Comments on: eBooks Opinions: Part 2 http://wp.istc.illinois.edu/sei/2009/10/29/ebooks-opinions-part-2/ Promoting the reuse of electronics through greener design and improved waste management Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:15:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Vincent J. http://wp.istc.illinois.edu/sei/2009/10/29/ebooks-opinions-part-2/#comment-79 Vincent J. Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:44:21 +0000 http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/sei/?p=253#comment-79 I like your blog post. It brings an awareness to the waste that hard cover books can produce and hurt our lands over time. Also considered are the damage that ebooks generate. thanks, Vincent I like your blog post. It brings an awareness to the waste that hard cover books can produce and hurt our lands over time. Also considered are the damage that ebooks generate.
thanks,
Vincent

]]> By: Laura Barnes http://wp.istc.illinois.edu/sei/2009/10/29/ebooks-opinions-part-2/#comment-78 Laura Barnes Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:30:37 +0000 http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/sei/?p=253#comment-78 One thing to keep in mind about physical books is that they can be used for years and years by many different people before they are ultimately discarded. There are also crafters and artists who upcycle discarded books into art pieces or useful products (Google "altered books" for some examples). On the other hand, the relative shelf life of e-book readers (which is really what you're talking about) is pretty short, especially when you consider the planned obsolescence of electronics, and the disposal issues are a much greater threat to human health. All of this isn't a slam on e-books. I think in some cases, they make a lot of sense, particularly for multi-volume reference sets. I think it's hard to beat a paper book for a read at the beach though. One thing to keep in mind about physical books is that they can be used for years and years by many different people before they are ultimately discarded. There are also crafters and artists who upcycle discarded books into art pieces or useful products (Google “altered books” for some examples).

On the other hand, the relative shelf life of e-book readers (which is really what you’re talking about) is pretty short, especially when you consider the planned obsolescence of electronics, and the disposal issues are a much greater threat to human health.

All of this isn’t a slam on e-books. I think in some cases, they make a lot of sense, particularly for multi-volume reference sets. I think it’s hard to beat a paper book for a read at the beach though.

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