Why eBooks are
better than books…
OR NOT
Scripted by Tiffany Lei
As technology is advancing, things are more convenient to get online rather than physically going to the store. Books are no exception. With apps like iBooks, Kindle, and nook, is it essential to buy physical copies books anymore? Sure, I hate lugging around textbooks every day to and from
school, but with easier access to books on a tablet or phone is it worth
buying a paper copy of a book or going to the library to check something
out?
PROS of an eReader
Convenience. Having an eReader is so much more convenient.
Nowadays, you can get an app on your phone or tablet that allows
you access to books. The book comes right away without having to go through the trouble of going to a bookstore or library. When you
are the kind of reader who hates cliffhangers and desperately needs
the second or third book to a series to know what happens next,
eReaders are preferable because they are fast. It definitely beats
waiting for the book to be delivered to your house or even
waiting to get off the waitlist from the library.
Lighter. Carrying around a tablet or phone is a lot lighter
even if you have a whole library on it than carrying around
ten books in my bag.
Cheaper. It’s also usually a lot cheaper to buy books
online than to buy physical copies of a book.
More “green.” As someone who cares deeply about
the environment, I think having a tablet is “green”
because the books themselves don’t require paper
or shipping.
Easier to read and eat. One of my personal
favorites is that reading and eating at the same
time is a lot easier with a tablet because there is
no need to figure out how to keep a book open
on the table.
CONS of an eReader
e-Readers are expensive. If you don’t
already have an iPad, Kindle, Nook, or some
reading device, buying one can be expensive.
No “used” e-Books. As someone who
loves old bookstores and enjoys the benefit
of buying older or secondhand books that are
a lot cheaper, for me, buying e-books can get
expensive.
Inability to lend and obtain autographs.
Without a physical copy of a book, it’s impossible
to let friends or family borrow a book. It’s also
(obviously) impossible to get a book autographed
by the author. This takes away from the personal
feel of the book. If you can’t meet someone in person
to give them a copy of a book, then it reduces the chance
of being able to talk to them about it. Similar to getting
an autograph from an author, there’s a difference between
meeting the author and talking about the book and meeting
with the author AND getting a signature in a physical copy
of the book that you own.
Lost aesthetics. This is an argument against an eReader
that not everyone may understand, but there are lost
aesthetics in not having a physical copy of the book. I love
the aesthetic photos of books, bookshelves, and the new book
smell. Something else that plays a huge factor in the lost
aesthetics is when I read good books, I have this (shameful)
inexplicable feeling of wanting to own the book in its physical
copy even if I’ve already read the book. I’ve only met a handful
of people who relate to me to this extent, but I love owning my
own copy of a favorite book, and nothing else could sway me.