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SCMP Reporter

Some people think e-books are better than traditional books. They are more convenient. E-books can be read anywhere on laptops, iPads and iPhones.  
If students were to use e-books, their school bags would be much lighter. Right now, students' school bags are a heavy burden for them.
Secondly, e-books are environmental-friendly as no paper is used.  
But many people say traditional books are better as they are more solid. You can hold them in your hands. You can feel them.  
I love to read, and I like both traditional books and e-books. They have their own values, but holding a book in my hand gives me a sense of satisfaction.
Yu Hoi-ying, STFA Tam Pak Yu College
From the Editor
 Thank you for your letter, Hoi-ying. It seems inevitable that e-books will become part of our lives in the future. But I have to dispute the idea that they are 'environmentally friendly'. People forget that e-books, much like lights, need power. Also, the gadgets used to read them are not easy to dispose of, as they contain deeply harmful chemicals. They are not biodegradable as paper is. You might think that an e-reader will last for years, but, much like mobile phones, they will be outdated and need to be upgraded or the latest models bought. They will become a fashion of their own.
Paper, on the other hand, is biodegradable. But more importantly, paper requires millions of hectares of land be planted with trees. As those trees are harvested, more are planted, creating a natural and reusable resource, and a green lung which cleans the air. The forests become home to animals and retreats of silence and greenery for people. Perhaps it will be better for the world if we hold on to paper books a little longer.
 Susan, Editor



E-books vs paper books