Though ebooks have become more and more popular over the last several it hasn’t meant the demise of the printed book. Far from it. Though the sales of ebooks went over 1000 million USD by 2019, hardcover and paperback books still rule the market, with approximately $3 billion and 2.5 billion in sales in 2019, respectively.
Many studies confirm that reading comprehension is better with physical books than with eBooks. Although young people may read more quickly on an eReader, the speed and potential distractions of links, scrolling, and advertisements usually mean people remember and retain what they are reading better in physical books.
Print books are still a little more expensive than e-books, but not all that much. Books on paper are difficult to carry around, especially hardcovers. If you’re an avid reader and you’re going on a trip, or if you’re just stepping out to a coffee shop, an e-reader or iPad is a far lighter burden than a book or a stack of them. There’s also the satisfaction of having an entire library at your fingertips, not to mention an infinite supply just a click away, ready to download instantly. In addition, e-book buyers have the advantage that the internet gives consumers of any products: No space constraints. Just about everything ever published is available, all the time.
The drawback is that you must recharge your device regularly while some screens may not be the best for reading conditions in bright sunlight. Also if you work primarily in front of a computer screen, relaxing with an ebook may not be all that appealing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Print books have the feel of a book that many readers love. You can hold it, turn the pages, and feel the paper.
- Illustrations on paper are generally higher quality than even high-end e-readers can reproduce.
- E-books come with font style and size flexibility.
- E-readers can store thousands of books on a single device.