TechGazing

E-book readers were the rage at the recent CES in Vegas. Just about every tech player worth their salt is trying to get into the segment, from Amazon to Sony to Asus, is trying to make its presence felt in the e-book reader segment. But call us old-fashioned if you will, we still think that conventional paper books beat the hell out e-book readers. At least at the moment. Before you start accusing us of being paper-freaks who hate everything mechanical, just read through our reasons for thinking so.

• The cost factor: Let’s face it, most books in paperback still come a lot cheaper than their e-book versions. We do not really know why this is so, as there is no paper and physical distribution costs involved. But as long as the price of an e-book is around that of a paperback one and an e-book reader costs as much bout 100 paper books, well, we are sticking with paper.
• Easier to read: You know, in spite of all the touchscreens and electronic ink and all, we still think that reading text on paper is much more comfortable than reading it on any sort of screen. Maybe it is because we have been doing it for so long.
• Ease of use: No buttons to switch on, easier to bookmark, easier to curl up in bed with, lesser fears about passing it to a friend or even lending it for a while…we just think books have the edge on e-book readers in these rather crucial departments.
• Portability: There will be some who will claim that an e-book reader will make it possible for you to carry hundreds of books at the same time. The fact, however, is that we generally need to read just one book at a time, and in that department again, unless you are carrying an encyclopaedia or dictionary around, a normal book beats the e-book reader.
• Getting new books: Forgive us our sentimentality but there is something about browsing through books at a bookstore or library and discovering titles you did not know existed or picking up tips from other readers, instead of searching for titles or scanning bestseller lists cold bloodedly on the Internet. In the era of social networking, the bookstore or library remains the ultimate readers’ portal. Until the Net finds something better.
• The second-hand factor: We cannot imagine being able to haggle for second-hand rare titles on an e-book reader the way we do with “real” books.
• A matter of donation: We have not really figured out how we can effectively donate books off an e-book reader to those who need them. Giving away your old paperback to someone who might need it but cannot afford it is so much easier.