E-Reader or Books

2

Replies

  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    I have 300 books on it, and I've only paid for 2 of them.

    That's not really something you want to be proclaiming in an open internet forum. This is what I dislike most about e-Readers. Authors trying to make a decent living aren't going to make as much because it's easier to steal a digital copy than it is to steal a physical copy. If nothing else, buy the ones from the lesser-known or independent authors.


    I don't think the above post necessarily means they are pirated copies - like I said in my post there are millions of free books available through the Kobo and Kindle websites. I have also only purchased a handfull of books as I'm taking advantage of reading new authors for free - legally

    I get that, but 298 free versus 2 purchased seems like a rather disproportionate number for absolutely every one of those 298 to be legally acquired, particularly if that's the poster's main medium for reading.

    Unless they're really only reading the ones that are legally free, which, if that's the case, I do apologize.

    There are huge numbers of legitimately free books - anything out of copyright dates for example, and loss leaders, ie the first one of a series which you then get addicted to and buy the rest. I have mostly free or less than £1 books all purchase legitimately via Amazon.

    Anyway - what's wrong with reading free books? Most of them are classics and well worth reading :)

    I get that, and there's nothing wrong with reading classics, but this person admitted to paying for only 2 books out of 300. That seems a bit skewed, to me, unless they're only reading classics or books with lapsed copyrights. It's possible, but it seems improbable if digital books are your main source of reading material.

    So cynical. *sigh* I have a Nook and LOVE it (although i do still read physical books on occasion). At bn.com, there are literally HUNDREDS of free books that are mostly self-published, and you can find a TON of real gems in there, as well as free classic books EVERYWHERE. There are also library apps where you can check out e-books from the library, and read them *gasp* for free! I have read a lot of good things that have been free/self-published, and a lot of crap, too, but it is perfectly possible to have hundreds of books that have been procured for free. And even if they weren't, and this person was clueless enough to proclaim that in an inappropriate place, to continue to call them out on it in such a cynical and assumptive manner is kind of unnecessary. Glass half full, and all... Just saying.
  • ArtemisXXII
    ArtemisXXII Posts: 42
    I am a hardcore book warrior with an English and American Literature degree (2:1 b!tchaaz)

    I was a full on hater of e-readers, "it's the corporate world trying to sink their teeth into literature, man"
    That was UNTIL I had to read books that are so heavy that my wrists would snap off as I tried to get through my course material every day.. Ulysses by James Joyce, The ENTIRE Collection of Shakespeare, Moby D!ck (can't believe that was censored out..), Middlemarch, anyone?

    It really got me through my last year at university. I still buy poetry and novels in book form as it feels good to read on paper and have my collection growing in my room, but for quick reads the Kindle is great. And its a life saver on holiday.

    As a fellow English major (I want to teach but I've taken way more lit courses than my degree requires, I'd switch my uni doesn't offer a literature major :() I know how you feel. Reading out of my Norton Complete Works of Shakespeare was awful. Don't even get me started on my British, American, and World Lit anthologies.

    I love my Nook though, I don't have much on it but I started using it more for classes the last couple semesters so there's quite a few books that were for class that I don't want to have clutter up my book shelf physically. Love my e-reader. And I was a pretty hardcore resister for a long time.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    I like regular old books better =] BESIDES most people *I* know with kindles don't even use them for books, lol most of the time they're playing angry birds or something on em.. Reading my *kitten*!! :grumble:

    You can play angry birds on a kindle?!... you sure??

    You could play Angry Birds on a Kindle Fire.
  • PattieCakes23
    PattieCakes23 Posts: 336
    I prefer an actual book over my Kindle
    I got the Kindle for Christmas and I've found myself using it for everything else BUT reading. I've looked up books and gotten samples to decide if I'd like to read it or not, but thats about as far as I've gone.

    I prefer having the book in hand. If I end up not liking the book, I'll give it away or sell it. If I like it I can add it to my collection. :)
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    I have 300 books on it, and I've only paid for 2 of them.

    That's not really something you want to be proclaiming in an open internet forum. This is what I dislike most about e-Readers. Authors trying to make a decent living aren't going to make as much because it's easier to steal a digital copy than it is to steal a physical copy. If nothing else, buy the ones from the lesser-known or independent authors.


