(Εκδοχή στα Ελληνικά, στο τέλος)
Advantages of the physical format. Let's start with a funny but truthful video:
So the list goes as such:
- No need for batteries
- You can write a note on it, by using a pen or a marker
- Can be an artistic artifact
- Its exterior appearance can be used to decorate the bookshelf
- Real feeling with the 4 of the 5 human senses
- Portable most of the times and under all conditions
The disadvantages will be:
- The size (which can be a major issue when it comes to a book's portability)
- The weight (for the same reason as above)
- The amount of information (which are limited to the subject)
- The need for light (in order for someone to be able to read)
As for the digital format, let's watch first the ad of Amazon's Kindle:
So the list of advantages will go as such:
- Light weight
- Portable everywhere
- Can carry "tons" of information and complete books
- Low book price
What about the disadvantages:
- Needs batteries and therefore electricity supply to recharge
- You can't write notes on it
- The device is more expensive than a single book and therefore not easily replaceable (if it breaks)
Which do you think are the advantages and disadvantages, respectively in both formats?
Add your opinion with a comment below!
So far, according to previous comment, in a previous post:
"...there is another advantage of print books over digital ones, is that since their owner can display them on his or her bookcase, like you've mentioned on your last point, they can be the source of interesting conversations and they can also provide people who don't know the owner, with a general impression about his or her tastes and personality! This simply can't happen with e-books since it would require access to the owner's computer or e-reader!"
~ ~ ~
(Εκδοχή στα Ελληνικά)
Σε αυτή την ανάρτηση θα προσπαθήσουμε να κάνουμε μια σύγκριση των δύο μορφών που ορίσαμε στη προηγούμενη ανάρτηση. Μέσα από τη σύγκριση θα βρούμε τα πλεονεκτήματα και τα μειονεκτήματα τους.
Πλεονεκτήματα της φυσικής μορφής. Ας αρχίσουμε με ένα βίντεο αστείο αλλά που λέει τα πράγματα όπως είναι:
Άρα η λίστα φτιάχνεται κάπως έτσι:
- Δεν χρειάζεται μπαταρίες
- Μπορείς να σημειώσεις κάτι πάνω του με ένα στυλό ή μαρκαδόρο υπογραμμίσεως
- Μπορεί να αποτελεί ένα καλλιτεχνικό αντικείμενο
- Η εξωτερική του εμφάνιση μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί για να διακοσμήσει το ράφι.
- Πραγματική αίσθηση με τις 4 από τις 5 αισθήσεις του ανθρώπου
- Είναι ένα φορητό αντικείμενο τις περισσότερες φορές και κάτω από όλες τις συνθήκες.
Τα μειονεκτήματα έχουν ως εξής:
- Το μέγεθος (το οποίο πολλές φορές μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως τροχοπέδι για να είναι φορητό)
- Το βάρος (για τον ίδιο λόγο)
- Την ποσότητα της πληροφορίας που διαθέτει (που είναι περιορισμένη στο θέμα του βιβλίου)
- Την ανάγκη του για φως (για να μπορέσει κάποιος να το διαβάσει)
Όσο για την ψηφιακή μορφή του βιβλίου, ας δούμε πρώτα την διαφήμιση του Kindle της Amazon:
Άρα η λίστα των πλεονεκτημάτων φτιάχνεται κάπως έτσι:
- Είναι ελαφρύ
- Κατά κανόνα, φορητό
- Μπορεί να κουβαλήσει "τόνους" πληροφορίας και ολόκληρα βιβλία
- Χαμηλό κόστος βιβλίου
Σχετικά με τα μειονεκτήματα:
- Χρειάζεται μπαταρίες και συνεπώς πρόσβαση σε διαθέσιμο ηλεκτρικό ρεύμα για να επαναφορτιστεί
- Δε μπορείς να σημειώσεις πάνω του
- Η συσκευή είναι πιο ακριβή από ένα βιβλίο και συνεπώς δεν είναι αντικαθίσταται εύκολα σε περίπτωση καταστροφής.
Ποιά νομίζεται ότι είναι τα πλεονεκτήματα και τα μειονεκτήματα, αντίστοιχα, στις δύο μορφές του βιβλίου;
Προσθέστε την γνώμη σας με ένα σχόλιο!
