Digital vs Paper Books

[Agent Skulder]

Is everyone reading their books the old fashioned way - via an actual hardcover or paperbook book? Has anyone transitioned to reading using a Kindle or iPad? Let us know which you prefer and why... Also if you have a preference of one electronic / digital device over another....

I still read the really old fashioned way by getting books from the public library. I'd had enough of throwing money out after paperbacks hit the $9 mark. Plus I'm done collecting "stuff" ....and outside of a few collectibles, that's all novels are to me. I see some digital device in my distant future once the pricing settles a bit. But no way will I download book apps to iPhone. I can't imagine reading something text dense for long periods on a 4 inch screen!

How about you?

[Thexfilesz]

I read old fashioned books for several reason. First, digital hurts my eyes. Second, it's a huge waste of money. You don't just pay $500 books and get books for life, no, you still have to pay for books, which I think is even more stupid because I don't believe in buying things that aren't physical, and I mean I don't like buying software. You can touch a kindle, but you can't touch any of the books you buy on it. Another reason I don't like them is because most of the time, when you buy a book on there, if you break your device, you don't just lose it, but also all of the books you purchased. I can understand why people would like having a kindle that do a lot of reading and are always on the go, but I don't do either of those. I'm also one of those weird people that loves to smell books, and a little plasticy kindle would totally take away that paper smell. I have tried to read books on my ipod touch, or I should say tried to read A book, but even when I tried to, there are so many things to do on the iphone that it's too distracting to read XD

[GillyDreamer78]

I read oldfashioned books too. Mostly my reasons are the same as Thexfilesz mentioned above. No digital book could ever replace physical (hardcover, paperback) book. I like to smell a book too, call me weird but I do.
Even on my PC, I just can't read long stuff. It makes me nervous.

[steffinfection]

I like to smell a book too, call me weird but I do.

Me too especially library books.

I remain dedicated to old fashion books I just think their better. I like hauling them around with me wherever I go, I like writing little notes in them and dog earing the pages it’s just not the same for me I like to physically have the book with me.

[stottie92]

I tried reading a book on my ipod touch once - "House of Mirth" I managed to get a couple of pages in and thought - "ahh i like this book - I should get it as a book"...so went out and bought it...which defeated the whole point of having it on my ipod!
But yeh, I think theres nothing better than a really old book! You know the ones with wrinkly pages that crackle when you move them. However - I can't do any damage to a book myself - if I want a book to look old I have to buy it looking old - all books I've bought myself I keep in pristine condition. Hehe I won't even allow myself to break the book's spine (really peeves me when you lend a book to someone and they break the spine...once I had left my book on the side and when I got back there was a huge crack down the side )
...what were we talking about?
PAPER BOOKS ALL THE WAY

[SpecialAgent88]

I'm also one of those weird people that loves to smell books, and a little plasticy kindle would totally take away that paper smell.

LOL Thexfilesz, well add me to the list too, I really like reading books the old fashion way too, I like the smell of a book and I like turning the pages. I think IPad's are great machines, but they are a little pricy and I really don't like typing using the electronic touch, I much prefer a keyboard.

[muldersalias]

I got a kindle from my parents last Christmas. I've been in school so haven't had much time for extracurricular reading, but I believe I've read about four or five books off it. I find it really easy on my eyes and manageable to hold etc. I did have a couple of apps on my ipod touch for reading, and I found those really tedious (it took me aaaaaaages to read Dracula because having a paragraph a page made the book seem to be a million pages long).

Everything's going digital these days, and honestly, the production of paper on such a massive scale, for books, newspapers, practically everything, is not infinite. I know it's recyclable, but not enough is being done, and I'll go all Al Gore on you and say every little bit helps. So I don't mind embracing this slow switch to electronic if it means I'm not quite so quickly buying a tree's worth of books or more and placing them decoratively on a bookshelf in my room.

That said, I still buy carbon-based books. I'm trying to strike a balance between digital and paper, and it seems to be working for me. Also, a ton of the classics are available for free download, so I've been collecting those.

[kyouryokusenshi]

I definitely prefer paper books myself. There's nothing like holding the material in your hand while you're reading. The only things I read digital is fanfiction and manga (Japanese comics not in English in the US). It's also cheaper to buy used books from a used bookstore than going digital.

[WereDoomed]

There's something about the smell of an old book that digital just never can copy.
Of course Mulder might prefer "his" reading material...digital (uh, no pun intended)

[JeSouhaite]

Whereas, I prefer paper books, the other half of the household prefers that I prefer digital copies. Apparently, there are too many books in the house, and if we ever had to move... well, we'd have to hire movers.

So, I recently got an iPad for my birthday. Now, I can get books for it. However, have you seen the prices of books lately?? I'm used to buying bargain books, and I prefer to shop for books by browsing through my favorite bookstore. You just can't get that sense of relaxation and wonderment that one gets from browsing through a crowded book store via a digital source.

YET, I'm going to try. I'm going kicking and screaming into the digital world of books!!

[SpecialAgent88]

Well Happy Belated Birthday JX and getting an iPad is a great gift, it's funny because I really enjoy hunting for books at local used bookstores, reminds me of a treasure hunt when I find an interesting book. I'm still debating about either getting an iPad or Kindle.

[Agent Skulder]

Special Agent - from everything I've read, especially to start out, if your primary goal is downloading books get Kindle first because:

Cost - device & service significantly less
Longer battery life (significantly)
Lighter (also sig)
Cooler (iPad needs gel pad / table top for long use)
CAN read Kindle in Sunlight, iPad not always / as easily

[SpecialAgent88]

Agent Skulder, thanks for the update, and I agree, it makes more sense for me to get Kindle. I especially like the price difference and I CAN read the Kindle in Sunlight.