printed books vs. ebooks

The essential difference between the two media formats lies in the "fixity" and the "fluidity" of the text and information. 

books

Fixity of the page: the text is constant and remains the same; it will never be altered

Fixity of the edition: the text remains the same for all who purchase that edition; there is a shared and common understanding

Fixity of the object: a book lasts a long, long time!

Fixity of completion: when a book is published, it is considered a finished and completed work (until a new edition is published)

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ebooks

Fluidity of the page: the text will flow to fit any space, from a tiny screen to a TV screen

Fluidity of the edition: it can have extra features, such as a dictionary, highlighting or summaries

Fluidity of the container: it is kept in the cloud cheaply in an unlimited library, and can be delivered anywhere at anytime

Fluidity of growth: a book is never quite done, as it can be corrected, added on to, and improved on a constant basis (Wikipedia)



Source: The Inevitable, Kevin Kelly, 2016