Physical Copies of Books vs. Electronic Books-Pros and Cons.

       There's something extra special about stories, no matter what the format. Stories take us to another place, they allow us to look at specific subject matter in a creative way and often teach us some form of lesson. Though, there is a constant debate between people on which format is "better". Looking at it in a logical view point, I must say that in the end, a story is a story. However, with that being said I prefer a physical copy anyday. Not only do I just enjoy them more, I see more pros on the physical copy side. 
     For starters, let's take a look at the pros and cons of physical copies of books. We'll look at the good before the bad because I feel the good outweighs the bad. The biggest thing with physical copies is the old fashioned feel to them, because they have been around longest. Not only that, but the smell of new books is both strange and wonderful. There is just something about being able to turn the pages yourself, and they are easier to lend out to someone. If you're borrowing a book from someone, it's interesting to see what they have or haven't underlined or highlighted in their book because it shows you what they found important. Whether that is a lesson, a quote, or just something they liked. Books on a bookshelf in a home just look beautiful and like they belong. That alone also gives you an idea of what the reader may be into by just taking a glance at their shelves. Physical copies also never loose power, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. If you spill something on your book, there is a better chance of saving it versus you spilling something on an electronic one. Physical copies rarely malfunction because they aren't run by electricity which can be easily damaged or shorted. Paperbacks are more decently priced than hardcover, so there are cheap alternatives, most of the time. The cons for physical copies would be that they can take up a lot of space, if you accidentally underline/highlight the wrong thing, you can't get rid of it unless it's pencil, rarely are they free and they also add to the destruction of trees.
       Moving on to the pros of electronic books. With electronic books, you can carry thousands with you at a time. You are also able to hide what you are reading more easily if you are in a public place. In addition to those, you are able to add notes that will not do any permanent damage and they don't destroy trees. You can occasionally even get some of these electronic books for free! Now, moving on to the cons of electronic books beginnig with the simple fact that they do not seem magical in the way the physical copies are. They also do not have that new (or old) book smell that many of us cherish. They easily run out of power and make lending out much more difficult. Because the reader runs on electricity, if something is spilled on it,it may completely ruin it and bugs can cause the device to freeze up. Some of the ebooks are actually just as expensive as a hardcover book.
       Those are just a few of the many pros and cons to both of these types of books, I am sure. Now, why am I posting this on our class blog? Well, simply because we have done a decent amount of reading in this class and being that these are different types of books, I saw it as relevant. I was also curious as to how both sorts impact your reading and if there is any difference in how the two impact your reading? Feel free to give me your feedback. Note that these are just my opinions on the subject and what I could find.