image via ereadersincanada.com
Before ebooks entered the arena, hardback and paperback books served as home to our favorite heroes and heroines of fantasy. Today, there seems to be a constant debate over which type of book offers the best reading experience.
Ebook vs Book: Does it really matter which format of book we choose?
Each book format has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance here are some…
Advantages of ebooks
- Easy to buy. Once you have an e-reader like a Kindle, iPad, Nook, etc., downloading an ebook without making the trip to the bookstore is a plus in this fast-paced world.
- Light and easy to tote. While traveling, one can carry many books on a single device and access thousands of options with a few taps.
- More affordable (usually). The price of an ebook is typically much less than the price of its paperback and/or hardback equivalent.
Disadvantages of ebooks
- Require batteries and recharging. Running out of battery life in the middle of your read is a downer for ebook fans.
- Are subject to restrictions. Airline restrictions – like powering down your electronic devices at certain times of your flight – can be a real downer, especially when your neighbor is able to continue cruising through their physical book.
While many folks like the convenience that downloading an ebook provides, many others don’t think it’s worth it. Fans of physical books are well aware of the…
Advantages of paperback books
- Tactile. Most paperback book lovers simply cannot part with the pleasure that turning a real, physical page offers them.
- Easier note-taking and bookmarking. Although e-readers do have note-taking and bookmarking functionality, most folks agree it’s far easier to scribble ideas, highlight text or earmark pages in physical books.
- Less fuss. Physical books don’t have to be recharged, can be tossed in a bag and dropped on the floor without consequence.
- Sweet scent. Some folks just love the smell of books, which e-books can’t offer (yet).
- Easier to share. Although some e-readers enable their owners to share or borrow books, physical books are far easier to exchange with others – free of charge.
Disadvantages of paperback books
- Light-dependent. Most e-readers are backlit. In contrast, if you want to read a physical book in poorly-lit areas, you will need to bring a light (or your night vision goggles).
- Not as cool. Paperback books simply consist of paper and ink – they don’t have the wow factor that an electronic gizmo like a Kindle Fire boasts. If you have a twelve-year-old son, he’d likely rather get a Kindle for Christmas than a copy of a book.
We recently found this neat video to visually demonstrate some of the considerations listed above related to the topic of ebook vs book…
My Two Cents
The battle between paper and ebook rages on between writers, publishers, and media professionals, but it is the reader and consumer who determines the final answer.
Personally, I think there is a place for both types of books. At home, I enjoy turning the pages of a good book. On the road, I tote my superheroes/heroines in my Kindle Paperwhite. I think we are very fortunate to live in a time when we have a choice between the printed version or ebook.
Not so long ago, ebooks were a futuristic concept that seemed to belong in an adventure/fantasy novel. The important thing is not how we choose to read, but that we keep reading, exploring, and imagining!
Do your superheroes reside inside your electronic devise or in the pages of a paperback? Let me know your preference and other disadvantages and advantages of each book format that I might have missed in the comments below.
