Differences between E-book vs. print books

E-books are generally easier to read than traditional print books. Memory can be accessed randomly to retrieve information. Such retrieval is faster than retrieving information from print book where access largely depends on human abilities.

Electronic text takes up virtually no space, ‘in both a physical and digital sense’; because of its storage abilities that allows the reader carry a reasonable amount of reading materials and/ or references texts. The size of your handheld E-book brings a new dimension to the level of comfort enjoyed when walking around.

In many situations it is cumbersome to carry two or more print books around with you. It is even more difficult when such books are voluminous. Besides, print books take up spaces and are subject to mutilation due to improper storage (palmpower.com).

On entering the Harry Potter web page as shown below it gives the reader the chance to look at other books of the author, the layout consists of several framed sections linking to other books which disconnect different elements ‘signifying that they do not belong together’ (Kress & Van Leeuwen). On like print book the reader has to stick to just the layout that has been designed.

(Source: Google.com)

E – Books consist of digital text mainly. Therefore, the cost of print is non-existent. However, the cost of print is a major factor for production of print books. This cost factor drives up the price of print book relative to E- book. Nevertheless, E– books and Print are used to convey certain thoughts and more importantly, can be used as a source of information (palmpower)

Reference:

Kleinman S, ‘The E-book Experience: Print books vs. Digital E-books’, <http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200206/ebook0602001.html> viewed June 12, 2008

Kress, G & Van Leeuwen, T. 2006. ‘Chapter 6: The meaning of composition’ in Reading Images.

The Urbanwire, <http://www.mugglethai.com/layblue/innews01.jpg>, viewed June 14, 2008

Walsh, M. 2006, “The ‘Textual Shift’: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts,” Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol.29, no.1, pp24-37. (UNISA electronic library)