10 reasons why "real" books are better than e-books, supposedly

[crich70]

Originally Posted by bbqncigars

As a former sometime country boy, I'm shocked that a crucial advantage of pbooks over ebooks has not been mentioned. Torn pages can rescue you in a critical time of need in the small room. The use of an ebook in this situation would be both ineffectual and disgusting. :-)

That's assuming the book was made of good, fine grade, paper pulp to start with. Otherwise you could run into another problem entirely.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by alicepattinson

It's always better to start reading a book when you're a child. It's really different when they start with real books then ebooks afterwards. IMO. hehe

So children should start typing on a typewriter and only use a PC later?

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

So children should start typing on a typewriter and only use a PC later?

I think they kick them off with crayons and, if you are really lucky, paper (although for some reason walls seem much better).

I bet a child would be disapointed with etch-a-sketch nowadays though.

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

So children should start typing on a typewriter and only use a PC later?

Just call me old-fashioned, but I try to use p-books as long as possible to capture my baby's attention. She is only 14 months old, but she loves her books more than anything. Especially flipping (and occasionally tearing) pages is a favorite pasttime of hers.

[markom]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Only #4, 5, and 6 are correct. #2 is easily taken care of, get a window seat and a good cover. And #4 definitely is not an advantage. For everything else ereaders are at least as good, in most cases better. Not to mention the multitude of reasons why real books are better than pbooks!

#6 You can’t get an e-book signed. ?

If our e-reader comes with stylus i don't see why would that be so problematic.

Later we could probably sell our used reader at twice the price, especially if we asked author to draw a heart around his autograph with his finger and says a few words along, if there is recording capability

[Apache]

Originally Posted by crich70

If you don't mind the question, where were you traveling to back then Apache?

I was all over the US and Canada. I could be on Long Island one week and in San Francisco the next. I traveled for a Jewelry Restyling Company. You would be in a different store every day and there was equal parts flying and driving. Plenty of time to read.
About a year after I quit they contacted me and asked me to start up there business in Japan. I would have loved that, but my wife and I had already started our own business.
Apache

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Just call me old-fashioned, but I try to use p-books as long as possible to capture my baby's attention. She is only 14 months old, but she loves her books more than anything. Especially flipping (and occasionally tearing) pages is a favorite pasttime of hers.

Board books. We don't let our 13 month old near a regular book. Magazines we are done with are destroyed pretty fast. But he loves his board books. He brings them to us to read, carries them around, flips the pages on his own. Great things are being discovered in the board books.

[Format C:]

IMHO, pbooks are better than ebooks for two reasons:

# 1 when you buy a pbook you own it.
# 2 you can buy a pbook without giving away your personal info

Will I ever be able to buy an ebook anonymously in a store paying with cash?


OTOH, ebooks are better because:

# 1 Mice don't chew Kindles and Kobos
# 2 When your wife hits you with a dictionary, it's less hurting
# 3 When you fall asleep reading the Brothers Karamazov it doesn't break your nose falling onto your face
# 4 You don't have to spend a lot of time on the phone trying to get back the one you lent to your neighbor
# 5 Your daughter doesn't use it as a stool to grab biscuits from the kitchen counter
# 6 You can safely read porn in public
# 7 You won't find food stains every other page if you read the book after your son did
# 8 You won't find other kind of stains if said book was the porn of # 6
# 9 Your wife won't strip the last pages of your favorite mystery novel to straighten a table
# 10 You don't need to go out to the recycle bin to dispose of them

[Format C:]

Sorry, already said.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

[*]You can’t get an e-book signed.

Not quite the same, but there is http://www.authorgraph.com/ & http://www.autography.com/.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by alicepattinson

It's always better to start reading a book when you're a child. It's really different when they start with real books then ebooks afterwards. IMO. hehe

I think in the future, children and teachers will consider real reading to begin with some kind of computer screen.

pBooks and the like will be relegated to the level of blocks with letters on them,
useful as a learning tool, but not for "real" reading.

I think this will surely happen in a generation (20 or so years) and possibly even sooner, say 10 years.

