e-book and print book, which wins?

Internet sites have the potential to combine both texts and images in complex structures with hyperlinks, menu bars and video clips which benefit the users (Walsh, 2006, p.30). Meanwhile, due to the advance technology such as the invention of smartphones and tablet PC such as iPad, people are able to access articles and information anywhere, anytime, as long as they are able to access to the Internet. As a result, many companies started to transform the printed books into e-books so that readers can update themselves in an easier way with cost efficiency and environmental friendly through electronic devices (Capeloto, 2011).

Traditional way people reading books in bookstore

Latest way people reading article through e-reader

Both images source from: http://www.ebook-reader.com/

However, as the need of obtaining information online increasing rapidly, it is surprise that students still prefer printed textbooks rather than online version (Capeloto, 2011). According to Shriver (1997), users are reluctant to use online documents may due to their perception which they feel difficult to understand and hard to link the text elements from the Internet. As a student, I prefer printed textbooks too. It is because I can have my own notes written on it and highlight with the key words which can enhance my memory when I start my revision in the future. It makes my learning progress more easily as I do not need to carry my laptop wherever I go.

On the other hand, there are still many benefits to students by accessing the texts electronically (MacManus, 2010). Even students do not bring their textbooks, they can still have a quick refer to the study materials once they downloaded it into the phone. Hence, as readers are aggressive in obtaining information online, their tolerance towards useless information is lower. In this case, journalists need to carefully identify what their readers want, instead of writing their own opinion to deliver knowledgeable contents to fulfil with readers’ expectations.

As the content of printed books may be outdated as time passes by, it would be challenging to produce these printed books in the future as by times it needs to compete with the fast changing media environment. Therefore, we need to catch up with the changes, we are encouraged to use the electronic devices to support the learning process and update knowledge in the fastest way.

One interesting video showing the difference between ebook and print book,

Video designed by mattyoung037 from www.youtube.com

There are still other episodes from mattyoung037,
Book vs. E-Book: Episode 1 - Touch & Smell
Books vs. E-Books: Episode 3 - On the Bookshelf

Reference List:

Capeloto, A. 2011, How e-textbooks, online modules could keep journalism education current, PBG.org [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/08/how-e-textbooks-online-modules-could-keep-journalism-education-current237.html [Accessed 13 November 11]

MacManus, R. (2010), 5 ways e-books are better than paper books, ReadWriteWeb.com [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/5_ways_that_ebooks_are_betterthan_paper_books.php [Accessed 12 November 11]

Mattyoung037. (2010). Book vs. E-Book: Episode 2 - In the Bath. [Online Video]. 09 August. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwmrHWHi74w&feature=related. [Accessed 14 November 2011].

Schriver, K.A (1997), 'Chapter 6: The interplay of words and pictures,' in Dynamics in document design: Creating texts for readers, pp.361-441, Wiley Computer Pub., New York.

Walsh, M., 2006, ‘Textual shift: examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts’, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29 (1), pp. 24-37.