By Haley Jensen
Staff Reporter
            With today’s technology, it’s not hard to imagine the possibility of being able to carry nearly 2,000 books around with you electronically. Instead of needing boxes and suitcases to store them, you can transport them in a device that easily fits in your hand. Now it’s not just a possibility, it’s common!
            Often times these devices, called e-readers, can also store magazines and newspapers. Some can even support a wireless connection, allowing the user to access the internet. So with all these features, it’s no wonder e-readers have become so popular. But are they better than real books?
            I believe that nothing can beat a real book. So even though I see the benefits of e-readers, I’m adamant that I will never own one. It’s not because I’m anti-technology, far from it. I’m just emotionally attached to the idea of paper-bound books.
            There’s just something so impersonal about turning the “pages” of an e-book with a button on a keyboard or even the swipe of a finger on a touch screen.
            I’ve been passionate about reading since I was very young, and the act of reading has become sentimental. One of my favorite places in the world is the library. Sometimes it almost feels unfair that there are so many books out in the world, and I’ll never be able to read them all.
            Nothing compares to the feel of old, papery pages. The smell of an old book is almost magical. There isn’t anything else in the world is like the experience of opening a book for the first time and feeling the excitement of beginning an adventure. The sound of a spine on a brand new book cracking is always exhilarating. These are things I cherish.
            All of these things are impossible to experience with an e-reader. And maybe I’m just a romantic, but books have been around for thousands of years. They hold our knowledge of history and art and science. They’re priceless!
            I understand the desire to be “green” and save paper. I’m a supporter of environmental protection, but in my opinion, the advantages of being able to possess a story for centuries are invaluable. I want to be able to pass down the stories that are important to me to my children sometime in the future. An e-reader can’t last as long as a printed book, and if you’re like me, you want to keep the books that you buy for as long as you can. 
            That’s another issue with e-readers: they’re much more expensive. The cheapest Nook, an e-reader from Barnes And Noble, is $99. The cheapest Kindle, an e-reader from Amazon, is $79. On the higher end, the cheapest e-reader from Sony comes in at around $130. These prices don’t include the cost of each individual book, which tend to vary from $10-$15.
            On the other hand, you can go to a bookstore and buy a book that you can keep for a years for about $30 or less. Or, if you prefer, you can go to your local library and check out books for free! The state of my teen finances definitely pushes me towards the library.
             Don’t get me wrong, e-readers are impressive pieces of technology that definitely have a place in the worlds of business and school. 
            Large businesses can use e-readers to reduce their paper waste as well as improve their professional appearance. A high-tech e-reader looks much more cutting-edge than stacks of books. 
            Students can also use e-readers to their advantage. The devices have the chance to cut textbook costs for students on a budget. Also, the portability is appealing for people that have a full course load and don’t have the time to run and check a computer between classes.
            Despite all of this, I just can’t bring myself to ever purchase one. I’m too attached to the historical and emotional benefits of exploring rows of bookshelves and getting lost in a book for a day.