[ProfCrash]

Teachers might, but that means kids in school so you are talking 4-5 years old. Board books are going to be around for infants and toddlers for an awful long time. Turning the pages helps them develop various muscles and fine motor skills. They learn a fair amount carrying the book, balance, gripping to hold it, and the like.

There are studies out there showing that it is not good for a kid under three to be watching television. The images move to fast for the child to process. Kids that age need things to move at a slower pace so that they see them and learn how to piece the information together. Screen time for the under three set is a no-no or something to be really, really limited. All that I have read suggests no more then 15 minutes a day with age appropriate shows (Not Seasame Street for the under 3 set, it moves too fast so you need to find the right shows), and that you should be watching with your child to help them understand what is happening and engage them.

So books on computers (with all the animation and fun stuff that is likely to be added) are not a good option for the under three set.

Board books are great. They are hard to damage, they have bright, large pictures for the kids to look at, they have thick pages that are easy for kids to grasp and turn, and they are easy to carry. I am sure someone will try and convince parents that there is a similar iPad app or device for a young kid that will replace the board book but I doubt that there is.

[Bittybye]

1. You can read books in the bath.

I've dropped a paper book in the tub, it ruins it.

2. No need to turn off your book on a plane!

Can't you put it on airplane mode?

3. You can read in the sun.

You can. I've done it.

4. They fill your shelves.

I have a small house and four big book shelves and they're all two books deep with some resting on top of the others. If I want to find a book it takes pulling a lot of books off the shelf.

5. Antique books are amazing.

And how many people can afford those antique books? I sure know I don't have any.

6. You can’t get an e-book signed.

So? If your gagging for a book to be signed by the author, but a paper books and have it signed.

7. Libraries and bookstores!

Libraries? Germs from other people who might have questionable hygiene and if you're getting something racey, who knows what they've done with that book. Bookstores? Ignorant sales people who look at you blankly when you ask about an author who's not Steven King, Stephanie Meyer, JK Rowling, or Nora Roberts.

8. Finishing a long book is more rewarding this way.

How so?

9. They inspire tattoos!

Even if this is true, is a good thing?

10. Books don’t die.

The book I dropped in the tub would disagree. As would the book my cat peed on. And the book my African Grey shredded when she was cranky with me.


I would add that if you're like me and love to reread a book over and over again no one looks at you strangely when you read the same book over and over again.

And finally, that Amazon 50 Shades of Grey ad? So true I have a few titles I don't want my mom to know I read.

[Tarana]

Sounds like the writer has insecurities. I don't see why you have to make a list about why one is 'better' than the other. There are advantages and disadvantages to both ebooks and paperbooks. My family members appreciate that I often buy books as soon as they come out, but they also know that if they want to borrow that book, they are going to have to read it on an ereader or their computer because I no longer buy paper books (vision damage, can't read them).

[frahse]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Teachers might, but that means kids in school so you are talking 4-5 years old. Board books are going to be around for infants and toddlers for an awful long time. Turning the pages helps them develop various muscles and fine motor skills. They learn a fair amount carrying the book, balance, gripping to hold it, and the like.

There are studies out there showing that it is not good for a kid under three to be watching television. The images move to fast for the child to process. Kids that age need things to move at a slower pace so that they see them and learn how to piece the information together. Screen time for the under three set is a no-no or something to be really, really limited. All that I have read suggests no more then 15 minutes a day with age appropriate shows (Not Seasame Street for the under 3 set, it moves too fast so you need to find the right shows), and that you should be watching with your child to help them understand what is happening and engage them.

So books on computers (with all the animation and fun stuff that is likely to be added) are not a good option for the under three set.

Board books are great. They are hard to damage, they have bright, large pictures for the kids to look at, they have thick pages that are easy for kids to grasp and turn, and they are easy to carry. I am sure someone will try and convince parents that there is a similar iPad app or device for a young kid that will replace the board book but I doubt that there is.

You assume that the children will only be reading adult books on the eReader or watching adult shows on TV.

Even now there are kid TV shows adapted for children.
The eBook stories will also be adapted.

Sure board books, and blocks with letters will still be around.