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As I've begun reading more often, it's been the case that some of my books are on my e-reader, while others are printed and bound. This has given me quite a bit of exposure to using both formats.
Regarding e-readers versus printed books, many people I know are in one camp or the other. They either swear by Kindle or Kobo, or one will pry their paperbacks from their cold, dead hands. To be honest, however, I like both formats. Each have their strengths and their weaknesses, and I think whether one likes one format over another is probably just a matter of preference.
Obviously my favorite feature of e-readers is that I can carry more than one book on a single device. I now have almost a hundred documents total on my Kobo--not all fiction, of course--that are accessible with just a few taps. The e-ink display is easy on the eyes, the ability to change text size and highlight is very useful, and the backlight means I don't have to bring a clip-on light when I want to read in a dark place. It's for these reasons that my e-reader is an essential part of my everyday carry.
Printed books have their strengths, too. Seeing the ratio of pages in front of me is a visceral, tangible way to sense how far along I am in a book, moreso than simply looking at a progress bar. If I'm searching for a particular page, flipping and skimming through real paper is far easier than an ebook. And of course, there's something irreplaceable about the feel, the scent, the sound of printed paper. Printed books have always had a magical quality about them that e-readers simply can't equal.
I have physical copies of every book I'm currently reading, but I keep digital copies on my Kobo anyway. Sometimes I read one way, sometimes I read another. I think I'd be satisfied either way.
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[Last updated: 2022-12-09]