Group Collaboration | Team Paper vs Team Plastic - The Great eBook Debate

Group Collaboration | Team Paper vs Team Plastic - The Great eBook Debate

• Saturday, 16 March 2013

This month we're talking ebooks, a controversial subject in the book blogging world. Since the introduction of ebooks and ereaders opinion has been divided as both ways to read come with their own set of pros and cons. We asked you to get in touch and let us know how you like to read, here are the results!

Team Paper...
Reading physical books has always been the norm and our first team would all choose to keep things this way instead of converting to ebooks...

'I am on Team Paper - For me a book is not a book unless I'm physically turning the page and feeling the well read pages in my hand' – Laura

'As much as I do love the sheer convenience and ease of using reading e-books, I still stand firmly on Team Paper. For a me reading a physical book is an immersive experience, from the feel of turning that first page to cracking the spine of a new buy to oh so wonderful new book (and arguably old book) smell and that weight-y feel in your hand when you finish reading that final chapter. They hold memories, last a lifetime and the letters on the page will never glitch or break (unless you dunk it in a bath of water or something, even then it might survive)' – Ria

'I'm team paper ALL THE WAY! It doesn't feel like actual "reading" when I do it of a screen, I need the physical thing in my hands. I hope ebooks won't ever take over, that would make me really unhappy!' – Lulu

'I guess I have to be in team paper because I NEVER read ebooks. Not that I'm against them really but it's just the way it is. I've been thinking about getting a Kindle or something like that but I know one thing for sure: Even if i might start enjoying reading ebooks I'm never going to give up "real" books! I mean I could never feel at home in a house without books a home without books is a pretty scary thought and you can't quite feel that way about ebooks. They're not un-replaceable in the same way. That being said I do get the point with ebooks and I'm not against them but if I had to choose, I would choose paper without a doubt!' - Niina

Team Plastic...
Of the ten people who responded to our debate there was only one who chose to sit firmly on team plastic. Emily tells us why she has converted to ebooks...
 

'I love books, always have, always will - but now I am so team ebook. I still visit the library and purchase the odd book, but having a kindle connected to the amazon store makes picking up books easier. They are there, instant. This what I love if I want to read something I don't have to wait. Carrying a kindle makes life easier, I can pick up my book where ever when I have an unexpected wait. I always said I didn't want a kindle because nothing could replace books, it doesn't replace my books - but it makes me read more' – Emily

The Best Of Both Worlds...

As it turned out our most popular answer was that we don't want to choose between books and ebooks. So, our final team are going to share the benefits of having the option to use both... 
 

'I am team neutral. I love reading with physical books. They look lovely on my shelves, I love turning the pages and you can't ignore how wonderful the smell is. I also love going to the library and choosing from a wide variety of books there. However, I also love my Kindle Fire. I can have a whole library of books in just one device. They aren't very heavy and they're actually better for the environment because you aren't wasting any paper. I love having the option to read both types of book because if I read too many paper books, it's always nice to have a change and turn back to the Kindle and vice versa' – Lucy

'Up until about two weeks ago I would have been team paper for sure. But I took the plunge and bought a Kindle, knowing that this year I'll be doing a lot of travelling and will need to take books with me. This seemed to me like the sensible thing to do. And I'm glad I did. I love my new Kindle Fire (I've named him Kuzco), and am really excited to have it while I'm away during the year. Having said this, I love 'real' books. A lot. I love turning pages and folding the corners over (*gasp!* yup, I'm one of those people!). I love the smell of a new book, fresh pages, and a spine ready to be cracked. As much as I will love having the convenience and handy-ness of my Kindle, I will never ever stop reading 'real' books. Having piles of books on my floor to read and a Kindle just means that I can read two books at once!' – Anjali

'I got an eReader for my birthday at the end of last year, and I have to say that now I have one, I wouldn't be without it. I am a big library fan, I visit my local library at least once a week (though I've been slacking a bit recently), and when my friends bought me my eReader, they specifically chose a Kobo over a Kindle, because it allows me to borrow eBooks from the library, whereas a Kindle doesn't. They don't have a hugely wide selection at the moment, but I'm sure that will change in the future. I guess I'm probably a neutral, I think there is room for both eBooks and traditionally printed books. I would hate to see books die out, but I do think that the important thing is that future generations read, no matter what form the books come in!' – Jane

'I once thought I'd never use an ebook, but now that I have one, I'm hooked. Not that I'm willing to give up paper, but the back lighting at night makes it easier on the eyes and lets me read so much longer––and I can carry several books on vacation without adding any weight.
I just read an interesting comment by Maureen Dowd in Sunday's NY Times. She too was talking about the change from paper to electronics, and her final comment was, "It is not about HOW you're reading. It is about WHAT you're reading." An astute observation for a print journalist' - Nora

'After getting my Kindle last year I wouldn't want to have to choose between the two. I love the convinience of ebooks and the opportunities to read advanced copies that having a Kindle has given me. That being said I do still frequently pick up paperbacks and use the library on a regular basis as well but finding a place to store them all is tricky! When it comes to buying books I tend to look for the best price, sometimes that is a good bookshop deal, sometimes a charity shop bargain box and sometimes it is the Kindle version so I like having options' - Erin

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