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Opening up hundreds of worlds as the pages flip, books are a secret door to an undiscovered place. Do the pages flip or are swiped? With the advent of technology, printed books are both the only format available to readers worldwide. ebooks have taken the world by storm since their inception and continue to enthrall readers with various advantages. Picking one over the other can be a nerve-wracking dilemma and the conflict of ebooks vs printed books seems nowhere near ending. This blog is an attempt to pitch one against the other and see the advantages and disadvantages of each. If you are one of those million readers facing the problem, join the club and read this blog to make a satisfactory pick.
This Blog Includes:
ebooks vs Printed Books: At a Glance
| Criteria | Ebooks | Printed Books |
| Portability | More portable | Less Portable |
| Storage | Takes less space | Takes more space |
| Features | Has multiple features | Doesn’t have features |
| Cost of books | Less expensive | More expensive |
| Connectivity | Required | Not required |
| Focus | Has distractions in the form of links | More focussed |
| Eye-strain | More strain | Less Strain |
| Initial Cost | More expensive | Less Expensive |
| Charging | Necessary Requirement frequently | Not a necessary requirement |
| Available | Easily available anytime | Not so easily available anytime |
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What is an eBook?
When a book is made available in digital form, it is referred to as an eBook. The phrase “available” refers to a book that is offered, saved, distributed, and read in digital mode. It consists of text, images, tables, and other elements that may be viewed on a flat panel or touch-screen device, such as a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, mobile device, or eBook reader. In more technical terms, an eBook is a non-editable book with a reflowable layout that can be read on any electronic device with a configurable viewing display. They are easily accessible by just downloading them from the internet.
What is a Printed Book?
Printed books are books in their physical form, consisting of pages or sheets of paper glued together inside the cover. A printed book, in other words, is a lengthy published literary creation. A printed book is laid out in a precise manner known as a “book’s layout.” The basic layout includes a front cover, a rear cover, and body copy or content pages.
Portability
Portability is an important feature of anything in the present world. With an increase in movement with the advancement of technology, it is necessary that people are able to carry books about it too. Printed books are rigid and therefore their portability is less. Ebook readers are lightweight and can be conveniently carried anywhere. Only a few printed books can be carried in one go while ebooks can be carried in gigantic numbers in hundreds and thousands. This makes ebooks a miraculous creation.
Features
Ebook readers have a large number of features that have been introduced with the advancement of technology that can’t be found in traditional printed books. From features involving bookmarking, highlighting, and note-making to an inbuilt dictionary, ebooks have it all. With printed books, these features aren’t available making ebooks more tech-savvy and better suited for the fast-paced modern world.
Connectivity
Being a creation of the world of technology, ebooks require connectivity at all times for readers to access ebooks. However, for printed books, connectivity is not a prerequisite making it possible for readers to read in areas with less or no connectivity. A trusty book is never likely to disappoint. Printed books are reliable and can be reached out at any time, anywhere without any potential connectivity inhibitions.
Eye-strain
Ebooks can be hard on the eyes when constantly used. Printed books are a savior because they cause no eye strain and are therefore recommendable for avid readers. Even with ‘low light’ and ‘anti-glare’ technology, ebooks can create pressure on the eyes and makes it hard to read in the sunlight. That is never an issue with a good old printed book. Open the page of a printed book and you are good to jump right into the story, anytime, in any light.
Availability
Have you ever ordered a book and waited for it with bated breath? The wait is never-ending, isn’t it? With ebooks, this concern can be overcome because ebooks give access to all the books in a digital version at a moment’s notice. Ebooks can never go out of stock and there is no waiting time. Great, right? With printed books, from ordering or buying to finally being able to read the book involves a long and tenacious process that can often seem exasperating. Printed books may be purchased both online and offline. You may also purchase books online from different e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart, and others. The ebooks, on the other hand, maybe simply downloaded from the internet or purchased from Amazon (Kindle version of any book).
Layout
The rear cover of a printed book has two purposes: it protects the book and attracts readers. The cover may be either hardback or softcover (paperback). An eBook, on the other hand, has a front cover that is shown on online purchasing sites or e-commerce sites to attract visitors. Aside from that, printed books have a set layout that cannot be altered after printing, but eBooks have a reflowable layout. The capacity of the text to wrap the words according to the device, user preferences, and application is referred to as flowability. As a result, the eBook allows the reader to enjoy the books according to their requirements and tastes.
Price
An eBook is less expensive than a printed book; nevertheless, the initial cost of an eReader is more than that of a print book. In order to become an e-reader, you are required to invest in good e-reading gadgets like laptops, phones, PC, Kindles, Nooks, Rocket eBooks, etc. So the initial investment of having an ebook is more than getting a conventional or traditionally printed book. Research also found that the e-reader is more expensive, implying that it has a premium price that the user must endure. Furthermore, it has some type of yearly fee.
Storage
In our debate of ebooks vs printed books, our next comparison point is related to storage. As we know that printed books are the physical form of books, it is apparent that they require a specific location for storage. In contrast, eBooks are kept in the device or program itself, thus physical storage of the books is not necessary.
Shareability
What’s better when you share and recommend your favorite books to your friends, cousins, family, etc. Hence, the next point of our debate on ebooks vs printed books is on the shareability of these books. A printed book is simple to exchange with friends, acquaintances, and family. It can also be resold after it has been used. In the event of a purchased eBook, only one account may be used to access the books, limiting its shared usage, because sharing requires you to provide your login details with that individual.
Now that you have evaluated all the possible differences between ebooks and printed books, here is a bonus list of Best Business Books of all Times for you!
Relatable Reads
FAQs
eBooks are significantly less expensive than printed books since they do not require paper printing, attractive covers, packing, shipping, or other expenses. You may receive up to ten eBooks for the price of one paper book! Furthermore, unlike printed books made of paper, eBooks cannot be readily damaged or injured, which means they last longer.
A digital or electronic book that has been formatted into a file that can be read on an e-reader device or app is known as an ebook. The most significant distinction is that print books have static layouts that do not alter once printed, but ebooks have dynamic layouts.
eBooks, on the other hand, are unquestionably more portable than print textbooks, particularly hardbound textbooks. eReaders, such as the Kindle, are far lighter than even a single textbook, making them easier to transport home and back to class. To utilize eBooks, you don’t even need a specific eReader device.
They take up a lot of room on the shelf.
They’re heavier than ebooks.
In improper conditions, they gather dust and might grow mold.
The font cannot be changed to accommodate different reading circumstances.
You cannot use auto-scroll.
In poor lighting, it is impossible to read.
E-books are far less expensive to manufacture, distribute, and sell than traditional books. There is no paper, printing, transportation, or retail space. So they should cost a lot less to acquire, but the offer isn’t always as fantastic as it should be.
These are some ways to compare ebooks vs printed books but both have their importance in their own ways. Do stories in books inspire you to write your own masterpiece? Are you longing to unleash your thoughts through the power of a pen? Some of the renowned universities across the world offer esteemed degrees in creative writing. Experts at Leverage Edu will help you in applying for these universities and in reviewing your applications. Register today for a free counseling session and get ready for the time of your life!
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