E-books Vs. Real Books

Ever since stores like Amazon and Barnes & Noble released technologies like the Kindle and the Nook there has been a raging debate over whether or not printed (read:paper) books are on their way out. Will e-books be the future of the written word? With people busier than ever and technology like readers, iphones, and droids sprouting up right and left it seems a lot more convenient for many people to simply buy a book online, download it to their reader or phone, and stick with a virtual version of it but does this mean that printed books will soon be artifacts in our museums?

Recent poles done by websites like Mashable return with results that say that book lovers are dedicated to real books and though many of us enjoy the benefits of using a virtual book reader we aren’t liking to trade in our libraries for digital versions any time soon. Anonymous poles that have gone out to members of the literary industry have come back with mixed responses. Some agents and editors are saying that they prefer to have their submissions sent to them via reader so that the actual text never even gets printed but others find that it feels too reminiscent of a computer screen so they don’t enjoy using them at home. Advocates of the traditional book simply remind the techies among us that simple things like water and power will be the most obvious to bring ebook readers down. A book doesn’t need charging and although they can be ruined by water one knocked over glass isn’t likely to destroy a book (let alone your whole library) like it might ruin a kindle or a nook.

At the same time the lovers of paper agree that there is a place for digital book versions and likely will be from now on. They are simply too convenient and too easy to pass up, however it’s very unlikely that they’ll override traditional paper books at any point. Publishers are announcing surges in sales for their books but many readers remain dedicated to paper and refuse to purchase e-books or other virtual versions of their literature. There is some speculation that the book will go the way music has and become the next “ipod moment” of the generation but most editors and publishers find this to be unlikely and many of them strike a balance by having their work exist in a digital world while their libraries remain very 20th century, so to speak. However even long time authors like Anne Rice and John Grisham have embraced the new world of e-books and are taking steps to have their books put into virtual formats for readers that choose to go the online or e-book route.

While there is a big case for the e-book and sales of readers are climbing dramatically the standard view is that the printed book will always be around and that convenience doesn’t outweigh the love of the printed work quite yet.