Books vs E-Readers

[Ricky D'Angelo]

After primarily using ereaders to read for the past couple of years I actually picked up a actual book to read. Since it was an old personal copy I enjoyed taking out a pen and making annotations in the margins. I've always loved physical books but hated finding space for them. Eventually, they ended up in a plastic bin in a outdoor shed and either ended up getting donated to a library bookstore or getting all moldy and thrown in the trash. Hence, when ereaders came along that was the way to go. Ereaders are cool and all but what are the advantages of books or vice versa? If you're stuck on ideas the following article may get you started.

http://www.theonion.com/graphic/book...-readers-52987

[Ricky D'Angelo]

Well, another advantage of books over ereaders/ebooks is to impress house guests. For example, I remember getting large oversize bargain books, primarily with beautiful photography, to place on the coffee table. Having a guest walk into the house to see a ereader on the coffee table doesn't have the same effect as seeing a large oversize book splashed with a spectacular photograph of say, the grand canyon.

[spindlegirl]

I needed to write a letter the other day. I found a book that padded the sheet of looseleaf quite nicely.
And another one made a delightful coaster for my mug of tea.

The Onion article is hilarious. Thank you for sharing.

[Ricky D'Angelo]

If you are a dystopian science fiction writer books have the clear advantage over ereaders. IIRC, Fahrenheit 451 had scenes where books which were engulfed with flames leapt/ flapped liked birds and their ashes swirled like fireflies or something along those lines. If ereaders were used what would Bradburry have written? Amazon CEO deleted all kindle content with a push of a button? In terms of use of imagery for writing, books have the clear advantage over ebooks.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Ricky D'Angelo

If you are a dystopian science fiction writer books have the clear advantage over ereaders. IIRC, Fahrenheit 451 had scenes were books which where engulfed with flames leapt/ flapped liked birds and their ashes swirled like fireflies or something along those lines. If ereaders were used what would Bradburry have written? Amazon CEO deleted all kindle content with a push of a button? In terms of use of imagery for writing, books have the clear advantage over ebooks.

Bradbury would've written about the sad, slow lava-like melting of the plastic and metal, the crisp sounds of the cracking glass, the occasional pop of exploding batteries. He would've broken your heart with lyrical prose about the loss of entire libraries and generations' worth of heritage.

Because: Bradbury.

[fjtorres]

Fun read from the Onion.

Sadly, I've seen funnier from people trying to be serious in glorifying dead tree pulp.

[Ricky D'Angelo]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Bradbury would've written about the sad, slow lava-like melting of the plastic and metal, the crisp sounds of the cracking glass, the occasional pop of exploding batteries. He would've broken your heart with lyrical prose about the loss of entire libraries and generations' worth of heritage.

Because: Bradbury.

Awesome, another advantage of physical books is getting the chance to have the author autograph the book. With an ereader what can you do? Get a sharpie and ask the author to sign the ereader screen?

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Ricky D'Angelo

Well, another advantage of books over ereaders/ebooks is to impress house guests. For example, I remember getting large oversize bargain books, primarily with beautiful photography, to place on the coffee table. Having a guest walk into the house to see a ereader on the coffee table doesn't have the same effect as seeing a large oversize book splashed with a spectacular photograph of say, the grand canyon.

I have found that house guests tend to ask stupid questions when confronted with a book shelf. #1 is do you read them. #2 Do you cook? The second has been asked many times to a cookbook collector.

[Cinisajoy]

Oh and I like both paper and ebooks.

[issybird]

You're camping out; you get caught short by a sudden call of nature.... Need I go on? Pbook far more utilitarian.

[Ricky D'Angelo]

Uh. . .leaves would probably be a better alternative, save the paper in case you need to use kindle to start a fire while out camping. Another advantage of paper books to ereaders is when trying to smuggle contraband or hide items. You can hollow out a thick book and then place your valuables or unmentionables in them. With a ereader you are pretty much sol when it comes to hiding stuff.

[JSWolf]

I have to say, the premise of this thread is rubbish. An eBook is every bit as much a book as a pBook. And that fact that the thread starts off saying an eBook is not a real book and a pBook is a real book makes this thread worthless.

[kansaskyle]

When these discussions come up, I always wonder what it was like back in the day when they were transitioning from scrolls to bound books.

Where there people that would get all nostalgic and say that a real "story" was one you read on a scroll versus one you turned via pages?

[barryem]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have to say, the premise of this thread is rubbish. An eBook is every bit as much a book as a pBook. And that fact that the thread starts off saying an eBook is not a real book and a pBook is a real book makes this thread worthless.

I think you're missing the point, Mr Big Bad Wolfe. The premise of this thread is that it offers chance to be amusingly literary. There wasn't a single post that seriously discussed the advantages of the two mediums.

In my opinion the real advantage of either medium is that it contains readable words and that's what it's all about. Judging by format is pretty similar to judging by it's cover. You can do it. You can be clever and witty about it. But it has little to do with the book.

It's the words in the book that matter, not the substance they're printed on.

Barry

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by kansaskyle

When these discussions come up, I always wonder what it was like back in the day when they were transitioning from scrolls to bound books.

Where there people that would get all nostalgic and say that a real "story" was one you read on a scroll versus one you turned via pages?

Scrolls didn't require all that pesky page turning. Why did we move on from scrolls?