In
class this semester, we have thoroughly discussed the possibility that printed
books are on their way out. Barnes & Noble is continuously closing stores
around the country. College textbooks are losing value because of the ever-growing
presence of online textbooks. Bookshelves around the nation are losing
significant, while millions of files are being downloaded everyday. As an
English major, I obviously have a lot of opinions on the current shift taking
place in the book and printing culture, and they are not as negative as one
might think they would be. The following are three takeaways from class and my
personal life about why digital books are improving the reader’s experience.
1.Digital books open a world of
endless possibilities
·
I’ll admit it. I have converted to eBooks in my
personal life. I use the standard app on my iPad, iBook. There are several
reasons that I like iBook. First off, there are thousands upon thousands of
options to purchase books at the tip of my finger. All it takes is a quick
search and press of a button. This summer I read Happy by Alex Lemon. I searched three different bookstores, none of
which carried the book in stores. Instead of waiting a week to have it shipped
to the store or my house, I downloaded the book on iBook in about 30 seconds.
My dad owns a Kindle, as does my aunt. They are able to share their purchases,
providing each of them with double the amount of books. Not to mention- it’s
easier to carry around my iPad Mini than 25+ hardcopy books. My backpack is
very much appreciative of the eBook phenomena.
2.Digital books are greater
resources than hardcopy books.
·
How many times have you been reading a novel or
textbooks and come across a word that is completely foreign to you? Often times
readers do not take the time to put down the books and pull out a dictionary or
Internet search to research the definition. With an eBook, the middle step is
taken out. In iBook, I just have to highlight a word and click “Define” and the
definition pops up right on my screen. The same can be said for most eBooks,
also providing thesaurus, highlights, and note-taking tools. I take a lot of
notes when I read, and it is much easier to do so using an eBook than a
hardcopy. I am able to highlight a word without it bleeding through the page
and write in a “margin” that is legible and neatly organized and does not
clutter the page. Overall, I have found it easier to learn while reading an
eBook.
3.Digital books are often
cheaper.
·
While this is not always the case, I have often
found the eBooks are more affordable than hardcopy. For example, Happy (previously mentioned) was around
$13 plus shipping at Barnes and Noble or Amazon. On iBook, I was able to
download it immediately for $6. In my experience, popular books or brand new
works may be closer to the same price; however, the eBook price is often
considered a better opportunity cost because it does involve shipping, waiting
on a book, driving to the bookstore, etc. The download is instantaneous.
Additionally, many eBook companies often have a list of free downloads. While
these are often unknown novels that do not have a lot of interest, there is
potential that the reader reads a book that he or she enjoys at no cost. I have
friends who only read the free books; they find new interests, and often an
entire series will be available to download for free. In my opinion, eBooks
provide more benefits for a lower price than hardcopy books.
While I love snuggling up in bed with a cup
of coffee and good book, I have substituted my original copy of To Kill a Mockingbird with a digital
copy. There are certainly benefits to sticking with hardcopy, something I have
done with college textbooks. Despite the longstanding success of the printing
and publishing industry, I believe that print culture is going to continue to
change, shifting toward online and digital and the primary, preferred method
for readers.
You bring up some really interesting points. Though I think I will forever be a "book" lover till the day I die, there is simply no denying the shift in how we read books. Ebooks are basically more convenient than regular, physical books. They take up significantly less space thereby making them easier to transport and store, they're cheaper, and they offer more resources to further the reader's learning. As much as I would love to pitch an argument and claim that people will always need/want actual books, I must agree with you. With these three major benefits, ebooks will soon replace books and be the new form of reading due to their level of convenience for readers.
ReplyDeleteYou make some very good points about the shift in how people are getting information. I think that in the future eBooks will be the norm because of everything you said; they are more accessible, cheaper, and have endless possibilities. I'll admit that I only read eBooks when I'm traveling because I don't want to carry five books around with me. However, I think that in the future the price of making actual hardcover books will be so high that it'll only make sense to buy eBooks. I think that we'll almost slip back into a Renassiance mindset, where books are super expensive but beautifully made. While this may be depressing for some book lovers (myself included) I think we'll have to catch up with the times or get left behind, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this, I kept thinking "yes, so true." The prevalence of eBooks was a topic that I chose to discuss as well, and you do a great job at explaining just why eBooks are gaining so much popularity. The bottom line is that they are so much more convenient. They allow many more books to be carried at one time, and they have become better priced than hardcopy books. For me, I prefer holding a book and curling up and turning the pages, however, the eBook for textbooks are so much less expensive that it simply makes fiscal sense to purchase the electronic version. You bring up a good point when you say that with the growing popularity of eBooks, the value of hardcopy books decreases. I find this interesting because in a college setting, the physical copy is more expensive, but it does not provide a large benefit to purchase this version because the buyback rate is so low, due to the decreasing value.
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent argument for the benefits of ebooks. I myself am not an ebook user, mostly out of stubbornness. I have always loved paper books, and I don't want to admit that there might be a different way of reading that is just as good or even better. But as you've pointed out, there are many things ebooks offer that enhance the reading experience. For instance, the dictionary, thesaurus, note-taking, etc. are immensely helpful tools. With resources like these, as well as the links, notes from the author, videos, and others that are being added to ebooks these days, the reading experience is enhanced and becomes all the more enthralling. Readers are able to dive into the stories in ways they never could before. The convenience of ebooks is also not to be overlooked. While there is a certain excitement in going to a bookstore and picking out the perfect book, the ease of access to thousands of books is definitely appealing. While I'm not yet converted to an ebook lover, you've managed to weaken my argument against them.
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ReplyDeleteYou make some really great points. I am personally not an eBook fan, because screens give me headaches if I stare at them too long, even wearing my glasses. I also fully believe that not using technology about a half hour before going to sleep helps you fall asleep faster, although I don't always practice that myself. Carrying around 10 books that I'm reading or about to read is a pain, but the switch over to an eBook will most likely not happen, out of pure stubbornness. Your argument is pretty convincing to make the switch, however, especially with the sharing feature, which means double the books. Great post!
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