Networking & Communications

As pointed out, both have advantages.

I could live with ebooks if there were better meta-tools - i.e. bookmarks and things.

Most ereaders are severely limited when it comes to scrolling through what was originally a 20" by 30" schematic while holding the spec open in your other hand.

My employer has a lovely reference book service that allows access to thousands of titles on-line. I freely admit to being a fogey, but all you can do is read - no local copies allowed. No quoting, no note taking within the interface, and all gone if they turn it off.

A very transitory approach that has kept me from making much use I'm afraid.

I will always enjoy reading and holding a real paper book while lying in bed at night. I think I would miss the page turning... In addition, I read screens all day, and by the time I'm ready for my before bed reading, my eyes are done with screens, and a real page with real text is much better on my eyes than a lit screen.

Usage of paper may be limited to selected items like newspapers,dictionaries,large engineering drawings,reference books,kids picture books,books in elementary schools,story books etc. Used text books,school uniforms etc should be bought, repaired if necessary and resold at lower prices so that wastage of paper,ink, cloth etc could be preserved. The main advantage of a printed book or newspaper is easy to go through,otherwise you need a screen of A0 size for drawings and newspapers.

I use both. I prefer ebooks, since I can carry all of them in my pocket, but many times, I need the hard copy book to be able to more rapidly look up a random item. The majority of my personal reading is ebook. The majority of my detail studying for a project is paper. Part of my paper usage is that most of my technical reference material is not published in ebook format. ( hopefully, just yet) The bookmarking and note making on ebooks are not mature yet. It is not really aimed at technical users.

I've never tried an ebook.

I read recently that a study was done, and it was found that people retain information better when reading from a hard copy as opposed to internet information. I don't know if it applies to ebooks.

I will say this. When I used to immerse myself in fiction, science fiction, etc., (paper books), I would become completely engulfed in that world. I didn't even realize that I was reading. I'm not sure if that would be the case with an ebook.

I can't identify it, but there is something different between reading from paper and reading from a screen. Maybe it's the psychological comfort that comes from the physical presence of a book. When that book is in your hands, you own it. You hold the entire story from beginning to end. No one can take it away from you. Everything electronic feels as if it's fleeting.

It's PAPER for me, because it's darn difficult to scribble "...notes in the margins..." of electronic devices as you're simultaneously reading the text.

I find it interesting the lack of facts of what screens do to peoples eyes. There are so few conclusive long term studies completed. There are those that show screens damage sight, but thats as far as they go.

Where there is money to be made, especially in a market as huge as the "reading" market, with access now to schools and our youngest of unsuspecting recruits to brand mind/brain washings, the big corporations will leave no stone unturned to have their products accepted at all levels, whether it is harmful to users or not.

Our family are now 50/50 users of screen and books and us 'elders' are now feeling the strain on our eyes from screens. Of course we have no proof of that, but the same amount of time reading a book is less straining than that on a screen. A simple tiny fact.

I think ebooks/emedia have a subtle price to pay, which requires intensive independent investigation, preferably more sooner than later with the results made available without prejudice.

There are whole generations growing up with screens, knowing no other reality, my 4 year old and her 9 year old sister amongst them. This is a worrying topic for us with so little conclusive independent information available.

For us at this time, paper media wins hands down, especially where children are concerned.

Also; I love my newspaper as I can scribble all over the puzzles page with abandon!

From a health point of view printed matter is superior.

I prefer the paper copies and hardcover in particular. I always get the hardcover copy of a book if it is available with it. They are more durable and last longer. I also highlight and write notes as I read so the paper copy is good.

I also pass books around that I have found useful to others who may benefit from the information I have found. We live in the Information Age and what we "input" in our thinking is critical if we want to move forward in life.

It is a shame that more people don't read than there are. It also isn't just a question of reading, but what are we reading? There isn't enough time to read along with everything elsel needing to be done so I am careful what has high value, who and what I read. There is a statement that says "he who cannot read is no worse off than he who will not read." I think it goes even further, because if one has the capability to read and chooses not to, he is making a volitional decision to remain bound in his ignorance.

Even when travelling a paper copy is easy to take and takes little room. I just have to make a choice as to whether I want to make good use of the time while I waiting or in the travelling. I choose to make non-productive time productive.

As long as it's toilet-friendly I have no preference.