Ebooks vs. Real Books

bettyboop573

I love ebooks. I will never buy another fiction book that isn't an ebook. It is so easy to carry all the books you want for an entire vacation. It is so nice not to have hundreds (or thousands) of books all over the house. Also, with arthritis in my hands, it is so much easier to hold and turn the pages in an ebook. I will still keep my "real" reference books and cook books though.

I like having hundreds of books in my house. I can't imagine a home without them.

me too cozies it up somehow

CStone17

I'm going to chime in for the middle ground, like many others.

My Kindle is wonderful. I actually got it as a gift for high school graduation because I have chronic pain that was very severe up until a year ago (when I was 19 and medication number 25 brought some relief, which is why I'm even on MFP), so my book-loving tendencies would literally cause me pain. Holding big books hurt, carrying books hurt... Ugh. It is the Kindle DX (textbook-size) because my mom realized that the lighter weight would be a blessing for college.

I still use the Kindle for plenty, particularly fiction and classics, since the classics are free. I avoid everything that is priced similar to a physical copy. But the collections! They might be unwieldy to read sometimes, but I have a collection of Greek mythology with loads of translations of each, 117k locations (about a tenth the length of the New Oxford American Dictionary), and it cost me something like three dollars. I will very literally never lack something to read when I have this with me.

But right now I'm finishing up "Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman" in hardcover. The book is physically beautiful (the font is gorgeous, the paper feels lovely, and I do recommend it for the content for anyone interested) and something I will enjoy having on my shelves forever. I'm not going to buy many new paperbacks henceforth, but I'll probably keep buying used ones and new or used hardcovers. I just think the printing industry will have to work on the aesthetic quality of everything they produce now, because that's going to be a major factor in their continued success. No more shoddily-bound books for me! I never buy something unless I can take pleasure in owning it.

bankstisha

Love my kindle! Had it for 3 years and read from it every day. Only have to charge once every 2-3 months. Love it.

But I still love my books too. If I can buy the book cheaper than the ebook, I will buy the book.

JamesonsMommy

Real Books read in the last year-0
Ebooks read in the last year- 50+

I find the Ebooks so much easier for some reason. I don't have a 3 year old screaming for an overpriced barnes and noble stuffed and animal everytime we go to the book store. I still buy my son real books and will continue to do so. He has his own fire that he likes to play around on.

samcee

I hated the idea of ebooks until someone on the underground station was reading one from a kindle and I had a little peek. I thought it would feel like reading from a computer screen but it simulates a real book quite well.

I use to buy a lot of novels but end up donating them all to charity as I don't have the space to shelve them and I never re-read them again. I go to the library a lot to borrow books now but it be nice to not think about the due back date. I am seriously thinking of getting myself one! However, reference books I would just buy real books for it.

rbn_held

My boyfriend got me a kindle fire for valentines day. I use it to play games and get on the web but thats about it. I collect books so when it comes to reading I like old fashion books. I tried reading one on the kindle and it just wasen't the same.

Expialidojess

I love to read and I used to be a die hard real book fan. I love the feel of a book in your hands and the pretty covers. I held out for a long time, but I was running out of room to put all my books, so I gave in and got a Kindle Fire. I have to admit, I really like the ease of it. I like not having to drive to the book store or wait for a book to be shipped, access to more books since there is a whole world of books only available in e-format, and you can have your entire library with you at all times. I also really like that I can just highlight a word and look it up if I don't know the definition because it drives me crazy if I don't know what something means. There are a few downsides like dead batteries and sunlight, etc. I do still, however, buy my favorites in paper copies.

knitfastpurlyoung

I LOVE my Kindle.

Firstly, while this may sound obvious, an ebook reader fixes the few design flaws a book has - its light, portable, and you can hold it in one hand easily *and* turn the page.

Don't underestimate the value of that for someone that spends a considerable time on the London Underground, pushed up against other commuters.

Also, you can download samples. You can be anywhere, at any time, and read the first chapter of any book to see if you fancy buying it. Whoever thought up this marketing strategy is a genius. I have bought about twice the amount of books since having this bad boy.

The only drawback is a)

...The only problem I have with e-readers is using them for reference materials. There is nothing faster than flipping through a book scanning for the information you need.

and b) remembering to charge it. Books don't run out of battery power...

