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Originally Posted by rcentros
So, if I give you an eBook (on a thumb drive) how do you read it? If you don't have some kind of computer (including an eReader) you can't. An eBook can not be read on its own, it requires an intermediate device. It doesn't even have words, it's just a long string of ones and zeroes if you don't have a computer.
No, a book is a book (and remains a book until crumbles into dust or is destroyed). It's existence doesn't depend on whether someone reads it or not. Just as a tree remains a tree whether or not anyone sees it.
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Your reasoning still seems inconsistent.
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No, a book is a book (and remains a book until crumbles into dust or is destroyed).
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No, an ebook is a book (and remains an book until it isn't, file is erased or storage is destroyed).
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It's existence doesn't depend on whether someone reads it or not.
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I don't see how this differs from an ebook.
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So, if I give you an eBook (on a thumb drive) how do you read it? If you don't have some kind of computer (including an eReader) you can't.
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So if I give someone an ereader with a single ebook on it, then you have a book.
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An eBook can not be read on its own, it requires an intermediate device.
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Why does that matter I thought part of your argument is:
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It's existence doesn't depend on whether someone reads it or not.
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It doesn't even have words, it's just a long string of ones and zeroes if you don't have a computer.
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A book doesn't have words either. It has strokes that are interpreted as glyphs. Or has dots of ink that are interpreted as glyphs. Or toner that is interpreted as glyphs, ...
I have no problem with the dictionary definition of book. Here is another one:
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a written text that can be published in printed or electronic form:
Have you read any good books recently?
He has a new book out (= published).
She wrote a book on car maintenance.
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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/...y/english/book
But if you are talking about a book on MR, or in a modern context, "a book is a pbook" seems like an archaic definition.