Saturday thoughts – disadvantage of e-books

The subject might not feel like having much to do with photography. So bear with me.

You probably noticed a number of e-book reviews on this blog. I love reading. To be honest, I probably love reading even more than taking pictures. I buy almost every e-book available on subject of photography and consume it on spot.

The introduction of the years ago e-books allowed me the instant download. I could read them on my computer. Not very convenient. Then- on the iPhone- small screen, but I could already move out of my desk into living room sofa. And then came the iPad. It was the end of the paper.. well, almost anything, for me. I stopped printing papers to read for work. I moved all my magazine subscriptions into virtual world of Zinio. I started buying some “real books” as electronic versions. I stopped borrowing the paper books from library- I signed up for a number of electronic services. And on top of it all- more and more e-books are landing in my iBooks library.

I thought there is no way back for me printed media. I saw no advantage. The portability, accessibility, price of electronic was unbeatable.

Until one thing hit me today. None of the e-books, from Craft & Vision or any other site, can I get ever from the local library for free. Sometimes, you don’t want to pay the price, even of $5. You want to read the book, return it, and feel no need to ever go back. I found the huge disadvantage in what I thought is the perfect new reality. If the e-book ever replace the hard copies, and more and more people will go into self-publishing, the availability of the written knowledge will decrease. To those who will afford. Even the small, but still the price.

How about you? Are you embracing the new electronic world? Do you enjoy or despise it? Why?

Related Posts

  • Sunset grass on Coralville LakeSunset grass on Coralville Lake
    I took this image a couple weekend ago and finally got to post it on the blog. It is one of those close to home images that, with not so exciting s...
  • Where the lakes meetWhere the lakes meet
    This weekend, we went for a walk in the late afternoon to catch sun setting on the lake. In fact, on two lakes. We leave in the area between two ar...
  • Snow drifts (#FilmFriday)Snow drifts (#FilmFriday)
    Drifts and other features created by snow in winter my favorite subjects of the season. They remind me of sand dunes and desert landscapes, yet the...
  • In anticipationIn anticipation
    I cannot wait to see snow again. I am so desperate, I could write poems abut how I want winter to come. It probably wouldn't help much anyway. They...
  • Let it snowLet it snow
    I absolutely love winter. The cold doesn't bother me at all. And I am getting very quickly tired of naked trees and brown, dying grass. When snow c...
Zemanta
  • Karen

    I finally caved in this holiday season and purchased a Nook Tablet. I like the feel and heft of a real book in my hands. However, the Nook allowed me the convenience of adjusting the back-lighting, font and point size. This makes reading physically more comfortable, and I can read more without too much eyestrain. However, your thoughts struck a chord with me. I have often thought of the impermanence of all things digital. If it were not for the relative permanence of stone, painted prehistoric cave walls, manuscripts, archival photos, etc., much of our world history, culture, art, music, and scientific discovery may not have been available to us.

    I have already downloaded several photography eBooks, novels, and freebies from the local library. These books will likely live and eventually crash in my eReader. I regularly cull out physical books and reference materials that will not be re-read and deliver them to Goodwill, Panera, and Half-Price books. In the past month alone, two acquaintances have contacted me and said that they were the happy recipients of my donated books. My point is that digital materials are fragile. Will our digital musings, writings, artworks, and creative endeavors be available to inspire or awaken the curiosity of future generations?

    Just thinking…

  • Izabela

    Great thought, thanks for sharing, Karen. I haven’t even thought of THAT. Sometimes, you borrow a book to a friend. Or, as you said, give those unneeded away. With e-books, you cannot do that, you cannot legally transfer the content to somebody else. Another point for hard copies.
    Although I do not share your concern abut preserving our creations- I believe in basis of Internet being dispersed, impossible to control or destroy resources. It will be there.