I'd prefer
some power to the interweb.
BarryC makes a good point lightly: There is something special about print-on-paper that the web can't touch. Several somethings:
Putdownability: the book or mag can be put down, in full sight yet out of the way; the PC continues to dominate the desk, forcing you to forget what you were reading and concentrate on the new thing. New thing sorted, it's probably time for a cuppa and a stretch, and you never do get back to the fascinating thing youwere reading...
Pickupability: the PC nails you unhealthily into one position; no matter how ergonomic your "workstation", you need to move from time to time. If only your bowels. the book/mag can be held at a wide variety of positions, even taken to the privy, or the garden seat out of wifi range.
Inherent Serendipity: though the web page be loaded to the gunwales with hyperlinks to fascinating digressions, divertimenti and discussions (see
Caught by the River for an example of how good this can be), nothing catches the eye like the half-caught glimpse of something on the page that makes you re-focus to see what it was, and this is the route to all sorts of happy accidents. For the prepared mind, that is; the truly focussed researcher will be after one bit of information and only that; and it will matter nothing to them that they smel no roses along the way to it. But if you you are of the mind-set that can't pick up a dictionary without risking half a morning, it's gottabe books!
Storage-based Serendipity: digital data is stored in "black boxes", be they CDs DVDs, hard drives, usb sticks or whatever, and you tend to access the file you want quickly and efficiently, which is great for your boss, if you're at work.
Books and magazines are stored in libraries, in magazine racks, in charity shops and waiting rooms, pubs, cafes and barbers' shops, stored along with other books/mags/papers - all vying for attention and leading to -well, happy accidents, which are what serendipity is al about.
Would love to waffle more, but hit "post" instead of "save", and have to edit and go.