    I don't think the above post necessarily means they are pirated copies - like I said in my post there are millions of free books available through the Kobo and Kindle websites. I have also only purchased a handfull of books as I'm taking advantage of reading new authors for free - legally

    I get that, but 298 free versus 2 purchased seems like a rather disproportionate number for absolutely every one of those 298 to be legally acquired, particularly if that's the poster's main medium for reading.

    Unless they're really only reading the ones that are legally free, which, if that's the case, I do apologize.

    There are huge numbers of legitimately free books - anything out of copyright dates for example, and loss leaders, ie the first one of a series which you then get addicted to and buy the rest. I have mostly free or less than £1 books all purchase legitimately via Amazon.

    Anyway - what's wrong with reading free books? Most of them are classics and well worth reading :)

    I get that, and there's nothing wrong with reading classics, but this person admitted to paying for only 2 books out of 300. That seems a bit skewed, to me, unless they're only reading classics or books with lapsed copyrights. It's possible, but it seems improbable if digital books are your main source of reading material.

    So cynical. *sigh* I have a Nook and LOVE it (although i do still read physical books on occasion). At bn.com, there are literally HUNDREDS of free books that are mostly self-published, and you can find a TON of real gems in there, as well as free classic books EVERYWHERE. There are also library apps where you can check out e-books from the library, and read them *gasp* for free! I have read a lot of good things that have been free/self-published, and a lot of crap, too, but it is perfectly possible to have hundreds of books that have been procured for free. And even if they weren't, and this person was clueless enough to proclaim that in an inappropriate place, to continue to call them out on it in such a cynical and assumptive manner is kind of unnecessary. Glass half full, and all... Just saying.

    I get that it's possible to legally have hundreds of books for free, but it seems improbable that you could acquire 99% of your book collection for free unless you really don't care about what you're reading. Also, I don't know about your library, but mine only lets me check out 25 books at a time. I guess, if you were constantly renewing them, that could account for another 7% or so of the book collection, but that's still 92% free.

    It just seems like a very unlikely percentage to me if that's your main medium for reading.
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    I have 300 books on it, and I've only paid for 2 of them.

    That's not really something you want to be proclaiming in an open internet forum. This is what I dislike most about e-Readers. Authors trying to make a decent living aren't going to make as much because it's easier to steal a digital copy than it is to steal a physical copy. If nothing else, buy the ones from the lesser-known or independent authors.


    I don't think the above post necessarily means they are pirated copies - like I said in my post there are millions of free books available through the Kobo and Kindle websites. I have also only purchased a handfull of books as I'm taking advantage of reading new authors for free - legally

    I get that, but 298 free versus 2 purchased seems like a rather disproportionate number for absolutely every one of those 298 to be legally acquired, particularly if that's the poster's main medium for reading.

    Unless they're really only reading the ones that are legally free, which, if that's the case, I do apologize.

    There are huge numbers of legitimately free books - anything out of copyright dates for example, and loss leaders, ie the first one of a series which you then get addicted to and buy the rest. I have mostly free or less than £1 books all purchase legitimately via Amazon.

    Anyway - what's wrong with reading free books? Most of them are classics and well worth reading :)

    I get that, and there's nothing wrong with reading classics, but this person admitted to paying for only 2 books out of 300. That seems a bit skewed, to me, unless they're only reading classics or books with lapsed copyrights. It's possible, but it seems improbable if digital books are your main source of reading material.

    So cynical. *sigh* I have a Nook and LOVE it (although i do still read physical books on occasion). At bn.com, there are literally HUNDREDS of free books that are mostly self-published, and you can find a TON of real gems in there, as well as free classic books EVERYWHERE. There are also library apps where you can check out e-books from the library, and read them *gasp* for free! I have read a lot of good things that have been free/self-published, and a lot of crap, too, but it is perfectly possible to have hundreds of books that have been procured for free. And even if they weren't, and this person was clueless enough to proclaim that in an inappropriate place, to continue to call them out on it in such a cynical and assumptive manner is kind of unnecessary. Glass half full, and all... Just saying.

    I get that it's possible to legally have hundreds of books for free, but it seems improbable that you could acquire 99% of your book collection for free unless you really don't care about what you're reading. Also, I don't know about your library, but mine only lets me check out 25 books at a time. I guess, if you were constantly renewing them, that could account for another 7% or so of the book collection, but that's still 92% free.

