eBooks are often portrayed as being in conflict with physical books – the modern versus the traditional, function versus experience, and (more or less openly) Amazon versus bookstores and established publishers.
Sales figures are regularly analyzed for the relative trends. Partisans of physical books cite numbers from the big publishers, which tend to show increased sales of hardcopies making up for a fall in eBook sales.
A recent study (paywalled) from the University of Arizona, based on focus group studies, provides interesting insights looks at user experiences and attitudes towards eBooks, aiming to establish at the micro level (rather than the macro, whole-of-market level) what may underpin consumers’ behavior.
To Have and Not to Hold?
A key finding from the article concerns the difference in people’s feelings about owning digital and physical books, or rather that there is a much stronger sense of ownership of physical objects. It underlines that reading an eBook feels more like ‘renting’ than buying, more like a service than a good.
For the respondents, much of this was linked to subjective responses. Holding an object in your hands does create a greater sense of connection, and the study makes a lot of the touch, feel and smell of a physical book. The importance of memories of children’s books, for example, also plays a role.
But it also cites legal issues. Of course, it is true that digital works are services, which are licensed rather than bought. Increasingly, works are held on third-party servers, and readers’ devices hold no more than a temporary copy. Digital materials are licensed, rather than bought.
Yet the fact that contracts and technological measures affect what users can do is also at the fore, with the impossibility to lend, give or sell books to friends and others meaning that eBooks feel less valuable. Certainly, for libraries, the tough (and often confusing) restrictions around eLending consume considerable time and effort.
There is nothing subjective about this – it is something decided by publishers of eBooks (be they an independent writer working through Amazon or a traditional bookseller). And so it is something that can be changed.
Competitor or Complement?
The article suggests that there are two ways forwards for eBook publishers – either to accept that eBooks are different, and to make more of the possibilities offered by digital (i.e. multimedia), or to try and make eBooks more like physical books.
In a (controversial) interview on the subject, Hachette CEO Arnaud Nourry described eBooks as a ‘stupid format’ and effectively argues for the first option – bringing eBooks closer to other multimedia experiences. This may well provide a response to the ‘attention wars’ which seem to be pitching different forms of entertainment against each other – who gets the biggest share of people’s free time?
As for the second option, the study suggests further physical adaptations of e-readers, or the possibility to scribble notes in the margin as changes that could help. What the study doesn’t mention (at least in the available press materials) is that maybe more could be done at least to tackle the legal constraints on eBooks, not least in order to make it easier for libraries to lend books.
Of course, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a binary choice.
As the study shows, current eBook formats do seem to work for people who simply need the basic functionality of the digital product (lighter, compatibility with DAISY readers, possibility to magnify text), and do not necessarily need or want multimedia.
Moreover, they also have proved valuable for non-traditional publishers. A shift to ‘richer’ formats may imply greater costs, which would reverse the trend towards reducing the costs of such independent/self-publishing, harming diversity. Clearly improving license terms would make this access easier, and potentially more valuable to buyers.
It is also the case that people’s preferences will vary according to their personal situations, what they are reading, the time of day, and other factors. Given libraries’ focus on best responding to readers’ needs, being able to lend books in whatever format works best for readers, in all their diversity, is the key.
It is also the case that people’s preferences will vary according to their personal situations, what they are reading, the time of day, and other factors. Given libraries’ focus on best responding to readers’ needs, being able to lend books in whatever format works best for readers, in all their diversity, is the key.
Oh I’m definitely the old fashioned type when it comes to books – I have a large hardback collection of horror and science fiction that I’ve amassed over the years (and I’m constantly adding to it!).
By the way – I love that comic graphic conversation you have between the Kindle and the book in your article!
I believe that a certain generation will always promote the physical format of the book to younger family members and they will then do the same – there’s something ‘real’ about having a hardback book in your hands to read!
Hey Chris,
I do agree that the physical book feels better than some text on a scree. But you can’t do a lot of things with paper books. Check out 6 reasons why an eBook reader is better than a book.
