Ebooks vs Books
By ehlana88
@ehlana88 (330)
United States
February 14, 2009 8:11pm CST
Today seems to be all about reading for me. So on to another train of thought. Recently a friend of mine was trying to convince me to purchase a Kinder reader. That's this little palm-sized electronic device that stores books and allows you to read them. Now you can adjust things like light and font size etc to a personal preference.
I was just not having it. The glory of a book for me is not just reading the story but stepping away and curling up somewhere away from electronics. No computer, no tv, occassionally some soft music, a glass of wine. No outlet necessary. No need to worry about did I charge it, did I really accidentally delete that book I wanted to read. Plus, my eyes read something on the hard page a whole lot better than on an electronic device. Even my beloved computers can exhaust my eyes very easily.
I also came across an article yesterday from a bookbinder's website that says that book sales are shrinking. (This was obviously written before the economic crisis got so bad.) They said that part of it wasn't just economy but ebook availability. Yes it is easier to pop into your study, download the next Stephen Meyer book, and head out the door but I LOVE browsing libraries and bookstores. Finding a new author in a section you haven't visited in a while. Reading a book is an experience, a journey, a legacy to be passed down and shared. I don't want everything to be ebooks.
Am I being stubborn or techno-phobic? What are your thoughts on Ebooks?
4 people like this
23 responses
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
15 Feb 09
They are very useful when it comes to being on the computer. But, when it comes to reading.. I dislike them. My eyes are not equipped to read an ebook off of the computer. I would rather have them printed by paper. I will read it then. I can see much clearer. I prefer book form. That helps me to read faster and easier.
1 person likes this
@tea512 (687)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I think you need to find a delicate balance between both, I never thought I would be someone who listens to audio books, when I started commuting an hour a day they became a way to listen ot classics as I drive. I have trouble reading books on my iTouch but it was cool to have something to read waiting at a doctors office. There are alot of new things out there, I agree nothing will beat the feeling of opening a book and feeling it in your hands as you flip the pages. I also agree with the unplug aspect of reading. The thing about it is 10 years ago we did not even have these options. At least the publisher is not trying to implate a chip of the book in your arm.
1 person likes this
@tea512 (687)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I remember telling a friend using the quote "How many times am I supposed to listen to Steve Miller Band Fly Like and Eagle in one lifetime,anyway?" I download free classics from the online library, most of the time it is something I read in high school or college. Last week I listen to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson, this was a great audio book because it is read/spoken in the first person.
@snowy22315 (169649)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I dont think I have actually read any ebooks. I think that I have only read boound books. This is something that I will often read and am lookinf forward to reading again. This is something that I think that I will often do and look at in the future.
1 person likes this
@ddfreedie (690)
• India
15 Feb 09
ebooks are really a good way to study online....but reading on the is kinda different feeling...so i prefer reading on books rather on ebooks
1 person likes this
@psxf5467 (19)
• China
15 Feb 09
Ebooks are very convenient,i have downloaded many ebooks in my mobilephone,while in the bus or other places i can't read books i can use my phone to read ebooks,but reading to much ebooks on computers and mobilephones is bad to our eyes,so it is only use in some time,most of the time i still read paper books.
@busyB4 (874)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I guess they would keep your bookshelves clear, but I have LOTS of books. I prefer to read them the old way. I sometimes swap mine in on paperbackswap and then get more I havent read! I just dont think the effect would be the same! Be my luck I would get all into the story and the battery go out or something! Ha!
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I love books, but I am open to Ebooks. When I get my Kindle, I will be getting those like crazy.
@santhosheie (212)
• India
15 Feb 09
I too have many e books i am very eager to download a rare books to refer but while read i kn't able to read in computer its very irritating my eyes .......
1 person likes this
@zhuuraan (961)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I prefer ebooks for several reasons.
1. I am visually impaired and I cannot see to read standard paper books, but a screen reader can read ebooks.
2. I don't like to read very much anyway, so having books around is too much clutter.
3. Finding ebooks is fairly easy, especially if you know where to look, so on the occasion that I want or need one I will just find it.
Even the few books I have now will likely get scanned into ebooks and then sold.
@ronacruz2007 (650)
• Philippines
15 Feb 09
Well i like ebooks if i want more of INFORMATION or something techi but i usually prefer books if it is a novel. Because the essence really of buying a book is to enjoy it in your most convenient place and time or much while traveling or on a vacation . of course we want to read as much as possible away from the computer to feel it more.
