The growing popularity of tablet computers has made access
to books easier than ever before, but some De Anza College students say they prefer
paper books over e-books.
A HarrisPoll done in March that surveyed 2,234 found that 54 percent of Americans
currently read e-books.
In an
informal survey of 10 De Anza students, three students said they had read an
e-book before and all 10 said they preferred to read paper books. Students
interviewed on Thursday June 5 cited several reasons why they prefer paper
books over e-books.
“It is
easier to flip the page [with paper books],” said Maddy Dunn, an 18-year-old
law enforcement major. “[When reading e-books] it sometimes doesn’t save the
page that I’m on.”
Jeffrey
Yen, an 18-year-old biology major, said he has an Android tablet that he uses
to read e-books from time to time, but finds it easier to take notes in paper
books.
Maral
Mousacadeh, 19, biology major had a specific reason he prefers paper books.
“I like the
feeling of turning the pages in a book,” Mousacadeh said, “No e-reader can
recreate that feeling.”
Four
students said they had read three or more books not related to school in the
past year. The Harris Poll found that 84 percent of Americans say they read at
least one book in an average year. Thirty-six percent said they read more than
ten books and on average Americans reported reading about 17 books per year.
Nine of the
10 students interviewed said they would read about the same amount regardless
of whether the book was in paper or e-book form.
The Harris
Poll found that half of the respondents said they read the same amount in the
past six months as they did before. Twenty-three percent said they read less in
the past six months and only 17 percent said they read more.
Business
accounting major Juan Castillo, 21, said he read five books in the past year
and said he might read more if he had a tablet to read e-books on.
“Books
would be easier to access [with an e-reader] and I wouldn’t have to carry all
the books around in my backpack,” Castillo said. “It would be a lot easier to
have one place for all my books.”
Half of the
students interviewed said they had gotten a textbook online in the past. Price
was usually the deciding factor of whether to get hardcopy textbooks or online
textbooks.
“I just
get hardcopy textbooks unless I can find them free online,” said 22-year-old
marketing major Shady Rich. “It is harder to highlight and takes notes [in
online textbooks], but the money I save makes up for that.”
The Harris
Poll found that 46 percent of Americans said they only read hard copy books,
with an additional 16 percent saying they read more hard copy books than
e-books.
Seven out
of the 10 students interviewed said they thought paper books would remain the
dominant form of book.
“Nothing can beat the feel of a
paper book,” said 20-year-old business major Mike Hoefler.“Reading is one area where technology won’t change our habits.”
