Printed books vs digital books is an ongoing topic of discussion. There are and will remain educationists who support printed books as well as electronic books (eBooks). With the increasing number of tech-savvy people, all service providers are digitizing their services in order to cater to this huge community of digital users.

Publishing is also one such industry which has stepped foot in the digital era to make reading more convenient for students and youngsters.

Schools and Corporates are increasingly switching towards eBooks as they are better equipped to provide an engaging learning and training experience to users. Digital Publishing has been overshadowing print versions for a while now. But print publishers are still standing strong despite the bombardment of digital devices and their apparently burgeoning popularity.

Upon comparing both, one finds that although printed hardcover books are much loved for their originality, the feel of holding an actual book is very comforting. E Books on the other hand are more functional and fare far better as far as ease of using it is concerned. Let us see how advantageous eBooks are over the conventional paper books.

Advantages of EBooks

1. Single Device, Unlimited Books:

eBooks are portable and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. Instead of carrying multiple bulky books, one eBook reader can hold thousands of eBooks. It saves a lot of space in your home and in your bag. There are no storage limit hassles.

2. Accessibility:

They are easily accessible. One can carry the eBook around and use them at our own convenience and place. Students can read the learning material at home and even while on the move. Some eBooks come with the choice of offline accessibility, allowing students to access it even if they are offline.

3. Comforting to the Eyes:

Latest eReaders have features where one can adjust the brightness of the screen according to the time of the day and depending upon your preferences. Many eReaders even have read in the dark feature, with lights that won’t strain your eyes, and neither would they disturb others around you. You can even alter the fonts and size of the text as per your comfort.

4. Interactive Features:

EBooks with interactive features make the reading experience a more pleasant one. They can be embedded with audio and videos. External links can be added to offer additional information. One can even bookmark a certain page or find a word in a quick and effortless way. There are numbers similar features that can be included to enhance the overall studying experience.

5. Amplifying Reality Experience:

Augmented reality has taken the eBook experience to the next level. Texts and images can now be embedded with an augmented three-dimensional visual which pops up on the user’s screen. Readers can view a computer-generated 3D model of the image, which makes reading and learning a much more absorbing experience.

The user only has to point the device at the image or text, and an enhanced version of the image will appear on the screen.

6. Affordability in the Long Run:

There is a general misconception that since it’s a new technology and new device, the cost would be higher than that of printed books. But, on the contrary, eBooks cost much less than printed books. Because there’s not much of pre-production involved like that in printed books. No paperback covers, no paper printing, no packaging cost, no shipping. So eventually it becomes much economical than a printed book.

Disadvantages of e-books

1. Considering the increasing screen time the children are subjected to these days on HD screens, it becomes reason to stress their eyes at an early age.

2. It is not easy to give away expensive devices such as tab, laptops to children alone to read an e-book.

3. It has been observed that kids interact less with parents when they read an e-book. This may lead to lack of proper interpretation of the topic or subject being misunderstood by them.

4. Children at times begin to communicate less while reading more and more e-books as they develop a habit of listening to the content every time and there's no discussion as such.

Different researchers have reached upon different conclusions on whether an e-book improves upon child's skills or not but what most researchers have agreed upon is that eBook should not be used as a replacement of textbooks especially school books. Research too has proven that better understanding of the concept comes from reading the matter on your own which can be further be elaborated using video or animated demonstrations.