Physical books or ebooks?

[prov1810]

I only buy dead tree editions when an ebook version is unavailable. I like to play music and browse this forum while I'm reading a book on the kindle app, all on one device.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I too prefer a real volume, particularly if the print is good enough.

I like to read a Bible with a reasonably large print.

 

[Hishandmaiden]

I used to love paper books.
But after getting a nook ereader, I am starting to enjoy ebooks more and more.
What I like about ebooks is the convenient carrying of more than thousands books in one ereader.

 

[Bingo Q Flamingo]

Paper books. Always. And not just because I work in a bookstore, I just like having physical copies of things, same with my music and movies. Maybe I'm just paranoid about having a machine crash and lose all of my data, but I just don't get the appeal of eBooks. I mean, okay, it holds a thousand books, but when are you going to need a thousand books at your disposal? Are you going on an Arctic expedition or something? And all these commercials boasting which e-readers can be read in the sun, as if that's not a feature books naturally come with. At least paper books don't need to be recharged.

Of course, I'm just being goofy. I'd like to think I'm not already turning into an old man who doesn't understand modern technology, but I probably passed that threshold a long time ago.

 

[NIrelandGillian]

Both are good, but an e-reader is very convenient when your luggage space is limited when you're going on vacation.

Gillian

 

[J0SHUA]

Physical. I especially love it when the pages smell good (I always smell my book after buying it). And something about reading on a screen makes it harder for me to really absorb the words.

 

[BlueLioness]

Physical books or ebooks? Which do you prefer?

Physical books that are either paperback or hardcover, I found it unnecessary to own an ereader so I have never ever owned my own ebook before.

 

[BlueLioness]

Physical. I especially love it when the pages smell good (I always smell my book after buying it).

You know my little sister does that. She started to smell books as she bought them, and then I caught on and followed suite and now I smell books too. I blame her for that.

 

[folklore]

It depends. I would normally vote for real books for a variety of reasons. I don't have to worry about charging them, losing their memory, or accidentally dropping and breaking a screen. On the downside, I'm amassing books at an alarming rate and one of my bookshelves actually broke a few months ago.

So, it looks as though I'm going to be resorting to e-books more often. With the benefit of not having to pay the price for hardcovers, they're a lot easier on my budget right now.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I've switched entirely to ebooks.
I started just with a basic Nook and that was cool. I got my ebook feet wet with the Nook and just read a few ebooks. One thing I did discover was the usefulness of having a reader and paper. I had a tech training book that came with the ebook on a CD. So I put the ebook on the reader and kept the paper book out. I read with the reader (much easier reading at work) and would lookup chapter answers and references in the back of the book with the actual book.

Now I've finally got a smartphone (LG Nexus 4, Android) and I read books on it now. I'm hooked! I haven't read a paper book since I got used to it. It's small and I can flip pages with the same hand I'm holding the phone. Great for reading in bed since it's light (some heavy books can actually make my arms ache and are hard to manage in general) and when I'm done reading...I just switch the screen off and roll over and go to sleep.
I'm mostly getting books off the Google Play Store app and reading with the built-in app. I've also got the Nook and Amazon reader apps. As well as Adobe Reader and Bluefire Reader. So the phone does quite a bit on the reading front. I'm extremely happy.
You can checkout ebooks from the local library too. Weird how it works, but it's nice to have that option.

 

[Unix]

I see lots of benefits with both printed matter and Bible Study softwares, so I use both approaches and one doesn't seem to replace the other. But I don't use any simple e-book formats such as Kindle or the ones You mention. In fact I think Amazon has a large enough market share that I really don't want to encourage them further. Consequently very very few paper books I get are from Amazon or a third-party seller listed there.

To keep my library current and to have research possibilities I'm careful about which platforms to use, i.e. which Bible Study softwares and my purchase patterns in them. Mistakes can be costly and even embarrassing. But following what sales there are is not always worth the trouble and time, so I'm regularly doing an overhaul to which email lists I'm subscribed to and I don't look sources such as Twitter daily deals all the time. People also help each other to find deals, but on the other hand: following book-forums is quite time-consuming so I try to keep it to a minimum and don't interact any more. With printed matter You almost never have to worry about bundles. Many of the things I just described are to a large extent due to having to avoid or deal with (large) bundles. I never buy really big bundles, but there are a couple of bundles that even though they are not very large are very expensive.

I'm wanting to be content with what I have, so I'm placing very few, if any, new orders during 2015 for books in Bible Study softwares - this applies especially to Verbum/(Logos).

I don't have smartphone, but I have two Nook HD 7". I feel that the "battery cost" is quite high, these are two of the same device and the battery is already starting to wear out in one. Since it's easy for me to fall asleep anyway and because of the time zone difference I end up discussing and PM:ing on Christianforums between 8:40-9:20 PM every day. But I would like to (and have to) get more reading done:

It's small and I can flip pages with the same hand I'm holding the phone. Great for reading in bed since it's light (some heavy books can actually make my arms ache and are hard to manage in general) and when I'm done reading...I just switch the screen off and roll over and go to sleep.

It's a high cost for the library, but so are most things they do:

You can checkout ebooks from the local library too. Weird how it works,

 

[St. Paul]

Physical books or ebooks? Which do you prefer?

I've tried both. I still prefer the feel of an actual book.

 

[Pink Spider]

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Real books for me!​

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[ConstantFaithful]

I use both but find I let real books pile up but instantly read those I put on my Kindle.

 

[kens48884]

I'm not a Luddite by any means, but I prefer physical books. There's something about holding it in my hands, using my Star Wars bookmark, turning page corners down, and having them on a shelf. There, for all to see is me - what I read, what I take into my heart and what my soul longs for!

 

[wsmccurry]

I prefer real books but when I house I moved into when I came to Florida was to small for all of my books. I kept my absolute favorites but gave the rest away. I have since started using my tablet with a kindle app. I have no complaints about it though I do miss the feel of the pages. I still prefer the Bible to be a physical book (i have several in different translations) but do have electronic versions on my phone and tablet.

 

[pgp_protector]

Getting back in to my Digital AUDIO Books for the next few months(At least)

 

[peegee73]

I like ebooks now better than regular books. I usually can't decide what book to read. In the past, when I hung out somewhere, I had to bring 3 books just to have choices. But with ebooks, I don't have to carry heavy books around and still have choices.

 

[country woman]

I prefer physical books

 

[sisbarn70]

I prefer physical books myself. There's something comforting about having them around. As a kid I read a lot, spent all my allowance on books because my mom never saw the value in buying them. However as I grew older I noticed mom would pick up some of my books to read. It was a great way to bond...something I passed on to my son...but alas not my digital age daughter lol. I should be happy she at least shares our love of Doctor Who ��