The Ebooks vs. paper books debate has been going on for years now. Both the sides have loyalists that claim one is better than the other. Both sides are equally fanatic when it comes to supporting the type of books they like. The debate is nothing new. There is not surprise in the fact that people are arguing over Ebooks and traditional paper books. This is human nature.

Every new scientific discovery, any new invention, any scientific innovation always meets with the same type of debate. There are the traditionalists who do not like any change and then there are the modernists who look down upon anything old. This happened when calculators first replaced manual counting, when computers replaced calculators, when movies competed with drama, when TV competed with radio, when recorded music was up against live music, when microwave came in place of regular ovens and so on and so forth.

Time has shown that most of these debates are pointless. The new does not necessarily have to come at the cost of old. New methods are just options. The new and the old can usually co-exist. Is this the case with Ebook too? Ebooks or paper books- which of these really is better? Let us examine each closely to find out.

The books made of paper have been around for a long time. People have been using them for centuries and therefore we are comfortable with them. The Ebook is new. It is unfamiliar. It could take some getting used to.

The paper books harm the environment as the paper comes from trees. Although Ebooks depend on devices that are potentially dangerous to the environment, they do not need trees to be cut and are thus safer.

Books that use paper are also perishable whereas Ebook can last almost for ever. Ebook does not become dog-eared with time and its quality remains consistent over long periods of time. Though some people do argue that the very fact that paper book gets dog-eared makes it all the more special and personal.

Most books made from paper can be easily transported. They can be read practically everywhere and can be read in any position. This makes the reader more comfortable. The Ebook on the other hand, if read on computer, cannot be as flexibly read. Even with handheld devices one has to be careful not to damage the sophisticated hardware and therefore Ebook becomes less convenient.

Long-term effect of Ebooks like the strain they cause to the eye cannot be predicted because the electronic books are still pretty new. Books made from paper, at least based on preliminary analysis, seem to be safer and cause less strain if read in a well-lit place. In dark rooms the Ebook that has the option of backlight is easier on the eyes.

Thus, in conclusion it can be said that both the types of books have pluses and minuses and the choice lies with the reader.