The eBook versus the traditional: Fierce competition or obvious winner?

I love visiting the library. Some may not know this, but libraries are is still open. Libraries remind me of my childhood when I sat on the mat and listened to stories read by an elderly lady whose name escapes me but whose face I’ll always remember. The eBook phenomenon is a fairly recent development and millions of people are opting to download their favourite eBook instead of buying the paperback novel from their local bookstore or checking them out of the library. Have the masses replaced their books for screens because of money constraints, time limitations or because the availability of books online is instant and never-ending?

The debate of the electronic eBook versus the traditional book has again recently been highlighted with the release of the popular novelist Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol. Amazon has revealed that their Kindle version of the eagerly awaited book has sold more copies than the hard cover version. Kindle (a wireless reading device) seem to have won this part of the race but many of us will argue that speculation about whether the digital eBook version will outsell the traditional book is ludicrous. The main reason that the eBook sales have taken the lead is because was available while the novel was still in pre-orders. Impatient Dan Brown fans are sure to make use of the downloadable eBooks instead of waiting for the “real thing” to be delivered.

This is a prime example of how eBooks are slowly converting the traditional reader, which means that this eBook explosion might just be onto something. They satisfy our need for immediate gratification, something that we have become addicted to. eBook readers are fast catching up and soon, many more of us will be pressing a button instead of turning a page. I know that during my University years, I would’ve been more than happy to hold my wireless reading device instead of carrying a mountain of books with me.

However, the rise of eBook downloads doesn’t mean the loss of literature and knowledge forever. The fact that people are still reading, whether be it electronically or manually, is a definite silver lining. Surveys conducted at a Frankfurt Book Fair revealed that many believe that e-content will overtake traditional book sales by 2018. That might be true, but I don’t believe that traditional books will become extinct. Maybe just a little more precious, as so they should be.

Even though these electronic book readers are practical and technologically advanced, I think I will stick to the good old 921 pages (this is the number of pages of my current book) of paper and ink for now. The rise of the eBook does make me think though, in future years, will we still be taking our children to story time at our local library, or they already have their favourite picture book downloaded on their Kindles?

Tags: download eBook, eBook, electronic eBook