E-books or Paperbacks?

With the advance of technology, e-books have become increasingly popular in the last few years. By using e-readers (portable tablets used for reading e-books), readers may carry many books in their pockets. However, despite the accessibility of e-books, there is something about the texture of old-fashioned paperback books. Each option has its pros and cons, and readers face a dilemma.

An obvious advantage of the e-book is that readers can take multiple books anywhere, without adding weight to their backpacks. It’s just as if they are carrying a whole library with them.

“Using an e-book is convenient because it’s small and portable,” said Bernice Yu, a junior in Mission San Jose High School, in an interview with JSR. “You can literally carry multiple books without having to carry all of them around.”

Not only that, but the high accessibility of e-books allows readers to download and read books right away, without having to physically walk into a bookstore. This is especially useful for people who do not have good access to walk-in bookstores.

“E-books are so convenient because I can literally order a book and read it right away,” says Eunkyung Park, a Fremont resident, in an interview with JSR. “There aren’t any Korean bookstores in my town, so it was really hard to find Korean books. However, by using e-books, I don’t have to order books and wait for days for it to arrive — I simply pay, download, and read.”

Despite the advantages of e-books, many readers prefer the “traditional book experience.” Supporters of paperback books point out that colorful graphics or carefully designed covers would be unavailable in an e-book. Although e-books may be convenient, they say, there are still occasions in which a tangible book is more ideal.

“I always prefer paper books to e-books,” said Victor Yau, a junior in Mission San Jose High School, in an interview with JSR. “It’s much easier to make notes on an actual book, rather than an electronic device. ”

The fact that one can write handwritten notes can be a huge advantage, allowing readers to easily underline and colorfully highlight phrases of their choice — in their own font. Also, readers would not be able to get their favorite author’s autograph on their e-books. While there are many practical benefits a paperback can give, some people just simply prefer the “feel” of paper books.

“I don’t know why, but I just like paper books better,” added Yau. “There is something about a paper book that an e-book cannot satisfy. I just love the feeling of flipping pages and the weight of the book.”