    It just seems like a very unlikely percentage to me if that's your main medium for reading.

    And STILL you continue to harp on it. :indifferent: I GET that you doubt it. I do, too, if it comes down to that, but really, WHAT does it matter, to keep going on and on about it? YOU cannot personally prevent anyone from downloading things illegally, the person who originally posted about only paying for 2 books has not responded, and it's just not worth getting panties in a wad over, really. You pay for your books, I pay for mine, and others will do whatever it is that they do, regardless of what you say or how many times you say it on an online forum. I was just trying to offer a plausibly positive alternative. Seems people are always suspicious of everyone else's motives, probably mostly for good reason, but really, it only worries YOU, it's not bothering them at all. lol. That's all I was trying to say. :flowerforyou:

    That being said, Yay, e-readers! :D
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    I have 300 books on it, and I've only paid for 2 of them.

    That's not really something you want to be proclaiming in an open internet forum. This is what I dislike most about e-Readers. Authors trying to make a decent living aren't going to make as much because it's easier to steal a digital copy than it is to steal a physical copy. If nothing else, buy the ones from the lesser-known or independent authors.


    I don't think the above post necessarily means they are pirated copies - like I said in my post there are millions of free books available through the Kobo and Kindle websites. I have also only purchased a handfull of books as I'm taking advantage of reading new authors for free - legally

    I get that, but 298 free versus 2 purchased seems like a rather disproportionate number for absolutely every one of those 298 to be legally acquired, particularly if that's the poster's main medium for reading.

    Unless they're really only reading the ones that are legally free, which, if that's the case, I do apologize.

    There are huge numbers of legitimately free books - anything out of copyright dates for example, and loss leaders, ie the first one of a series which you then get addicted to and buy the rest. I have mostly free or less than £1 books all purchase legitimately via Amazon.

    Anyway - what's wrong with reading free books? Most of them are classics and well worth reading :)

    I get that, and there's nothing wrong with reading classics, but this person admitted to paying for only 2 books out of 300. That seems a bit skewed, to me, unless they're only reading classics or books with lapsed copyrights. It's possible, but it seems improbable if digital books are your main source of reading material.

    So cynical. *sigh* I have a Nook and LOVE it (although i do still read physical books on occasion). At bn.com, there are literally HUNDREDS of free books that are mostly self-published, and you can find a TON of real gems in there, as well as free classic books EVERYWHERE. There are also library apps where you can check out e-books from the library, and read them *gasp* for free! I have read a lot of good things that have been free/self-published, and a lot of crap, too, but it is perfectly possible to have hundreds of books that have been procured for free. And even if they weren't, and this person was clueless enough to proclaim that in an inappropriate place, to continue to call them out on it in such a cynical and assumptive manner is kind of unnecessary. Glass half full, and all... Just saying.

    I get that it's possible to legally have hundreds of books for free, but it seems improbable that you could acquire 99% of your book collection for free unless you really don't care about what you're reading. Also, I don't know about your library, but mine only lets me check out 25 books at a time. I guess, if you were constantly renewing them, that could account for another 7% or so of the book collection, but that's still 92% free.

    It just seems like a very unlikely percentage to me if that's your main medium for reading.

    And STILL you continue to harp on it. :indifferent: I GET that you doubt it. I do, too, if it comes down to that, but really, WHAT does it matter, to keep going on and on about it? YOU cannot personally prevent anyone from downloading things illegally, the person who originally posted about only paying for 2 books has not responded, and it's just not worth getting panties in a wad over, really. You pay for your books, I pay for mine, and others will do whatever it is that they do, regardless of what you say or how many times you say it on an online forum. I was just trying to offer a plausibly positive alternative. Seems people are always suspicious of everyone else's motives, probably mostly for good reason, but really, it only worries YOU, it's not bothering them at all. lol. That's all I was trying to say. :flowerforyou:

    That being said, Yay, e-readers! :D

    Wow, I was just trying to clarify my point. Sorry I've chosen to concern myself with a profession in which I wish to some day make money.
  • Mctree20
    Mctree20 Posts: 137
    I have a Nook. Was totally converted after buying it. Being able to read my entire library on my phone is awesome.

