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Anna Schultz-Girl Using Ipad In Bed
Anna Schultz-Girl Using Ipad In Bed
Anna Schultz / Her Campus
Culture > Digital

Reading: Paper vs Screen

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.

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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Lasell chapter.

I love my iPad. If I haven’t made that clear in previous articles. She makes a lot of things easier for me. Writing notes, online shopping, and watching YouTube. And yes she is a she because she just radiates girl-boss energy. Although there will be times when I just miss pencil and paper since I did shell out a lot of $$$ for some really cute stationery. There are just some things that my iPad can’t replace. Like I’m not spending money for an online template of a day planner. I’m sorry, very much supportive of the trees but I feel better writing with pen and paper as my to-do list. That’s where the reading debate comes in. I love reading. Ever since my mom would take me to the local library and would read to me I have been obsessed with books. Those Scholastic Book Fairs would be my favorite time of the school year. So me being an avid reader, I of course begged my mom for a Kindle before I got my iPad. She was going to get it, but then the iPad came into play. I downloaded the Kindle app on my iPad and it worked fine. Plus, a lot of e-books are cheaper than real-life books. So now that I have had the chance to experience reading on both, here’s my overall pros and cons list. 

Paper: Pros 

  1. You get to FEEL the paper: If you’re a reader you just get it. Touching a book and flipping through the paper, and smelling a brand new book? It is addicting, to say the least. 
  1. Going to Barnes and Noble is Target for readers: Being in a Barnes and Noble store is so calming, like all of the stress just slides right off of me. Plus Starbucks is right there? Don’t tempt me with a good time. 
  1. You get to keep it and share it: I have made a bunch of new friends over reading. What’s even better is doing a book swap! I love giving my friends new books to read and then I get to read one of theirs!

Cons:

  1. They stock up FAST. : You buy a few one day, then a few weeks later, you buy some more. Next thing you know in a few months you have A LOT of books. Which, if you have enough storage is great, but if you’re like me and you don’t, it can get daunting. 
  1. Paperback vs. Hardcover: Debating whether you should get the paperback or the hardcover version is one of the hardest debates I’ve had with myself. It is harder than figuring out my nail color. Hardcover is pricer but you just LOVE the cover design more. 
  1. Need a light?: Here’s the thing with me. I am very much a fairy light fan. I do my part in saving the planet by keeping my large light off in my room and only using fairy lights. It helps the soft girl vibes I’m trying to keep and it makes the room feel cozy. That sucks the most when you need to read. Because now it’s either turn on your huge light to read or you get one of those bookmark lights that always manage to slide off your page. 

Screen: Pros

  1. So many books all at once!: Storage problem solved! Since all of your books are on an app it saves space in your real-life room!
  1. Read at any time: Light problem? Out the window. You can adjust the screen light at any time. You can also make the screen a warmer tone to help with headaches! 
  1. Can change which book you want whenever you want: One thing with me is that some days I crave certain books to read and others it’s different. What’s great about having my books all online is having the ability to change which book I want when I want. Not having to carry multiple books at different times. 

Cons:

  1. Distractions, distractions, distractions!: I love reading because it gives me time to recharge and be away from social media. That being said, having it on an iPad makes it easier for me to be distracted. Because while I’m reading a YouTube alert will go off, then I get an email that I need to look at, then I remember I have homework due that night and I just get stressed all over again. 
  1. No paper feel: As much as my iPad screen protector tries, it will never be paper. Something about reading on paper is just exquisite. Flipping a page after you’re done reading it is just great and it’s such a flex. 

A whole lotta $$$: I am blessed enough to have people that care about me and helped me receive my iPad, cause babes they are pricey. On top of buying books, you also need to get a tablet. So maybe it is better to just pay $20 for a paperback book?

Hello there! I am Yalines Medrano and I am a Forensic Science major at Lasell University with the class of 2024. I am from Peabody, Massachusetts and I love to read, watch anime, and hang out with friends! I am so excited to be involved in HER Campus!