Μέχρι στιγμής, σε ένα σχόλιο που αναρτήθησε, σε μία προηγούμενη ανάρτηση:
"..ένα άλλο ένα πλεονέκτημα στα τυπωμένα βιβλία σε σχέση με τα ψηφιακά, είναι πως αφού ο κάτοχος τα έχει στη βιβλιοθήκη του και κατά συνέπεια βρίσκονται σε ένα μέρος όπου μπορεί κάποιος να τα δεί και έτσι μπορούν να αποτελέσουν πηγή συζητήσεων καθώς να δώσουν μια γενική εικόνα για τη προσωπικότητα και το γούστο του κατόχου! Αυτό δε μπορεί να συμβεί τόσο απλά με τα e-books αφού θα πρέπει να έχει προηγηθεί πρόσβαση στον υπολογιστή ή το e-reader του κατόχου!"
My vote goes for e-book! Specially due to the fact that is very light and you can carry more than one book with you.
ReplyDeleteHowever I found the other day a physical-format book that solved the "weight" problem just by using very thing paper (like the bible?)
The dimensions were around... 12x8cm and only 1-2cm thick
well....I'm not very good with the scaling-thing, so maybe it's better to follow the link and check by yourself:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/20/could-this-kill-kindle
Hey, thank you for the link! Interesting idea and the kind of solution for the "battle against Kindle". But I am not against e-book. I just want to separate them since they both have their own piece to give.
ReplyDeleteI love the video for the BOOK :)
ReplyDeleteAnother advantage of the digital format can be the fact that it is really up to date, but it is not a very strong one if we are limited in the application of it as a device for reading literature. On the other hand, the fact that it can include not only one book but also “a lot of information” (newspapers, blogs etc), as you mentioned, is a quite strong one.
Another element that makes the digital form really different from the analog form is derived from their definition. In the digital format you read through a screen while in the book you read something which is printed on a paper. I haven't experienced reading in an e-book yet but if I compare reading a long text in a screen and reading from paper, I would still prefer the printed edition! But technology goes on and I’m sure that there will soon be a way (if there is not one already) to make the screen nicely readable without tiring the eyes…
And a last comment…it’s not only the size of one book in order to carry it around but do you remember caring boxes and boxes of books during your last moving to a new place? Do we really need all those after all?
Thank you for the comment Ioanna. Indeed I would still prefer the printed edition, maybe because I am used to do as such, so far. Maybe in the future I will be with an e-reader in my hands wherever I go.
ReplyDeleteIndeed is so difficult to carry boxes of books around, while moving from a place to another. This brings on the matter of available space for storing so many books. Not many people have the same storage room. And that's another disadvantage of the physical format.
Another advantage of e-books, is the fact that they will not deteriorate! The pages of a physical book will get stained and become yellow when you read it, because of the moisture on your hands and fingers, not to mention the fact that that they can be very easily torn out if you are not carefuk enough! No matter how well you take care of your books, time will take its toll on them, it's inevitable! E-books, being digital and all, will always be the same as the day you bought and downloaded them!
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, a disadvantage of e-books is that because of draconian IP protection measures, you can't lend them to your friends and loved ones! If you happen to read a, e-book that you think one of your friends will really like, then he or she will have to buy it. If it was a physical book however, you could just lend it to him or her! Of course if your friends don't share your views and policies on physical book handling, this can actually be an advantage! I lent my copy of Battle Royalle, which was in almost mint condition, to a friend of mine and when I got it back, it looked as if it had been run over by a tank! That wouldn't have happened with an e-book! LOL!
Again thank you for the comment, Theo. I understand your points for the advantages and disadvantages.
ReplyDeleteLending a book was a nice habit among friends (and not only), and it is sure an issue when it comes on lending an e-book, which can't happen. We have to admit the fact that the publishing companies weren't getting payed for each book that was lent. Now if the e-books become really cheap, nobody would mind paying a small price for owing it.
So let's see what will happen.
I can understand that when you have a physical book that you're loving in your hands, you can become connected to it, to its texture,
ReplyDeleteto its colours and all the caracteristics of its edition. But although I haven't used an ebook before and assuming that it is not eye-tiring at all, I guess
I could easily adopt one. Its versatility is
really tempting, accecibility to all kind of books and magazines etc with just an internet connection sounds amazing, not to mention the enviromental benefits with all
the paper that would be saved if it is to replace real books..One things that does concerns me though is the fact that book selling and distribution becomes some kind
of a monopoly for a little few (take itunes for instance). Jobs might be lost and fewer will earn more. But one the other hand, since its easier "to get published", more talents
that are not cut off by publishers could emerge.
I'll share any more thoughts that will come to my mind..:)
Thank you Kounteo for your opinion. It seems we are all open in the potential of an e-book but what confuses us is the experience we have with a physical format of a book that has bonded with our senses.
ReplyDelete