E-readers, where people can download books and read them on a tablet-style device, are gaining in popularity. They haven’t been out that long, but they’re affordable for many people and they fit seamlessly into the electronic lives that most people live today. They’ve been called the wave of the future, and judging by their growing sales status, they’re going to be around for quite some time. Like most new items that produce a change in the way things are done, these e-readers are loved by some, while others are more uncertain. It’s not realistic to assume that print books will go away because of them, but they’ll likely become more popular as people realize how portable and easy to use they actually are.
For a lot of people, the e-reader is a convenient way to have a library while still taking up very little room, which is part of its popularity. Even an apartment-dweller with very little space can have a great collection of things to read. No matter what a person’s reasons for purchasing an e-reader, the convenience can’t be denied. However, reading is about more than convenience. For some people who really love books, holding an electronic device isn’t the same nor is it even close.
For an education standpoint, the e-reader is a tremendous hit. Schools are issuing e-readers rather than textbooks to appeal to the savvy tech generation and cut down on the cost of numerous textbooks each year, especially when they are abused or never returned at all. For college students, for grad, undergrad, or online education, its a convenience to have all your textbooks in one place.
There are people who want the feel of a real book in their hands. They want that new book smell when they first bring it home, and they want to read it cover to cover – often more than once. They’ll put it lovingly on a shelf and take it down at different times in their lives, re-reading parts that were important to them or that made them laugh. Eventually the book will show signs of wear and tear, the cover will become tattered and it won’t look so new anymore. None of that will matter to someone who truly loves books, and those are the ones who will enjoy them for countless years to come.