    I do miss the feel of books, but this is definitely the future.
  • Salamanda425
    Salamanda425 Posts: 358
    I can't seem to make the switch to an E-reader. I like the feel and the smell of a book.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    Kindle all the way. i will never buy a book again.

    i cant think of 1 reason to not switch to Kindle/e-reader.
  • ninjakitty81
    ninjakitty81 Posts: 24
    I love my Kobo Touch, took me months to actually convince myself to buy it, glad I did. That being said though, I still love and buy books.
  • sbernardy
    sbernardy Posts: 188
    I love my ipad for reading!
  • stomachflu
    stomachflu Posts: 134 Member
    I love books. My mother was a librarian so always had them around.
    I love my Kindle. We can go away and I don't have to take a suitcase full of books along.

    Both are good and have their uses.

    Then again, I also read a lot of fanfic on my laptop *laff*
  • Meikmeika
    Meikmeika Posts: 108 Member
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Kindle!!!!!!

    I've been an avid book reader since my teens and would purchase 2-3 a week. I'm almost positive I supplied my local library with their young adult reads.

    But with the Kindle I don't have to do a library run every couple weeks and every book is in one place. Awesomeness I tell you!!!
  • javagsd
    javagsd Posts: 82
    They aren't mutually exclusive, you know :-) I have more hardcopy books than one woman will ever need and many that I'd never consider parting with. But I also love to have the ereader for reading in bed (with no lights on), in my purse for short waiting room times, and on public transit. I'm another person who has purchased very few of the books on my ereader. I wait for Nook's Free Friday lists every week and download a dozen or more every week - mostly authors I've never heard of before. Quality varies, but it's a wonderful way to sample new authors and mutually beneficial because I've often then bought other works by those I like.
  • workshy000
    workshy000 Posts: 90 Member
    I still buy non-fiction and poetry as hard-copies and fiction as ebooks and audiobooks.
  • mrssim
    mrssim Posts: 43 Member
    I've tried several times to switch to an ereader but I'm so attached to books. Its just not the same holding an ereader as holding a book. Its silly but I am very sentimentally attatched to the smell/feel of paperbacks :)
  • gogojodee
    gogojodee Posts: 1,243 Member
    I still buy/check out books! Always will prefer it - but considering a Kindle Fire mostly for convenience. :smile:
  • sarahwilloughby07
    sarahwilloughby07 Posts: 39
    Personally, I love audiobooks. I put all of the Harry Potter's on my iPod and that's how I got through my first month of work. I'm saving up for a Kindle but it really doesn't matter to me, as long as I'm reading something I'm happy. Except I'm prejudiced against paperbacks. I throw books in my purse and paperbacks get messed up faster than hardcovers (with the dust jackets removed and kept somewhere safe).
  • mrssim
    mrssim Posts: 43 Member
    Personally, I love audiobooks. I put all of the Harry Potter's on my iPod and that's how I got through my first month of work. I'm saving up for a Kindle but it really doesn't matter to me, as long as I'm reading something I'm happy. Except I'm prejudiced against paperbacks. I throw books in my purse and paperbacks get messed up faster than hardcovers (with the dust jackets removed and kept somewhere safe).
    I've never tried audiobooks, but have been thinking about it. With 3 kiddos my paperbacks tend to get pretty roughed up. My only reservation about the audiobooks is that the narrator wouldn't sound how I imagine the characters too and I'd be disappointed
  • elv1ra
    elv1ra Posts: 146 Member
    i thought that ereaders were dumb. especially after finding out that most books cost nearly as much in electronic form then they do in paper form, but my sister lent me hers while i was at the hospital and i LOVED IT. my hands didnt cramp up from trying to hold the pages open, it was easier to find a comfortable position to read in, i had hundreds of books with me, no losing bookmarks, and no one knew what i was reading, not to mention the battery life was FAR beyond my expectations.

