Of the current trends in the book industry, perhaps none has had such a significant rise, adoption rate, and impact, as the eBook. Are eBooks the latest literary trend? Once the realm of primitive low-resolution screens, short battery lives, and specialty online stores with limited offerings, the online world is now the hub of millions of eBooks available for sale in dozens of different online bookstores. Nearly every popular book ever made has been retroactively converted into the electronic format, while every new book released now comes in both physical and eBook forms. Some self-published books are even released exclusively in electronic form, cutting down on costs and making distribution far easier than it's ever been. eBooks seem to be the first major change in the medium since the invention of the printing press, and they only seem to be moving forward.
Advantages: eBooks are advantageous in many ways over physical books. The first and most obvious is the fact that they're electronic, taking up virtually no space inside existing smartphone readers or dedicated eBook readers. A user with an eReader could conceivably store thousands of books inside their bag; such a collection of books would otherwise weigh hundreds of kilograms. This doesn't just translate to an advantage in portability, but also ease of access and space-saving at home. The romanticism of bookshelf after bookshelf of physical volumes is undeniable, but the reality is that there is just not enough space in many modern homes today.
An eReader solves this problem, storing all books either in the cloud or on a tiny device that consumes no more space than just a single book. It's also easier to find books on an eReader; rather than walking around tracing fingers along spines, a flick of a finger will lead you to your destination. Finally, eBooks are cheaper, requiring no materials other than the actual literature within and the cost of server time involved in distributing the books to downloading customers. In this paperless way they are also friendly to the environment.
Disadvantages: The disadvantages, on the other hand, are fewer but more marked. One disadvantage is that it's very uncomfortable to read on a computer, smartphone, or tablet screen, compared to reading a book. This is because electronic screens work by generating light, which may cause eyestrain or discomfort while reading text for long periods of time, while books simply reflect natural light from the environment. This can be resolved, however, by reading white text on a black background, which reduces the amount of light and glare.
The best way to fix this problem, however, is the electronic ink reader, which uses electrically charged particles covered in dye in the design of its display. eBook readers which use this technology reflect light naturally and look just like paper in most cases. Another disadvantage is the simple feel of a book being more comfortable and conducive to a reading experience. This is a matter of taste and eBooks can never truly replace this.
eBooks currently rival the sales of physical books and it is conceivable that they may one day overtake them. They are a true game-changer in the literary world today, and are transforming the way we read forever.
