I love paper books. They feel good. They smell good. And I love the accomplishment of turning pages. I like seeing my progress at a glance based on the bookmark. But the other readers I know, only use e-readers. So I realized I was being narrow-minded and decided to venture out. I decided to do an e-reader vs paper book comparison. After considering many factors, here’s what I learned. 

COST

E-readers have come down in price considerably since they were first introduced. You can get a good reader for under $100. Paper books however require no initial investment. Title purchases vary. Both offer free options. Both offer affordable options. 

PORTABILITY

E-readers can hold hundreds of titles and are much easier to tote around whereas paper books are cumbersome and heavy. However paper books are easier to share with others, making it easier to maintain a community book library.

TECHNOLOGY

E-readers do require some technological understanding to download and access, whereas paper books only require a physical bookmark. 

CLUTTER

E-readers take no shelf space and reduce clutter entirely. Paper books can be an eyesore as they accumulate on shelves and table tops. 

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DELIVERY TIME

E-readers provide immediate access to reading. Paper books require shipping or driving time for delivery. 

VERSATILITY

E-readers are sensitive to sunshine glare, water (minor splashing) and sand. Paper books can be read indoors or outdoors without glare. Sand is not a factor and water will cause minimal damage to books. But also, electronic readers do not require direct lighting thus will not be obtrusive to others. Whereas paper books require additional lighting and could be obtrusive to others trying to sleep. 

SELECTION

E-readers tend to have more options as authors and publishers limit printing. However not all older titles have digital options. 

ERGONOMIC COMFORT

Both can be difficult depending on what you’ve bought. If it’s a 500-page paper book, or a small paper book with a stiff spine, it may be more difficult to hold. However an e-reader is heavier on the wrists and has to be held at a specific angle to read. 

VERDICT

After completing the e-reader vs paper book comparison, I decided the e-reader was better fit for me, so I bit the proverbial bullet and ordered one. But only you can decide which features are important to you thereby choosing which is right for you. Good luck and happy reading!

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