Amazon has recently reported it’s selling two ebooks on it’s kindle to one of every paper book sold. This got me thinking, why can’t I embrace my love of literature through the medium of technology. I have an Iphone, with the kindle app. on it, yet don’t use it. So let’s look at the advantages of ebooks versus paper based:
| Ebooks |
Paper Based Books |
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Access to your entire purchased library at any time.
Technology smaller and easier to carry than a paper based book.
Take up less space, no over filled bookshelf.
Usally some what water proof. * Not that I’d recommend you put it to the test.
Book mark doesn’t fall out of the book.
It will recommend other books you might like based on what others who’ve purchased the book have also read.
No postage and packing costs, as they are delivered via download over the Internet.
No waiting for delivery, purchase of the book is instant as is delivery via download.
Environmentally friendly – no trees are required along with the process of making paper, the process it’s self can also be damaging to the environment.
Fonts can be resized for those who have poor eye sight.
Often cheaper than paper based books.
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Presented as the author intended.
Doesn’t require battery power.
Reliable information – publishers check information and the authors credability, whereas anyone can publish an ebook apparently.
Editorial – good level of grammar and spelling, ebooks might not have that level of editorial if self-published.
Many publishers now use recycled paper or participate in schemes such as for every one tree used, we plant two.
A paper book has soul.
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Clearly the ebook has many more advantages than paper books. But to me paper books have soul. It’s a bit of a difficult concept to explain. I can walk over to my bookshelf and run my finger along the titles looking for some information I’ve previously read. I find one that I think might have in the information I’m looking for, and I pick it up. It feels like the book were I’ve previously read the information. I just know it is. The glossy cover encourages me to open it up and inside the paper has that new book smell. I run my finger down the contents scanning for what I’m looking for and then get distracted by another section in the book. I eventually sit back satisfied, I’ve not only found the information I’m looking for but also reread several other chapters that I’d completely forgotten about, generating new ideas and concepts for me to explore later.
You don’t get any of that with ebooks. You click your app, and use the search to find what your looking for in your purchased library. Results come up, done. You don’t go through the journey of finding the information and therefore don’t find any of those other chapters that generate new ideas and concepts. Remember it’s not the destination that’s important, but how you get there.
So the reason I love paper books versus ebooks is because they have soul. Not the most factual based reason, but it’s how I feel. And remember, no one can ever tell you what you feel is wrong. Even if kids do look at you as if you’ve got two heads when you pull out a paper back in Costa Coffee.
Write soon,
Antony
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