from the airplane or the airport or while you're on a cruise ship.

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And now with lower prices, more people can get on board before getting away.

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Sony, Barnes and Noble and Amazon have shaved the price off their e-readers to under 200 bucks.

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Barnes and Noble execs say part of the reason for the price cut was a big summer reading push,

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but another reason could be a pricier and higher-tech competitor with the introduction of the iPad.

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You just touch the corner and it'll flip to the next page.

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iPads boast color touch screens and have a lot more uses but carry a starting price tag of 500 bucks.

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Compare that to a $15 paperback bestseller.

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Market analyst Michael Norris says that's why less than 10 percent of the population bought an e-book last year.

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There are still some bonuses to books at the beach.