MrsAlcalde

I can't get into e-books, something about the feel and smell of paper really intrigues me, it's part of the reading process to me. Everyone who uses e-books are really impressed but I hope that books will survive and continue to be printed, though in reality, it is only a matter of time before printing is done away with, I guess I won't read anymore :-(

Firefighter_Jay

I can't get into e-books, something about the feel and smell of paper really intrigues me, it's part of the reading process to me. Everyone who uses e-books are really impressed but I hope that books will survive and continue to be printed, though in reality, it is only a matter of time before printing is done away with, I guess I won't read anymore :-(

I don't think that would happen. Ever. Even if we were to run out of trees, there is always hemp..

PapaverSomniferum

I have both a Kindle and a library in my home. The kindle gets used mostly for trashy sci-fi and fantasy, because I have a weakness, and I read through a 300 page novel a night.

I buy real books when i'm really in love with the author, it's a book i feel needs to be shared (i book swap with other geeks), or it's a reference manual of some sort.

I think the boyfriend got me the Kindle to help save money and clutter. It's saved money (those trashy vampire/spaceship/dragon novels aren't cheap!), but i still buy and keep enough real books that it doesn't save much on the clutter.

And I find a lot of my fellow geeks are the same way. There are a few hipsters that have shunned all contact with e-readers, and there are a few neat freaks who banished all their real books to the garage sales. But most people have use and love for both.

rgrange

I honestly wasn't a big reader before I got my iPad. Now I'll find books online and put them on my iPad and read in my spare time. ebooks are just more convenient for me.

TaylorsGranddad

I don't really read much but I think this sounds like vinyl Vs. CD... I hated CD when they first came out, but gave in to them, and again with MP3, like them, MP3 players Kindles etc it's just natural progression.... remember the video recorder that EVERYONE had in the 80's & 90's ????

rammsteinsoldier

I will always stay loyal to real books. There is a feel and smell to them that ebooks cannot replace. It is relaxing to snuggle in with a book and enjoy a good read.

bluefox9er

I prefer real books, but ebooks are the real deal and here to stay..i took 3,000 books with me on my kindle to my travels. i love the kindle, great to hold, very clear to read,compact, but nothing on earth is as tactile as a real book..and you also know how much you have left to read...and the smell of a new book is amazing too.

More seriously...can you donate an ebook to al library or charity/school? or lend it to a friend???

NO WAY and they are designed to not let you share them the way you can with real books.

And real books take up storage space and retail overheads...ebooks cost NOTHING yet they still cost almost the same as the real thing ( more if you are stupid enough to buy books from apple's ibook service)

Donnacoach

I love love love my Nook. I've had it since it first came out. Asked my husband if he would like one and he said no way. Well for his birthday this year I got him one and he loves it too. I hate having to turn pages. Much easier reading at night in bed and not having to flip the pages and move the book from side to side.

Flab2fitfi

I have both a Kindle and a library in my home. The kindle gets used mostly for trashy sci-fi and fantasy, because I have a weakness, and I read through a 300 page novel a night.

Ditto one of the main reason I loved my kindle is that we are totally out of book case space - its also easier to carry but unfortunately one of the kids sat on it and broke it. Hubby has promised me a new one but at the moment back to paperbacks.

DieVixen

I prefer real books, but ebooks are the real deal and here to stay..i took 3,000 books with me on my kindle to my travels. i love the kindle, great to hold, very clear to read,compact, but nothing on earth is as tactile as a real book..and you also know how much you have left to read...and the smell of a new book is amazing too.

More seriously...can you donate an ebook to al library or charity/school? or lend it to a friend???

NO WAY and they are designed to not let you share them the way you can with real books.

And real books take up storage space and retail overheads...ebooks cost NOTHING yet they still cost almost the same as the real thing ( more if you are stupid enough to buy books from apple's ibook service)

last 20 books I bought all cost 3.99 or less at the store trhey were 13.99 and up

Pocket_Pixi

I put getting my e-reader off for a long time but recently got it as a gift from my grandmother and I absolutly love it. I generally always carry a book around in my purse with me as I never know when I might need it. The fact that the e-reader allows me to carry more than 1 book with out weighing down my bag is a major bonus but I can also get books for way cheaper is fantastic, as I can read books fairly fast. I bought The hunger games for 28 dollars but in the store the same trilogy was over 50 dollars.

