As we have ebooks now, do we still need paper books?

I think we still need a paper book, because not every moment we could use a pc or laptop, and when the power goes out or our laptop battery runs out we can still be read through paper book

Reading has always been an entire experience to me, not just a simple hobby. When I read, I often flip the pages of the book to smell that print-press scent before I can continue reading the words; often, I find myself attracted to books for their cover artwork or even the different materials they've put into the making of the cover. I can curl up and read a book and find the comfort in its scent and its lack of an electronic glow. Many people have often wondered if paperback books will go obsolete. I can honestly say that if they do, I will never read again. I refuse to partake in degrading such a beautiful hobby simply for the "convenience" that many technologies promise. I don't find having the ability to "keep" all of my books in one place a convenience; I have a book shelf for that. Also, any books that I buy and don't want to read again, I can trade and/or sell them at the used book store for cash, something I couldn't do with an e-copy. E-books take the joy out of reading for me...not to mention, I can't read for very long on anything electronic before I get a headache and my eyes start blurring. The rise of the e-book has also cost many people their jobs, which is something else I loathe. Both bookstores within 30 miles of my home are gone, out of business. I now have to make a trip solely for buying books, or shop online, which is something I never do with the sole exception of buying books, and I hate it. I can't feel them, smell them, or flip through them before I buy them, which is crucial to my decision of whether or not to buy it. The local library is also having trouble finding enough people to support it lately; most people go there to rent movies or use the computer now. Lastly, putting all of human information into technology is the stupidest thing humanity could do. We need a physical backup of some shape or form of our written information to ensure that if a disaster of some kind hits the human race, we can still rely on information written, even in this technology era. Relying on technology is dangerous; it's convenient, yes, but very dangerous. Seeing as how most people rely on it, it's obvious it will take something drastic before we realize it's not completely reliable.

I have a Kindle and I find it very good, better than reading of the computer screen and I can take it everywhere with me, together with thousands of books loaded on to it if I want them. The pages doesn't have any glare of reflect light, but even so, I still prefer to be reading a paper book. I guess I have grown up with them and like to hold them and read them. Maybe the future generation will prefer e-books as they are now becoming more popular and of course, they save the forests of the world as they are not using paper. _Derek

I think we will always need the paper books. At least as a back up for the technology when something goes wrong , like lovinglife said. Like it was said here , the ebooks copies don't need wood and sacrifice of trees. If many people will read only copies from the screen , less paperbooks will have to be made. I personally read both from paper and from online (if available for free). After all , the technology is taking it's place , more and more people get to know it and use it. It is hard for me to tell what I like better , I guess it will be for the real books. A real book is like a baby , it's a complete creation of art made of someone. The ebook is only the picture of it. You probabely want to read the ebook only for the text and not the design. But , the design also give us something.

I like reading paper books and also read books online. I guess , like someone already said in the second page of this discussion , we can't smell the book online and I want to add that looking at a picture on the computer has it's resolution because of the pixels ... real pictures just look more real for me. I don't like staring too much on the computer , i'm not sure how it effect the eye vision on the long run...But one thing is for sure . a book that is online doesn't need any paper or woods to be sacrificed.

Of course we still need them! I may love reading ebooks but I still prefer having the hard copy. There are tendencies for the electronic file to be corrupted or be lost too. Reading books is more intimate than reading it in electronic devices too.

Although, we have every things in Computer and laptop and most of people like searching and reading Books on them, I still like to read and search in a paper books, specially during my relaxation in my Bed.

If it is a book that I will buy the whole collection, but now that I have a Kindle, I like that I don't have to carry such a big purse to take a book with me to the doctor's office. I like that I can finish a book and not have to wait until I get home to get a new book or just to switch what I am reading. It also, using a Kindle, is easier on my wrists to hold the Kindle instead of a weighty book. I also get lots of free books for my Kindle that I normally would not try the author. I also am hoping that it will save some trees. I do feel bad for the bookstore industry though that more people are converting over to the ebooks, because people will loose their jobs and leave empty buildings around some towns also.

hi wowjojo, As for me, despite the popularity of e-books, I still find paper books more comfortable to read. Whenever I am inside a vehicle or in a public place, I love to bring with me small books and read it. I know I cannot use my netbook inside a vehicle or in a public place because someone might steal it. Aside from that, it is not good in our eyes, if we are always in front of our computer. It produces radiation that is harmful for our eyes. That is why I still prefer paper books than e-books.

I agree with you--there is nothing like holding a book. For me, it reminds me of how things were when I was a kid, not that I have anything against ebooks. There is just something very comforting in holding a book. Happy reading!

Yes, I still prefer paper books. Why? Because we can bring it everywhere. Not any place have internet connection, so we can't read anytime. And even if we can bring our laptop or ipad anywhere, but what's the fun reading those ebooks on the train? Isn't it dangerous? And I think it's so not fun. Books, on the other hand, are safer and lighter. We can read at any place, anytime. So yes, I still choose paper books.

of course we should have the paper books. everything has its two hands, ebook just have the advantage of convenient but it can not be stored just like the paper books. paper books, you can hold in your hands if you want every time. The more, someday we want to see the book we have made some notice and can have an enjoy of the former.

Yes! We still need paper books because not all people can afford to have their own PC, laptop and internet connection, as well as any gadget accessible for browser the web. And some people are fond of collecting books, pocketbooks, magazines and many other reading matters.

Hello! I still prefer reading paper books than searching in the internet. Even if technology helps us in many ways specially in searching something, the joy you can feel in scanning the pages of books when you are reading is still different. :)

I hope that paper books never lose their value! I remember sending the kids to bed and they would sneak a book under the covers and read it with the help of a flashlight. I have a bookshelf full of favorite books and sometimes I enjoy just looking at them. Other people browse them and sometimes borrow them. I love the smell and look of a library with all kinds of books. You can wander around and discover treasures that you can hold in your hands. For me, nothing will ever take the place of a real book.

Unless your friends see reading as for Only the people can afford a 200 dollar device , there Must be paper books And free libraries. Period.

I'm actually at war with this. Part of me would love to go for ebooks because my shelf definitely does not have much space anymore. But part of me would love to stick to what's traditional.

For people who can't have ebooks then they need paper books. I use both, it doesn't matter really as long as I get to read the story in the book be it in any form like ebook or paper book. I like paper books too because they have pictures! It's memorable and you don't have to worry about batteries going low when using paper books

As a huge fan of e-book technology i don't think they will 100% replace paper books,physical books satisfy a need in us that e-books cannot not to mention the joy in the smell of reading a new paper book.

I like holding the book in my hand and flipping the pages. I might be able to adjust to only reading on the computer, but until we are completely devoid of paper books, I will prefer to read them from books.