Although we can’t imagine our lives without books, the written word is undergoing significant changes. E-books have no smell and do not convey the true spirit of traditional reading, but their share is constantly growing.
Undoubtedly, e-books already come along with traditional paper books. But do they have enough power to completely oust the latter from the market? Let’s try to find out along with me, Lucy Adams, a freelance essay writer, and blogger.
The Advantages Of E-Books
The attractiveness of digital books has increased dramatically along with the appearance of e-readers of a new generation, with a wireless connection, comfortable screen, and the ability to download books anywhere and anytime.
The owners of Kindle and Sony Reader unanimously praise the numerous benefits of e-books and their advantages over the traditional analogs.
1. Availability
Search and purchase of books in various formats saves our time and space, eliminating heavy and bulky bookshelves. However, not every printed book has an electronic analog, especially if we speak about rarities and new books. As a rule, e-version gets live after some delay, and that’s the reason for enduring popularity of paper books.
2. Price
Printed books have a fairly high price, which makes almost impossible to buy all desired items while e-books are available in the public domain.
3. Gift
It is very difficult to find an appropriate e-book for the little ones since “spiritless” e-books can’t provide tactile sensations and some other unique experiences.
Although a paper book is still the best gift, an e-book may be a beautiful present as well, especially for advanced adherents of e-reading. Ebooks of the latest model are smart, stylish, and very comfortable gifts for the modern, intelligent and dynamic people.
4. Ease Of Reading
In recent past, e-reading was attached to the monitor, whereas a printed novel could be read on the couch, at the station, on a bench, and so on. However, nowadays you don’t lose mobility are not dependent on the charger. Moreover, your eyes get tired the same way as when dealing with a conventional book.
Quick and easy search for information, which is especially important for educational literature and reference books, is another big plus of e-books.
5. Appearance
[pullquote]There’s no accounting for taste. Many book lovers are fascinated by the smell of a new book, elegant binding, the history and the warmth of a book.[/pullquote] It’s an unbelievable feeling when you read a book that was formerly in the hands of your boyfriend or father and see the forgotten bookmark or notes on the margins! That kind of personalization and history is something that you will never get when reading an e-book.
However, we can’t name e-book completely lifeless as they do convey mood by the individual elements like a cover (textile, plastic or leather). A modern e-reader is an important accessory for a business image.
6. Additional Features
Listening to audio books and audio files, storage of information, lightness, comments and notes, search for text, hyperlinks within the text records, and much more useful opportunities put e-books ahead of anything created before them.
Do Paper Books Have a Chance?
Of course, e-books do have minuses. For example, new models are still relatively expensive and can’t be shared with family members (otherwise, you will stay for a few days without your pocket library).
According to Danny Neal, the editor of The Bookseller, often a person comes to the old bookstore to search for and study new products, and then go to an online store to download for free what he looked closer.
Of course, this is a great problem for beginners, because the promotion exclusively on the Internet is much more difficult. You can create hype on a Facebook page, but it is unlikely people will buy things they were not going to buy.
Yes, the pros outweigh the cons. Yes, the cost of production, delivery, and storage of paper books is much higher. But does it mean the disappearance of the latter is as close as never before?
I think it’s still too early to make such a conclusion. Most publishers and booksellers believe book industry is going through a transition period. Sales of paper books increase along with electronic. Moreover, some people buy e-book and paper books for different purposes!
According to experts, e-books may transform into something much more entertaining. In future, they may include audio and video clips, games, and other interactive elements.
E-books do not declare war on the bookshelves and libraries – they rather extend the capabilities of conventional publications.
Author Bio: Lucy Adams is a content writer, blogger, and outsourcer from bestessay. This active woman never refuses collaboration, so feel free to supply her with your fresh ideas. Lucy loves researching and there’s always a great chance that you’ll get one of your suggestions brought to life!
Paper Books vs. E-Books – The Future Of Reading
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