Ebooks vs. Real Books

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.

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.

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.

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...

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

I prefer and still buy real books.