@BlueGoblin (1829)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I would rather buy a book than use something like a Kindle. I think the Kindle could be useful in a school setting. I agree that the point of reading a book is sometime to get away from electronics. I think electronics is the future of reading because people want to use less paper.
1 person likes this
@maanrodriguez (604)
• Philippines
16 Feb 09
I do agree with your point that nothing compares to physically holding a book. You're right it is an experience and a journey that no piece of technology can ever replace. I guess why most people like ebooks is because it's the convenience of not having to carry piles and piles of books, other than that I dont really know why. Personally, I prefer tangible books.
1 person likes this
@pingi4real (10)
• Nigeria
15 Feb 09
For me i want to say that it is not really good to be reading ebooks with my following reasons, ebooks are in an electronics device called the computers,the screen of the computers are bad to our eyes because reading on a computer for along time will be very dangereous to the eyes,brains other parts of our sense organs.
@rmuxagirl (7548)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I prefer to have y books in front of me, able to hold and carry. I love to read books while I take a long hot bath, so taking a compputer or laptop there would nnot be a good idea lol. I am like you and I love to walk around the bookstores looking for a great find, and sometimes I find treasures. I recently got my hands on the Divine Comedy, I havent been able to find that anywhere. I jut love having a good book to read and hold. I love turning the pages and this may be odd, but the smell of new bookk.
1 person likes this
@vikramiyer2k (12)
• India
15 Feb 09
they're both good in their own ways, a physical book is much easier on your eyes.
but as they get old, the paper changes colour and breaks down, it's best then to keep all your totems of memory intact and fresh. so you can have a physical as well as a digital copy and store it online for easy access or share it easily with your friends, and they can decide to read it on an electronic device or have them printed. but I wouldn't defame the digital era, it's mostly done more good than bad.
say hello to interactive digital media. ;).
1 person likes this
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
15 Feb 09
I will always choose real books over e books. I love to hold a physical book in my hand and I'm sure that this is far better for you as you are not constantly staring at a computer screen! I love collecting and stacking books in my bookshelf, this gives me so much satisfaction and pleasure. I may run out of space eventually as I collect more and more books but I'm not worried about this. Here's to the wonderful physical book!! Andrew
1 person likes this
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Full-on novels formatted to eBooks might be a little hard to swallow for some. Especially those book fanatics that enjoy your admitted systematic approach to getting lost in fantasy land. Novelty/novel ...
However, the how-to and self-help eBooks are a HUGE industry. As a web writer, I've completed the text for at least a dozen eBooks: cookbooks, weight-loss advice, workout programs, home remedies, etc.
There's a huge convenience factor that is very under-appreciated by your classic "reader," and so they may be missing out on some great information in the form of an eBook.
But when it comes to literature, I don't feel as though everything we hold sacred needs to martyr itself for the sake of accessability and convenience. Real books shouldn't go the way of the Dodo. eBooks and literary works can easily exist as two separate entities in the same marketplace without the younger laying waste the elder.
1 person likes this
@ehlana88 (330)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Great response! I do have some ebooks for how-tos and cookbooks etc. Information wise, as a reference an ebook is easier, smaller, and faster to search. This, in my opinion, was why they were created. It was the next natural step for researchers. However I have seen a wider and wider market for ebooks growing. And I do worry that by the end of my lifespan books will be something only collectors have.
It's not that strange if you think about it. Fifty years ago no one had computers.
@yanzalong (18984)
• Indonesia
15 Feb 09
Both are just fine for me. If you are always on the go and don't want to be burdened with heavy piles of books, I think ebooks should be better. When you are at home, books are better. Since I am always on the go, I prefer ebooks on my nokia 9500.
1 person likes this
@andiel (117)
• Malaysia
15 Feb 09
Well, one thing for sure - most of ebooks are cheaper than printed books.
And another thing is that you are not techno-phobic. It just that reading a real books has its own sentimental and nostalgic value, especially when it comes to novels, poetry and story books.
I prefer to read real books, but what i usually do is that download ebooks and if i find too hard to read as of long content, i printed it. I do this a lot, but only to the ebooks about information, recipes and how to do this and that (DYI). I never read novels and on ebooks - the moment is not there.
