We live in a world where our iPhones never leave our hands, children are learning their multiplication tables on iPads and the number of likes on our latest Instagram is our primary priority.

Technology has completely changed the way we live.

However, all of this technology is not necessarily a bad thing. We have enriched our culture and our lives by exposing ourselves to these new gadgets.

Children growing up now are experiencing things differently than past generations. One of those experiences is the joy of reading.

There are now so many different ways to read your favorite books today that it’s hard to choose which is better: e-readers or printed books.

The debate has been ongoing since the release of e-readers. Amazon debuted their first Kindle e-reader in 2007 and it has been an uphill battle ever since. After the release of the first Kindle quickly came the Kindle 2, and Barnes & Noble released the Nook.

The book market wasn’t completely affected by the creation of e-readers. Not everyone was buying them and some didn’t really see the point—they enjoyed the feeling of an actual book.

E-readers became a true force to be reckoned with when the iPad was released by Apple in 2010. With the iPad came the iBooks store similar to the iTunes store, where you can buy books and read them on the iPad. In addition to books, you can also buy newspapers and magazines.

As the popularity of the iPad has grown, so have the possibilities. You can now buy textbooks on e-readers, store hundreds of books and have your monthly magazine subscription delivered right to your screen.

All these advancements led to a drastic increase in the use of e-readers and iPads. On college campuses throughout the country, including Iona, these devices have become increasingly more prominent. Students are using them for everything from textbooks to taking notes in class.

The real question then is this: Is an e-reader or tablet better than an actual book?

“I love my tablet. I have an iPad mini and I never knew how useful it could be,” said senior Gabriella Popoli. “I downloaded the Nook and Kindle apps in addition to the iBooks store so I’m able to read whenever and whatever I want. I also love how I could take notes in class and have everything organized in one place.”

However, some people just can’t get used to the feeling of a big chunk of technology in their hands.

“I don’t understand the love of e-readers. I’m a book girl, I love to read and the feeling of an actual book in my hands can never compare to holding a computer,” said senior Alana Keeley. “I understand the appeal though, being able to buy a book in an instant and storing as many books as you want, but I think reading is much better when you’re able to flip a page.”

Whether you like e-readers for the ease of carrying around your favorite books or you’d prefer to flip each page of “The Hunger Games” during the all-nighter you pull to finish it, there is something out there for everyone.