The old paper v. e-book debate has started again, with the release of several new e-book readers. The publishing industry has been playing with this for years, but it's only now that the technology is making it viable. I don't deny there are some great benefits from them, but I'm not convinced they outweigh the downsides. Here's my view and yes, from my point of view there are only two good points:
Pros
- Density: you can carry multiple books.
- Searchability: useful for reference books.
Cons
- Battery life: I've yet to have a book not work because of battery failure.
- Lifespan: Charles Petzold puts it well; I still have books I bought in the 70's.
- Density: each book is standalone; if I carry two, I can lend one to a friend.
- Flickability: I've just made that word up, but it describes what I mean well; you can easily flick backwards and forwards in books.
- Digital Rights Management: Will my e-book continue to work if the reader is replaced? If I want to read it on my computer? If I want to lend it to a friend? If the DRM server is switched off? If you're in a country not supported?
- Emotion; there's something much more tangible about paper, more evocative. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's not moving with the times.
There's an interesting debate at 37signals. Julia also has a few words - I particularly like:
I love the different fonts that are created for letter presses. I love the varying quality of the covers and the paper. I love the feel of the paper.
I too feel the same. I love books and have done since very young. I spent most of my childhood reading and most of my pocket money on books. There are only two books I've started that I've never finished: Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, which I must try again; I think it was just not being in the right frame of mind for it, and Mansfield Park by Jane Austin, which was dull as Mr Dull from Dull City in Dull Land who'd just won the contest for being the dullest person on the planet. Sorry Jane, but you know I'm right (friend Jane, not Ms Austin). I also don't think I've thrown a book away; I have boxes and boxes of them filling up the dining room. Some are better than others, some probably not worth keeping, but Gunter Grass said it:
Even bad books are books and therefore sacred
I'll never feel that way about an e-book reader and disposable text. Despite my love of gadgets, it's carbon based technology for me.