Do You Prefer E-book Readers Or Having The Physical Book?

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Lord Tyrion

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Oct 24, 2013
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This topic has come up with some of my friends and I wanted to know what people's thoughts were on this. There are tradeoffs either way. Ebook readers are more comfortable to hold and allow you instant access to almost any book. Classic books are even free. However, some prefer to have a paper copy of a book. They can also act as a conversation piece and book collections look nice in one's home. It's also easier to lend out books.
 

VultureLvr45

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2012
2,650
13,707
Maryland
Book. No Doubt. I understand the ease of e-reader, but the book is solid, tangible and feels so much more like a 'labor of love' a 'work of art' and a gift to me. The audiobook is closer to e-book for me. The sounds vanish, the words vanish, all like smoke, poof...gone. Book please.
 

jacobtlong

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Jun 13, 2008
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Mobile, Alabama
Well, if you had asked me this a year ago I would have told you a physical book, hands down.

However, I haven't touched a physical book in about a year. I have gotten a few in that time, but those are mostly signed/limiteds. Got the hardcover of Dr. Sleep, but I haven't touched that, either. I am waiting to get the ebook.

I don't really get physical books unless I absolutely can't get a copy on my Kindle or unless I just have to have a physical copy for whatever reason.
 

Narvic

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Oct 7, 2013
1,417
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Chicago
I can hold my e-book (oh why not just say my Kindle...) with one hand AND turn the pages while still holding the vertical bar on my train ride home. I can carry two or three new books on it and choose what I want to start next or just read a short story in one of those gigantic anthologies in between plus have my Bible with me as well. Never thought I'd like an e-reader, but I do.
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
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E-books are nice for their search function, the ability to highlight/mark sentences, words...but you can't turn to it as quick as you can with a book...something about flipping pages...those edges that appear to have been cut by tearing them along a straight-edge? But then if your lot in life is 50 x 100 and the neighbors are already looking at you cross-eyed for where you put your snow...ebooks are the way to go. But I wonder what is the value (used) of ebooks? I mean, sure, you have the garage sale come spring and you sell your hard-read for twenty-five cents a piece...hoping for...and they always come...some wit who asks if you'd take ten cents for this one...with the broke back. I've wondered about font, too...font size and type...do you have to squint a bit to read it...maybe hunker down deeper in the couch? the chair? the beach? I think I'd like to reread a book-book more so than an ebook. Maybe there's something...I dunno...repulsive about an ebook...something that reminds me of Hal.
 

Narvic

Well-Known Member
Oct 7, 2013
1,417
6,245
Chicago
E-books are nice for their search function, the ability to highlight/mark sentences, words...but you can't turn to it as quick as you can with a book...something about flipping pages...those edges that appear to have been cut by tearing them along a straight-edge? But then if your lot in life is 50 x 100 and the neighbors are already looking at you cross-eyed for where you put your snow...ebooks are the way to go. But I wonder what is the value (used) of ebooks? I mean, sure, you have the garage sale come spring and you sell your hard-read for twenty-five cents a piece...hoping for...and they always come...some wit who asks if you'd take ten cents for this one...with the broke back. I've wondered about font, too...font size and type...do you have to squint a bit to read it...maybe hunker down deeper in the couch? the chair? the beach? I think I'd like to reread a book-book more so than an ebook. Maybe there's something...I dunno...repulsive about an ebook...something that reminds me of Hal.

Please don't get my paranoia going Walter!

My first thought, before someone gave me the Kindle as a gift last Christmas was since the text is all electronic big brother could just send out a signal and re-write the parts to books he didn't particularly like. So one day your electronic dictionary has this definition of freedom and the next day it's been altered slightly. :::shudder:::

I don't trust the digital world to hold anything permanent for me. If I really like a movie or an album or something I still buy the hardcopy so I can see it whenever I want to, but for a tv show or some movie I am only gonna watch once I just do the digital thing.
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
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Please don't get my paranoia going Walter!

My first thought, before someone gave me the Kindle as a gift last Christmas was since the text is all electronic big brother could just send out a signal and re-write the parts to books he didn't particularly like. So one day your electronic dictionary has this definition of freedom and the next day it's been altered slightly. :::shudder:::

I don't trust the digital world to hold anything permanent for me. If I really like a movie or an album or something I still buy the hardcopy so I can see it whenever I want to, but for a tv show or some movie I am only gonna watch once I just do the digital thing.

What I find fascinating about my kindle is that it knows when I've been reading...it knows when I'm away...and I would not be surprised, at all...if those happy campers in Utah have pics of me aging daily before their eyes. Drones! We don't need no stinkin' drones! The kindle knows what I've highlighted, how fast I read...and heh! I'm liking some of the kindle typos...was reading something from Willeford I think and he used the expression "he dumb the stairs"...and 'he dumb something else'...but I think it was s'posed to be "clumb"...which might make for an interesting...problem...say like the "r-l" problem some Orientals have...the kindle has a "d-cl" problem...
 

Narvic

Well-Known Member
Oct 7, 2013
1,417
6,245
Chicago
What I find fascinating about my kindle is that it knows when I've been reading...it knows when I'm away...and I would not be surprised, at all...if those happy campers in Utah have pics of me aging daily before their eyes. Drones! We don't need no stinkin' drones! The kindle knows what I've highlighted, how fast I read...and heh! I'm liking some of the kindle typos...was reading something from Willeford I think and he used the expression "he dumb the stairs"...and 'he dumb something else'...but I think it was s'posed to be "clumb"...which might make for an interesting...problem...say like the "r-l" problem some Orientals have...the kindle has a "d-cl" problem...
I read about Amazon thinking they will be using drones to make deliveries for them within the next five years or so. If that's not straight from the Jetsons, I dunno what is. So far my use of the advanced functions on the Kindle is pretty limited and I really do hate when I lose my place and have to try and find the chapter I was on (nothing like a dog ear'd page for that).
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
11,749
34,805
I read about Amazon thinking they will be using drones to make deliveries for them within the next five years or so. If that's not straight from the Jetsons, I dunno what is. So far my use of the advanced functions on the Kindle is pretty limited and I really do hate when I lose my place and have to try and find the chapter I was on (nothing like a dog ear'd page for that).

Heh! Yep...I'd found myself thinking how'd I get here! Hit the wrong button or something...too many thumbs...don't believe I'll ever understand the way pages are numbered. Sounds alien. "Locations 85-95"...like they haven't quite zeroed in the big guns...their gun control radar is still being perfected...and when they do...or maybe it don't matter...as long as they are close...say within a hundred miles. :)
 

Lord Tyrion

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2013
1,582
6,257
A few years ago I bought a Kindle and I loved it. It's very comfortable to read books with it. However, recently I've been switching back to regular books. I love going to bookstores and browsing through each section, going through book jackets and looking at which books I find interesting. That's an experience I will always cherish. Also, having someone go through your library and talking about the books you have read is pretty cool too.