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Books versus E-books?

I love to have an actual book in my hand when I am at home or in the library. However, when I travel, I find it cumbersome to carry multiple books with me. Therefore, I use my tablet and Kindle app with my e-books.

While at work in a school library, I find that students, while living in a digital age, still prefer the physical book as well. When doing research, though, the students and I prefer online journals and periodicals. It seems a bit contradictory, I know. I love having the option of media. I love the technology.

What are your thoughts on books versus e-books?

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Permalink Reply by Dr. N K Pachauri on July 18, 2014 at 15:17

There is no replacement of printed book in this world. I always like to use printed books. There is a freedom to use the books as and when required according to our need and it also gives great relief to my eyes comparatively using PC/Laptop or mobile. It is my opinion that to learn and understand a concept in a better way the printed books always has upper hand. 

E books are space saving and easy to handle for Library and Information  Science Professionals.  E books should be used for entertainment and leisure periods. This technology should be adopted in modern library because multiple authors can use a single book at a time.

Permalink Reply by Madhu Bhatt on July 18, 2014 at 17:24

Very true, the pleasure of print reading is far more greater than reading it online. 

Permalink Reply by Ajit P on July 19, 2014 at 4:20

Dear Sir,

Thanks for this post. My happy place is undeniably used bookstores: I love the smell of aged paper and new books what i used to buy for new academic sessions at school days; I love to organized chaos; and, I love finding hidden and unexpected gems. But i personally believe to focus on content rather than how it is delivered to the end user 

Permalink Reply by vasumathi on July 18, 2014 at 18:43

    Both options have positive and negative features. I think it's a matter of tech lovers like e-books, while people who are more traditionalist prefer physical books.

I prefer my e-reader for most books for several reasons:

  • The portability and light weight. Holds multiple books.
  • Comfortable in adjusting font size is user friendly in e-version, which lacks in printed version
  • Ability to search definition/ Words
  • EBooks often cost less than the physical book
  • Some ppl says e -reader will cause eyestrain, right now it is no longer the case, there are E-readers available in E-ink screen (a screen reads like paper with no glare, even in bright sunlight)

Of course, I do use print Books where dey are sumtym appropriate...

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ajit P on July 19, 2014 at 4:38

Dear Vasumati Mam

                             I agree with what you said "tech lovers". I used to write about Technostress and while reading on this topic, I got to knw by the literature reviews that many ppl dont accept technology in their routine life as they comment their personal life will be disturbed. When I came for an interview here at Jammu, my director also asked me this question wat i posted...

According to them, printed material is easy to memories and does not support any ergonomics....  

Permalink Reply by vasumathi on July 19, 2014 at 19:24

Dear Sir,

       Its nt a dispute, but we hv to accept some facts as we are  growing hastily, Technology  has become a necessity  more than option,, It has neither lessened or added stress to our life. The advantage and disadvantage (depending on how you look at it) - it has made many things easier and quicker. Noo Technology has spoiled or affect   routine life ,,.Even though dey say  it affects their personal life , dey are hardly addicted,, They cant compromise the Google  lyf style. I live on the internet  (highspeed.. )  it doesnt really change  life until you have high speed because you cant do all the stuff on dial up. Literally.. I research on net,  converse on  net, shop on the net. Read on the net. I have access to things that I would never have access to without.  Its nt only me,,, almost , Most of the ppl   are dependent ,and finding it foolproof ,it is tough for most of  them to get adaptable in  to the world widout technology , dey wld go insane, No research papers are done manually widout the support of technology nwadys. Yeah , I too luv the smell of Books,, feel the  illustrations   as a real characters,, etc,,,its all a temporary  feel of pleasure. But Practically   soft copies are always complacent.

 

Permalink Reply by sonia gaur on July 18, 2014 at 19:16

Both have advantages and its depend on us which we find more convenient .According to me print books gives more pleasure of reading and understanding the material.

Permalink Reply by Manjunath K S on July 18, 2014 at 21:32
It's all about generation gap we are means our generation likes to read printed books but today's world means young generation they would like ebooks. Now a days school children's also using tabs PCs smart phones etc that is the main reason they are going with ebooks. That's why this is all about generation and technological gap.
Permalink Reply by Ajit P on July 19, 2014 at 4:11

My own observations have shown me that people who like to read will read anything. It doesn't seem to matter how the content is delivered, they just want to read. In our house we have a Kindle and I have the kindle app installed on my iPhone for those times when I get stuck waiting somewhere.  People need to focus on the content, and quit worrying about how the package is delivered.

Permalink Reply by Munesh Kumar on July 19, 2014 at 18:41

...very nice topic, quite real and empirical. It is not matter of love and choices in case of books and e-books, love can be balanced with both kinds of medium without any clash in its relation. I love to have both.

But...as per my knowledge concern, the purpose of a invention is to provide a solutions and knowledge on non existing phenomena, same in case of e-books. E-books are having very strong justification behind loving it, and printed books are too, which start from emotional touch and end with the same and not only emotional relation, some more strong and real point are there such as:

Economy:

In terms of economy, the printed books are one time investment and e-book requires associated/recurring cost of power, internet data pack, and etc. ( which may be lesser but, it is)

Health:

It is called health is wealth, hence, a printed books has no any side effects for eyes, but e-books need a reading screen to read the content, and which is a question on health, particular on eyes, and skin. E-book readers are not much ergonomic or not ( depends up on the product).

Multiple reading interface:

Each printed, open book acts as a screen/interface for reader, but in case of kindle and other e-books readers, less possible to get multiple screen.

Etc.

Etc.

Etc.

The printed books are incomparable, but the reason to love the e-books are nothing but its features. At personal level both can be admitted, but at large scale, at community label, we should think in frame of above points.

--

Munesh Kumar

NITG

Permalink Reply by Ajit P on July 21, 2014 at 3:32
Dear Munish,
Thanks for ur valuable reply in context to the post. Your views related to advantages to this post is appreciable. .
Permalink Reply by Siddu on July 20, 2014 at 16:27

Its a pleasure reading "VIEWS"  and "COUNTER VIEWS".  Its a 'Good' & 'Healthy' debate from the members of this forum.

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