Matrix Staff Writer

Volume XXXVIII: Issue 4: Page 3

When your father works for a home phone company and your sister a bookstore, asking for a Kindle Fire for Christmas becomes controversial. Many, such as my family, choose to avoid electronic books despite the many convinces they offer.

Electronic books, or e-books, are digitally formated books read on computers or other personal reading devices. Created with the reader in mind, e-book devices such as Kindle and Nook strive to provide the best reading experience possible.

Perhaps the most obvious advantage of e-books is the instant access to up to 2.5 million books, according to the Nook web site. Ordering books is fast and can usually be done anywhere. This simplifies trips to book stores and nearly every aspect of the traditional book purchasing system.

Not to mention, most e-books are less expensive than both hardcover and paperback books. (Shipping and packaging fees are not charged as there is no item to ship or package.) This means not only paying for less material, but also the environmental benefits of reducing paper consumption.

Compact storage and portability are more benefits of reading electronically. The ability to carry many cumbersome books in one light device is not only healthy, but could also potentially transform text books and schools

E-books offer many features to enhance the reading experience. Examples of this include increasing text size, instantly searching word definitions, and various note taking and book marking options.

These are only some of the benefits of e-books. These devices are a great option of the avid, tech-savvy reader. For some, switching from paper to tablet can be difficult. Others dislike e-books simply because they are noT traditional. However, e-books are not intended to replace books. Because of the large convinces they offer, resisting e-books and similar technologies is fruitless, instead, I encourage book lovers to embrace and begin improving upon the future.