Nook, Kindle and eReaders, Be Damned!

[kimaginethis]

 Here's my argument against eBook readers.  They have their place, I'm sure -- just not in my house. :)

Confessions of a Paper Pusher: Why I Refuse to Yield to eBooks

Interestingly, Yahoo!Associated Content refused upfront payment for this because they said no one would do a search for anything like this.  I disagreed and published it anyway, without

Comments

[frootloopkicker]

I'm with you on the point that I prefer traditional books to eReaders. I love owning a book, I love curling up with it on the couch, I love the weight of it in my hands...

But I think there is a benefit to having an eReader or the like. If someone is a big traveler, carrying a digital book is certainly better than several large hard covers taking up precious real estate in a small suitcase, not to mention the weight factor. (I know I would have appreciated digital books when I was traveling through Italy this past summer. I took with me a couple of very large books--one about 700 pages--, and my mother was so irritated that we had to lug them around and lift my heavy suitcase on and off the trains.)

Also, speaking for students everywhere, digital books are so much more economical than traditional textbooks. I know so many people who have had to purchase a $300 science book to have it be outdated by the next year so they can't even sell it back. My friends who are bio or chemistry majors easily spend $700-1000 on books every semester. When there is a digital copy available, not only do they save hundreds of dollars on the book, but they also are eliminating the waste of natural resources and are saving their backs much undo stress by not carrying around thousands of pages of science texts.

In conclusion, I do prefer hard copies to digitals, and nothing will stop me from dropping far too much money after an afternoon at my favorite book store. However, for some people, eReaders are the best and most economical option, and while I intend to continue growing my collection of books, I could definitely see myself investing in an eReader some day for the times when I am doing extensive travel.

[miri_me]

Plus, when you grab your eReader before setting off on a journey/trip, you don't need to think "what book am I in the mood for? How long will I be travelling for? Should I take a second (or third, or 18th) one with me, just in case?"

(I'm just talking about a couple of hours on the train to see my parents; but if I pick up a book about the same size and weight as my eReader, I can finish it in less than the journey, especially if it's an old favourite! And then there's the time I spend there when I want to read. And the journey home...)

I'm awful with bookmarks (I like them, but I'm brilliant at mislaying them!), so I like that I can mark up a page I'll want to come back to, or just close it and put it down.

I like that, if you're reading a classic/other massive 500+ page tome, rather than it weighing enough to make your arms ache if you're reading lying on your back, it's barely heavier than my phone.

I love books. I love the way they look and feel and the promise and excitement that they bring... And my house is overflowing with them (one of my friends moved in with us recently, which is great - but means I now have a tall bookcase less than I used to. And I had more books than shelf space before that anyway). It doesn't stop me from bringing more home (my work has a book amnesty area) but it does mean that this is a bit of an issue, really... Whereas I can download hundreds more onto my eReader. After I while, I'll need a bigger memory card, but those really don't take up much room!