    now that ive learned how to download books for free, i wanna get my own.
  • Anastasia0511
    Anastasia0511 Posts: 372 Member
    I use both and I love my Nook Color a LOT but I do still buy books at the bookstores and the used bookstores. I just can't give them up all together. I'm still a little oldschool.
  • UNTOLDSMILE
    UNTOLDSMILE Posts: 150 Member
    Books for sure. I love the weight of them and the smell of an old paperback. I'm weird sue me.
  • joshuamhort
    joshuamhort Posts: 81
    While there is nothing that feels quite as nice as having a physical book in your hands, I must say that I enjoy my Nook tablet a lot. It is not always practical to carry 5 or 6 books with me, so the e-Reader is great. I thought I wouldn't be able to stand it when I got it, but after playing with it for a while I find I really enjoy it. Plus if I don't quite want to read, I have other options with me without carrying a set of luggage filled with games everywhere I go.
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    I prefer the physical book but I love the convenience of having books on my Nook Color (with n2a card) .
    Although I'm running out of room in the house for books/bookcases I have no plans to dump them all and go digital.
  • sds76
    sds76 Posts: 215 Member
    I am not an avid reader, my husband is and always has been. I bought him a Kindle Fire for Valentine's Day. He was thrilled but after a cpl months he said he really missed the touch and smell of real books. He also like to have actual copies of his books, to loan out and to just have. We have moved many times and the books are a B*tch to move but he loves them.

    I have never been much into reading but I have read more on his Kindle than I did before.


    Now, he takes the Kindle to work when he's in between books(not often) but usually I have the darn thing.

    I think it really comes down to personal preference. A lot of people that LOVE books love them for more reasons than just the story.
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    Books.

    1) New book smell
    2) Old book smell
    3) If you drop a book in water, it has more personality. If you drop an ereader in water it's broken.
    4) Paper books require actual printing = more human jobs
    5) Having an awesome library in my house
    6) Used book stores
    7) Turning pages
    8) Books don't have glare (okay, I guess they make ereaders with matte screens, too.)
    9) You can trade physical books
    10) Being able to gauge how much you've read by the placement of your bookmark
    11) Bookmarks
    12) Books don't run out of battery
  • scarlettesong
    scarlettesong Posts: 108 Member
    I'm a qualified Librarian, and I NEVER thought I would say this, but I love my Kindle! I read loads of books on it but, I still have to buy books by my favourite authors in 'proper' book form, because I like to see them on the shelves and it's a different kind of reading experience. The kindle is great for the chick lit and books I'll probably only read once or twice because it stops my house getting over run by books. I also buy non fiction and recipe books etc in paper form. I think there's a real place for both to exist happily side by side.

    ^^This, especially the last sentence.

    I actually got my ereader when I went overseas and didn't find a plentiful supply of English books. I also didn't want to have to pack up tons of books when we moved! I love the ereader (Kindle) and I download mostly just-for-fun books or cookbooks. Most of them are free, poorly formatted, and short, so I can weed through them rather quickly. Classics and things that really interest me, I still buy in paperback format. I bought my first one in a long while the other day and just cuddled it as I walked around browsing. :heart:
  • Pandorian
    Pandorian Posts: 2,055 Member
    I do love books but not when i have to lug them to and from remote work-sites, for that I'm sure an e-reader will be great, for now I just use the "kindle for PC" program on the computer.

    Oh and i have 2000+ books (I did originally mean e-books here but I realized that that number applies to both e-books mostly for free and the real books that I've bought over the years...), 5 of which I've paid for. (but those 5, one of which was a 99cent ebook that was on my "to buy" list for "real" books at $25 for a copy I saved myself 24 and got it for the PC / future e-reader. The 4 other ones? They cost $0.01. I spent some time today "buying" over $600 worth of regular priced books from Amazon's DAILY free ebooks. They won't all be winners, but since they were free if it's "trash" when I read it I won't feel bad about deleting it. With a real book that I paid for and perhaps paid dearly I tend to give the author the benefit of the doubt and will read the whole thing.
    I have tons of real books and don't plan to give them up, but an e-reader (or program simultating it on a laptop) is a real win in my book.

    Pun fully intended.

    ETA -
    Project Gutenberg offers over 40,000 free ebooks: choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online. From their terms of service "Our ebooks are free in the United States because their copyright has expired. "
    that's gutenberg.org
    there's also gutenberg.ca which had a great collection of "fairy tales" like a continuation to Jack & the Beanstalk and similar familiar tales.
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
    Books. I love to read so I figured I'd like ebooks too. My husband got me a Nook for xmas. I love it for watching Netflix/Hulu while on the treadmill and browsing the internet but I hate reading on it. It is great for travel though because when I'm on vacation, I don't want to take a bunch of books, but I always end up buying some because I go through them so fast.

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