I’ve already addressed the main differences between e-books and print books, and this time, I’ll go a bit more into detail on the respective pros and cons.
For the most part, I prefer print books—you can’t beat their scent—but it is true that they can be rather bulky, especially hardcover versions. I also don’t mega love that many times the more expensive hardcovers are published first and it’s months before the more accessible paperbacks are available. (Yes, I know that it’s a business decision, but I can’t shell out over $20 for each book I want and I’m not the most patient of people.)
But back to digital vs. print, ebooks do allow you to carry many more texts in one device, which can be especially useful if you’re traveling.
Depending on your device’s features, you can also highlight passages and make notes without actually marking the text—although some people sometimes want to have their books with colors and notes. (It IS a pretty cool aesthetic thing I’ve seen on Instagram.) Plus, you can see what other readers have highlighted.
It’s also easier to search through an ebook for a particular word or term, as there’s a search function similar to that found on other programs. This might depend on the format of the text file and on your device’s model, though.
Another plus is that you can easily follow links—if you’ve got an internet connection—to other texts or anything that the author(s) or editor(s) may have included.
On the other hand, if your device is on the more modern side, it might be more of a tablet with many more apps and, well, distractions. Which is why my Kindle is one of the earlier generations and I’m not updating it, thank you very much. (Yes, I’m avoiding the problem altogether rather than developing skills to learn to manage it.)
Another plus for print books is that you don’t need to check if the device is charged or not. No battery? No problem.
That said, many ebooks have a backlight (or something like that) that means the device can be used in darker places without worrying about a lamp or another light source being on. This can be really helpful if there’s someone by your side and they’re trying to doze off.
Plus, it’s easier to find occasional discounts and promotions for ebooks, which can be bought with one click (no issues with delivery times or additional expenses).
Overall, yes, digital books appear to have more benefits than paper ones, but the smell…and the feeling of getting a new package and opening it, well, that’s not the same as synching your device. So, which one do you prefer?
