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Tibor V. Varga

PhD student, Lund University

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E-book or paperback?

This question really divides my friends - some just need the smell of the paper, some hate carrying around books weighting 6 tons. What do you think?

Topics: book e-book
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  • Sharon McCann 10+

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    Oct 3 2012: Sigh. I love to read in the tub. I love the look and feel of paper. I love the sight of shelves full of books looking at me like old friends. I adore the feel of antique books when I know that hands many generations removed have held this book.

    I will always have books. They don't need batteries and if I drop one in the tub I dry it out, wrinkled but usually OK to read. or at the very worst I only lose one.

    But, the reality is the ebooks are the future and we need our trees. I will begin the transition - slowly. We don't give enough credence to all of the tiny social things we are losing in some of these transitions.

    I will always have both.

  • Roberto Garcia

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    Oct 2 2012: Ok i have a neighbor who have so many books in his house, that the living space is gone. Sofa, chairs table, all full of books. Nowhere to seat. I, have all my books in my computer. From Kafka to Carl Sagan all are stored in a hard disk and properly backed up in removable media. We are in the 21th century, and paper will and must slowly disappear because the world is running out of trees.
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    Edwin Nazarian 10+

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    Sep 28 2012: they both are right.

    I have got a library and I am looking to buy a library instead of a house. I have got tons of books everywhere, from Belgium to South Spain. everywhere I have been or been studying I just bought book, but then I couldn't carry them so I left there hoping that one day I will get all together and build a library (instead of a house)

    but now, I am about to buy a iPad so I wouldn't carry with me tons of book. I love reading and love the smell of the books the look of a old oak library.

    but reading printed book will be history. wonder what they are going to do with all the book that exist.
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      James Zhang 30+

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      Sep 29 2012: We could always donate these books to the poor, or we can scan them all to make universal libraries of digital copies online (Google Books), or just like any ancient relic/artifact, they go into museums.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Sep 28 2012: I love the smell of paper, especially when the book is new. For me, my beloved books are never too heavy. So, yes, its paperback.
    Though there is a debate about "Save the trees" (Books) or "Save energy" (Batteries of the devices that has to be switched on before one can read anything).
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    James Zhang 30+

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    Sep 28 2012: WIthout a doubt e-book.

    The problem with Kindle is that it doesn't really do much else outside of reading books, magazines, etc. And I think by its very nature it handles animations very poorly.
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    Ammar Bilajac

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    Sep 28 2012: I agree with Linda e-books are much cheaper and easier way.
    I still do think that e-books should be used for shorther books. Reading a book 3-6h a day at a laptop hurts my eyes really.
    Math and books like this should be on e-books, but lets say Law books where you have to read about 1500 pages is better on paper :P
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      Noveed Hussain

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      Sep 28 2012: Hey Ammar what do you think about Kindle? Its a wonderful product for the book lovers because eyes are not hurt at all because they used e ink and e paper and you can read in full sunlight.
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        Daniel Semenov

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        Sep 28 2012: Its proved that Kindle don't hurt your eyes at all? sound good, can you upload any PDF files on it?

        Thanks in advance
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          Noveed Hussain

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          Sep 28 2012: Yeah of course you can upload pdf files on it but the good formats for Kindle are epub and mobi which are better than pdf format. One thing more when buy a Kindle you will get an email account from Amazon through which you can get mobi format if you send them a book in pdf format.

          There are also a bunch of free softwares which convert different formats in each other with ease for more information please visit https://kindle.amazon.com/ and let me know if you need any help because I am using kindle from a long time. cheers!
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        Daniel Semenov

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        Sep 28 2012: Thank you very much! you are a good man!
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    Linda Taylor 50+

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    Sep 27 2012: E-book, e-book, e-book hands down. There just is not enough room in my house. When you live long enough and have books you come to realize it is not possible to store an entire library.

    All they need to do is make a reader that is beach proof. Sand and water proof and readable in full sunlight and i would never purchase a hard copy again.
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      James Zhang 30+

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      Sep 28 2012: I've also been reading some books on my smartphone while walking to/from classes and on bus stops.

      Highly convenient...
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        Linda Taylor 50+

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        Sep 28 2012: Me too. My kindle is on my phone, ipad, and my computer. It keeps track of where you left off in the book and you can just start where you left off on any device. Love it.
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