I still love my regular books, and some of the series that I read will still be bought in paperback as I do not want half in paperback, half electronic but I think that the e-reader is a fantastic thing.

regina2063

just throw 12 books in the garbage today....i dont need them anymore....i love my KINDLE

sfoxy219

real books will survive to a point. Hipsters and the Amish will never move forward. I personally like Ebooks or kindle. I don't have one right now but I want one. It's lighter and you can have hundreds of books all in one spot. very handy if you travel a lot and don't want to add 30 pounds to your carry on with books. Plus think of the amount of paper you will save.

Pocket_Pixi

And real books take up storage space and retail overheads...ebooks cost NOTHING yet they still cost almost the same as the real thing ( more if you are stupid enough to buy books from apple's ibook service)

I don't know where you buy your books from but most of the books I have bought for my e-reader were 5 bucks and under, the ones in the store are still between 15 - 20.

Auspiciousgirl

I use my Kindle all the time for quick, cheap books. I love stocking up on their free or $1.99 options! So far, I haven't been able to bring myself to purchase an ebook if it costs more, though... if I'm going to be spending the money on a book, well I'm gonna want that book on my shelf, because I like stuff like that

bluefox9er

last 20 books I bought all cost 3.99 or less at the store trhey were 13.99 and up

I accept your point, but this pricing isn't consistent for every book. And also, books are sometimes even regionalised..there are ebooks sold in the states that i can't buy over here in England...

cookierinthia

I agree. Several people have offered to buy me an e-reader and I just don't want one. I have my own personal library at home. Nora Roberts take up almost an entire bookshelf! I love the smell and feel of books and I love to collect them, but my fear is that the e-reader will take over just like CD's took over cassette tapes and vinyl albums, which I still miss the albums, not so much the tapes.

I've tried reading on my phone and I despise it. I'm a writer and I love being surrounded by real books, seeing their covers, holding them, having the spines sticking out on my shelves ...

Reading, to me, is about more than just the act of looking at words and processing them. I will never own an e-reader. I'm scared to death that it will eventually be the only choice, though.

Roadie2000

I like my Kindle for the most part. I'm not much of a shopper so I can now buy all of my books online, which I like. The smell and feel of a real book does nothing for me, and I'm actually trying NOT to have a million books around the house. They just take up space, I don't feel like I need to show off all the books I've ready, and they're a pain in the butt to move if I ever sell my house.

The only thing I miss is being able to lend a book to somebody. I know you can with e-books but generally it's only for 2 weeks and you can only lend it to one person.

jcpmoore

I read almost all my books on my Kindle. Since I bought my Kindle two years ago, I've read over 200 books on it. Way more than I would have read of real books in that same time. I do not miss the "real book" feel or smell.
Here is the break down for me:

Pros for e-books:
Real books are harder for me to hold due to my arthritis and the fact that I tend to read in bed a lot.
I like to read between 2 and 5 books at a time of different types of books, so this way I can carry all five at once and they way almost nothing.
My kindle fits in my purse, which my books did not.
I can highlight my books just as easily. I can jump straight to a highlight instead of flipping a hundred pages hoping to see it.
I can still share books with my mom since she has a Kindle, too.
You *can* still borrow books...see below.

Cons:
I have to turn it off for landing and take off on airplanes. Drag.
I can't download books when visiting my team in Canada. I have to download them in advance.
Sometimes the translation to e-book is rough-i.e. extra typos, or punctuation mistakes. At least I hope those didn't make it to print!
Borrowing books is weirder.
Borrowing on the Amazon Prime library program is practically irrelevant since you only get one book per month and I can read 2 books in a week.


HTH

sfoxy219

I can't get into e-books, something about the feel and smell of paper really intrigues me, it's part of the reading process to me. Everyone who uses e-books are really impressed but I hope that books will survive and continue to be printed, though in reality, it is only a matter of time before printing is done away with, I guess I won't read anymore :-(

I don't think that would happen. Ever. Even if we were to run out of trees, there is always hemp..

I give it about 30-40 years before they stop printing books all together. They will have to have kindles in all the class rooms of course. It's just the natural progression. Nothing last forever.

wolfehound22

I prefer EBooks, i have a kindle, and my phone and tablet have the kindle app, so i always have something i can read on. Its funny, i never read much in the past, but since i discovered the kindle, ive read 5 books in the last month, so ebooks r for me.

Lula16

I prefer and still buy real books.