Real books vs. e-books

['Oma Tirea]

Personally I prefer e-books for various reasons.  Most of those same reasons are bound to wash away reasons why people love paperback.

[Yayo]

Okay?

[Plumps]

I'm just going to quote Giles from Buffy in I, Robot ... You, Jane

I know. Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower, or a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell musty and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is a — it has no texture, no context. It's there and then it's gone. If it's to last, then the getting of knowledge should be tangible, it should be smelly.

Maybe not just the getting of knowledge but also the joy of a good story, then

[bommel]

I prefer having technical literature in electronic form while reading a good story on paper.

[Puvomun]

I like how people have the choice between dead-tree books and their electronic cousins.
As with so many things, it is all about choice. I usually favour ebooks as well, but when I look at the Avatar Artwork book I picked up at the EMP, with the big pages and magnificent fold-out images... that is not yet something possible on an e-reader. Or whatever tablet that is accessible for mere mortals.

['Itan Atxur]

Definitely prefer to have the actual book. eBooks require a battery to maintain memory and therefore will someday loose whatever library it once had stored. Books can last FAR longer. Imagine if the Library of Alexandria hadn't burned down?


*5000TH POST!!!

[Nyx]

I prefer real books because of smelland feel (yes, including the arm cramps from holding a book above my head for hours). I start getting a bit torn when it comes to giant course books, they're really heavy but it's still easier to read from paper than a screen. Plus, I like making notes and comments in the margins (my brother once borrowed a chemistry book from me, when I got it back he had added "lol" to so many of my comments)

The only thing I think real books lack is a ctrl+F feature (oh and it kind of sucks that we cut down trees for them, I like trees)

[Amaya]

When it comes down to it I prefer real books, but if I were going on a trip or going to the cabin for an extended time, then e-books are totally the way to go, since it would mean my suitcase would weigh a whooooooole lot less    I used to pack literally six to twleve books with me when going on trips!

Mind you, I'd still likely stick to my old habit of buying a new book in the bookstore in the airport...it's the best way to pass the time, after all!

[Kamean]

I also prefer real books, but for the preservation of forests newspapers, documents, reference and technical books etc should be transfered into electronic form.

['Itan Atxur]

I'm curious whats more destructive: Cutting down trees or making electronics?

['Oma Tirea]

I also prefer real books, but for the preservation of forests newspapers, documents, reference and technical books etc should be transfered into electronic form.

Gotta agree.  I have heard there are some things unforgettable about a real book, such as the sensuals (looks, feels, smells).  Perhaps in an ideal world, books would be mass-produced electronically, but real books would be kept, lest technology fails.

However, there is one important thing to consider first:

I'm curious whats more destructive: Cutting down trees or making electronics?

If I were to make an educated guess, cutting down trees for more books is more destructive than making electronics.  One electronic device can last a long time, and hold many books.  One book can't hold other books, and it will likely deteriorate before the technology fails (assuming good upkeep on both).

[bommel]

But the prodcution process of electronics (and the disposal) involves very hazardous materials (mercury, lead, ...).

['Itan Atxur]

You also have to take into account the way electronics are used my most people. People buy a cellphone, use it for a year or two and then throw it away. People that actually hold onto and care for their electronics for more than a decade are VERY rare.

Books on the other hand can pass from generation to generation. And many people I know will either sell a book or give it to a friend instead of throwing it away.

In both cases the simple solution is to reduce our population and then maintain it once we reach that level. Then we could make all the books and electronics we wanted.

[bommel]

In both cases the simple solution is to reduce our population and then maintain it once we reach that level. Then we could make all the books and electronics we wanted.

That's the main problem...

['Itan Atxur]

It's amazing how many of our problems population control would solve yet NOBODY is talking about it.

['Oma Tirea]

You also have to take into account the way electronics are used my most people. People buy a cellphone, use it for a year or two and then throw it away. People that actually hold onto and care for their electronics for more than a decade are VERY rare.

Right, and that's the other half of the problem I was talking about....

It's amazing how many of our problems population control would solve yet NOBODY is talking about it.

Mllte ngahu nìwotx!  It's astonishing also how no one is even thinking that it's a big root for many of our 'Rrta-hurting problems. /offtopic

[Yayo]

I prefer real books because of smell and feel (yes, including the arm cramps from holding a book above my head for hours). I start getting a bit torn when it comes to giant course books, they're really heavy but it's still easier to read from paper than a screen. Plus, I like making notes and comments in the margins (my brother once borrowed a chemistry book from me, when I got it back he had added "lol" to so many of my comments)

The only thing I think real books lack is a ctrl+F feature (oh and it kind of sucks that we cut down trees for them, I like trees)

Ah yes, I love smelling books.

[Kamean]

I prefer real books because of smell and feel (yes, including the arm cramps from holding a book above my head for hours). I start getting a bit torn when it comes to giant course books, they're really heavy but it's still easier to read from paper than a screen. Plus, I like making notes and comments in the margins (my brother once borrowed a chemistry book from me, when I got it back he had added "lol" to so many of my comments)

The only thing I think real books lack is a ctrl+F feature (oh and it kind of sucks that we cut down trees for them, I like trees)

Ah yes, I love smelling books.

And I.