Letters: Paperback vs e-reader

Apropos “Students brace for digital storm as e-book revolution likely” (January 25), the paperback still wins over the e-book purely on economics. Assuming an e-reader costs Rs 12,000, an average paper-based textbook Rs 300, and a 25 per cent discount on the digital edition, the break-even still works out to be 160 books, a significantly high number for any student. Moreover, digital editions do not provide the unbridled sharing experience of printed editions, since they come with short and limited loanable periods. Sharing buddies must also possess the same expensive e-reader, making the experience technology-dependent. Unlike music, students generally read, at best, five to eight textbooks in a semester/calendar year, so portability is not too much of an issue either. Unless computer-based testing is made mainstream and e-books afford efficient note-making on the margins similar to pens, e-books will hardly dislodge the primacy of paper in education circles.

Sudipta Das, Kolkata

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