The advantages of books are legion. Here are a few which make all the difference in the world:

1.
A book is super portable. It can go places even the slimmest laptops can't. It requires no power, generates no heat or electromagnetic fields.

2.
A book is infinitely easier to read. LCD screens of even the best resolution and quality are not as consistent as black ink on white paper from every angle. This is a HUGE factor and why you do not see people carrying around digital books yet.

3.
Books are more permanent and less fragile than digital data. As someone who has lost reams of writing due to digital glitches, power surges and magnetic fluxes near storage media - a book seems far more durable.

4.
Books have history attached. An old book has a feel and possesses all sorts of cues to the time it was printed. Digital transfer is fine but much is lost.

5.
Books are more reliable sources. Original texts are more reliable sources than digital transcription. Simply by being transcribed the opportunity for editing, modifying or simple error can occur.

6.
Some stuff will never be made available digitally. It's either too insignificant, too rare, too old, too fragile or too obscure. That's not a small mountain of content either - that's Everest.

7.
Almost everyone can afford a book. Digital media requires computers or some form of reader. Digital books and publishing would basically excludes the entire second and third world from access to that content.

Those are the major pros for books. The plus sides of digital are also significant:

1.

Speed of access
2.

Space-saving (Saves an Everest of paper)
3.

No fumes (musty, smoky or simply old paper/ink smells)
4.

Sense of "newness" digital format presents
5.

Lighter to move. Books (en masse) are HEAVY.

I attribute much of my knowledge to my family, teachers and very fine schools - the rest of the credit almost solely belongs to books. Books educate. Books elucidate. Books share human experience, knowledge and wisdom in the shortest period of time and do so more efficiently than any other type of education.

I watch which kids today excel and invariably the finest, brightest and most creative are avid readers who already have a love of (and access too) books.

On the flip side of that coin, I see the schools where kids can't spell, write well and have very little of the "detail" knowledge of ALL SORTS of things the older reader generation take for granted and these children are invariably deprived of books - both in school and at home. The poor schools of America already download homework off the web and the students don't even have a single book to study or take home with them. Invariably, if they don't pay attention in class they do not learn the material. They are being ripped off royally of a quality primary school education.

If books disappear it will be a crime against humanity. My observations lead me to believe digital media is GREAT for entertainment but wholly inadequate for an in-depth education.