Physical books or ebooks?

[Hishandmaiden]

Physical books or ebooks? Which do you prefer?

 

[stonetoflesh]

I'm generally fine with both, except when it comes to Bible study and then it's print all the way. My wife prefers I do my bedtime reading by ebook, so she can sleep with the lights out while I read...

 

[pdudgeon]

physical books here. They help to maintain existing businesses and encourage employment, they're lovely to give as gifts on special occasions, and can be passed down as a heritage from generation to generation.

 

[.chrys.]

Paper and ink! I find it easier on the eyes.

 

[Kazza Ah-O]

I've always been a physical book only fan. Just something about the tactile pleasure of holding a book......and the smell of an old book.....and the odd notes and bits you find when buying second hand books.

However.....due to various health issues, my mobility is decreasing. We went to the library yesterday and I was done in. But since the library has a huge website with tons of ebooks, just last night I began a little online research. If I end up homebound(which is a high probability), I still want to read, so I'll purchase an e-reader.

 

[country woman]

real books lol

 

[KingLV]

I can get ebooks for free

 

[Kazza Ah-O]

I can get ebooks for free

I know there's sites for classics and such.....what else?

 

[HereIStand]

Generally, I read books in paper format. Yet, if they're books to use for reference, or in cases of limited shelf-space or money for certain books, e-books can be the way to go. Using a text book in e-book format earlier this year, I was able to find key terms in the book easier then searching through it in paper format. Also, I've found a Daily Office app on my iPhone to be a convenient tool for Scripture readings.

 

[pgp_protector]

Depends on what I'm reading.

Recreational Reading. E-Books either on the Tablet or E-Reader (E-Readers are best for reading outside, inside @ night, Tablet)

Technical Reading (C# .NET, ASP Development, ect) Paper, as I tend to scan / skip around a lot faster than any E-Book can keep up. And if not Paper, then Web Based as I can open what I want in multiple tabs & Copy sample code for modification as needed.

 

[South Bound]

Real books.

The only reason I would have some kind of book computer (sorry, I'm old. I don't know the lingo) is that I like a genre that has to do with post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories (think James Wesley Rawles and similar) and some of those are published on such a low budget that they're only available electronically.

I also read a lot of theological books for study and I like being able to "dog ear" them and mark them up.

Another concern is that I do a lot of reading on the beach or by the pool. Can't imagine sun and water would be good for the computer, not to mention that people steal computers. They tend not to steal books.

And, besides, with books, you can trade them.

 

[Hetta]

I never thought I would embrace ebooks. As a child, part of the sensory pleasure of reading was the choosing of the book, the flicking of the pages, the finding of a quiet corner to pore over the tome. I loved the smell of the paper, and - I have never confessed this before, lol - I often tore off little corners of the pages and chewed them as I read. I hope I never did this with library books but I can't really remember. My sister would often react with disgust that she would find our family books with corners torn off the pages and would cry, "she's been eating this one too!" I have a senory memory of the covers of library books which were that thick kind of plastic - it would prick the fingers if I was not careful. I was a great buyer of books as an adult, a hoarder almost. My books were moved with me from place to place - from one city to another, and even across the oceans. Even up to 5 years ago, I would hardly take a trip without a couple of books. And then came the ebook! And I tried to resist, but gradually commonsense filtered through. I now have an app on my iPad for books - two in fact - and I remain a voracious reader, but I couldn't be happier with ebooks. I can buy a brand new book the day before it is released, and wake up that morning with it already downloaded on my device. I don't have order it in a bookstore, drive to the bookstore, wait in line, etc., it is just right there in my hand. And for traveling? Oh my. I can't begin to express what a wonder it is. We travelled overseas this summer and previously, I took 2 or 3 books in my hand luggage, because I read so fast, and I wanted to have a choice. Now, I can access as many books as I desire within seconds in one lightweight device. So I am sold! Not to mention the lower prices of course ... much lower than a paper book.

The only physical books that I still read are text books for my college program. Although I have the option to download these to electronic format, this is the one place that imo, ebooks fail. When I have to flip to a place quickly, I simply cannot do that in an ebook. I have to swipe from page to page, trying to find my place, and it is laborious and irritating. And so, textbooks remain paper.

I do still have some physical books. I have books I bought 20-30 years ago that are out of print, and also some exquisitely bound hardbook books, such as a LOTR with calfskin binding and wonderfully detailed maps that was purchased for me as a gift in my mid-20s. I wouldn't trade these for any money.

 

[KingLV]

I know there's sites for classics and such.....what else?

There are tons of websites which allow users to upload ebooks for others to download, problem with those is that most of the links archived on those sites are dead.

The most reliable sources are probably torrents, or google, just search for the name of the book appended by "pdf" or "download", most of the time you find what you're looking for.

 

[blwhitney]

I thought I would hate ebooks, but now I simply can't read a book without them. But now I never end up carrying a big book around with me. I just get in so much more reading with an ebook.

 

[Bananagator]

Real books all the way. I can't bring myself to get into ebooks. I just can't do it lol.

 

[crixus]

I prefer physical books, newspapers and magazines too.

 

[YoureMyBeloved]

Ebooks only if I can't have the physical form. I prefer physical so I can read in bed

 

[godlywomanhood]

Definitely physical books for me! In fact, I am hosting a Giveaway at the moment, and the winner receives a bundle of 6 paperback books - you're invited to come check it out!

 

[searchingsoul]

I'm torn, because there's benefits that come with both. Ebooks, you can carry multiples of without having them taking up any extra space and being able to read them easier in the dark, but bound books have the benefit of skipping to a certain part easier - not to mention the touch that you lose with ebooks.

So basically, I'm undecided.

 

[random person]

Physical books and the keepers are collected on my bookshelf.