eBooks vs. Paper books

When eBooks first came out, most software companies assumed they would yield enormous profits.. after all, eBooks would be in accord with the huge demand there is for anything that has to do with the internet/technology/etc. They would be the most conveniant since you would no longer have to travel to a bookstore/library for your reading needs, and for those that already spend 90% of their life in front of a computer (cough, Fariz.. jk :) ) this obviously seemed like the best choice. However, paper books are still holding quite a weight when compared to its competitor.

Although for leisure reading I prefer paper books, there are situations which I'd rather use an eBook-i.e for anything school related when ctrl+F comes into handy.

eBooks are cheaper, the availability of it is hardly ever an issue (being something you can download immediately), you can hold a shitton of books in whatever means you are using (palm pilot, computer, etc), it probably does have the most potential considering there is only so much you can do with a paper book.. but there is something about the conventional form of books that is hard to ignore. The intangible benefits-the sentimental value, the "feel of pages of a brand new book"..etc are just as important. However, I don't deny that paper books will become as obsolete as letters sent through snail mail are today, unfortunately.

And the argument that is often used about eBooks being 'environmentally friendly' though is very false; the amount of energy that is used through a computer or tablet (etc) can be just as detrimental to the environment as the trees killed with books.

To add to my argument, I'd like to cite Fred Wilson who wrote a blog entry explaining how technology has had an effect on his kids:
http://avc.blogs.com/a_vc/2008/01/what-my-kids-te.html

Here's an important excerpt:

"books may be the one category of media and entertainment that aren't disrupted by digital technology. or maybe we just haven't seen the technology that will do it. i honestly don't know. and i don't know how the book business is faring versus five or ten years ago. but at least in my family, books are still a growth sector."

"Might books be the only medium that remains unaffected by the Internet (except the ease of finding and buying them)?"

I was not surprised to say the least that his children were unaffected however I was surprised that it remains a sector, to a large extent, unchanged. It has been able to withstand technological changes of time, that's really profound in my eyes.

Recently there has been a device that has surfaced call the "Kindle" produced my Amazon, while it attracts users because of its paper back like display, there is something to be said about flipping a page or feeling a book that is so striking that it is difficult to compel a consumer to choose an ebook reading device over the actual book no matter the weight cost.

I choose regular books for a few reasons. One reason is that, computing devices are becoming very portable but nothing is as portable as a book, it doesn't require batteries or any other power source other than the flipping made by your hands. Books, in my mind, do not tire your eyes to the same magnitude as an electronic device. It's instant gratification to see the position you are at with a book, you gain a feeling of accomplishment. You cannot easily lose or erase a book like you can a digital copy, books are fairly medium sized objects.

Leave ebooks for a reference or a guide, something fast and easy to reference but leave the real reading with a nice tangible paper version.