Of course it all comes down to the user’s preferences. You prefer physical books, I like both, it depends on the book type and the circumstances of reading. For example, you can’t read a book in the dark, and eBook readers have their own back-light.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios
Interesting niche, I am a fan of ebooks and the reason is: We are saving a lot of trees.
Reading your website I am facing a lot of questions!!
Ebooks and Audiobooks are the same thing? Do they work in the same device?
Nook and Kindle. Can I use the same device to read a book from a different source?
My mom is addicted to Soduko and CrossWords, is there a device that she can have both? ebooks and crosswords for example?
I appreciate your help!
Hi Ricardo,
What you’re saying is very true. Now, regarding your questions:
You read eBooks and listen to audiobooks. That is the main difference. An audiobook is great when you want to listen to a book while doing something else, like commuting, or walking.
Nook and Kindle are eReaders from different bookstores. Nook’s from Barnes and Noble, Kindle is from Amazon. The two readers support different formats, but you can convert from one to the other. Kindle’s books are in a proprietary format, AZW, but it also supports other formats, such as MOBI and PDF. Nook supports the more open MOBI format as well as ePub and PDF (the most popular formats)
For your third question, I would suggest a tablet (an iPad or an Android tablet) or a Kindle Fire. A Kindle fire is an android tablet with default support for Kindle books.
Hope I’ve helped. thanks for stopping by!
Marios
Hi Marios,
Thanks for this article on Ebooks vs Physical Books. As I see it, it depends on so many factors to consider, they have their own pro’s and con’s. I totally agree with you that reading an eBook feels more like renting than buying. On the other hand, eBooks also have their pro’s like the ability to travel more easily, built-in dictionary is useful and so on. So it boils down to the reader if they want an ebooks or physical books.
Hi Glenda,
Exactly. Each book type has its pros and cons, and it always comes down to the reader’s preferences.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios
This is a hot topic that must be approached with a full analysis. I don’t have side to take here, both eBooks and physical books are of greater importance to me. I think it now depend of one’s situation and preference. Let’s begin with physical books; they are good because a number of factor; It’s very easy to look for a topic and understand it in a physical book, you can easily flip through indexes, pages and you can carry it anywhere or render.
But the problem comes when you don’t have one with you, you may not find one even in the entirety of your town. eBooks are readily available. eBooks though are licensed instead of of owned but they are of greater importance. The two, in my view are equally important. That’s my view.
Hello,
As I have stated before, both types have their pros and cons. With paper books it is easier to go back and forth than with eBooks. I find that I read an eBook once, and rarely go back to it. This is not the case with a physical book. But, as you mentioned, a physical book is bulkier, and I can have many books with me with a reading device. It all comes down to personal preferences.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios
Wow,interesting review. I saw the conversation between the ebook and the physical one and it was very interesting. I have been asking myself about the future of libraries as many people re interested in ebooks. But it seems that libraries still have power over ebooks because reading a book online will cost much than buying a physical book which will be mine forever and read it anytime even if i am not online.
Thank you for this review.
Hi Julienne,
Libraries nowadays have eBooks as well as paper books. Google search now shows eBooks in local libraries. I bleieve that paper books will not be eradicated by eBooks. Besides personal preferences, I believe that both types of books have their advantages and disadvantages. The cartoon on the post indicates some of them 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios
Your post brings out many interesting points. For my personal situation, hard copies of books are just too inconvenient. I like the feel of a book and the way you can easily thumb through and scan it. Maybe that is partly due to the fact that I grew up in the fifties. I still like a newspaper in my hand much better than using a website. But life moves so fast it is not feasible to store or move books considering the volume of them I go through. E-books should be made more attractive, though, as Nourry suggests. They should be livened up through making them a rival for other of today’s multi-media experiences.
Thanks a lot for your post.
Regards,
Joe
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your opinion. I believe it depends on the book and the medium it is read on. An eBook reader with an e-Ink display is difficult to host a multimedia eBook or an eBook with lots of pictures and graphs. This is more fit for iPad and other tablets. But for plain, simpler book layouts, an eBook reader is much better.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios