Paperback or ereader

[Shar]

Do you read books on a ereader such as on a kindle or a tablet using the kindle app/aldiko/kobo etc or do you prefer reading from real paperback books.

I don't buy books anymore apart from ones I need for uni. I buy a lot of ebooks on my tablet though.

[Derrener]

My mum brought me a Kindle when they first came out. I've used it once. The voice that it has so you can just listen and it reads you I find extremely annoying. I guess I just like having the book in my hand.

[myke]

I definitely prefer reading an actual book, I find with e-read books I get a few pages in and then switch off and never go back to it.

[Inseriousity.]

I like being able to turn pages so a book for me every time.

[Absently]

I've never used anything like a Kindle, it just seems a nuisance imo. I love the idea of having a book on my shelf or sitting down reading the book, although it does tend to hurt my hand :(

[Succubus]

Used one of those kindle things but I do prefer books. Not too sure why, just prefer it.

[Ms.Aquamarine]

I sometimes read from books, but most of the time I use the application iBooks on my iPod touch. :)

[Demi]

Depends how you prefer to read and are comfortable? Some people really like the touch and feel of the books and the light contrast when flicking pages.

[Jazz]

books, that have that smell and the feel of turning a page and a real bookmark. traditional but the best imo

[Sloths]

I much prefer proper books but they're so expensive here that I ended up never buying any new books, cheaper to download pdfs or use kindle so that's what I do. If they were the same price then tangible books all the way

[Sieglinde]

I prefer paperback, I get lost into the book reading it but it doesn't feel the same with an ereader.

[Teabags]

actually thought reading off kindles would be horrible, but thought they were actually quite good.
Still prefer reading a proper book though I think.

[wixard]

i've a kindle for my guilty pleasure reads that i don't want people seeing, then i buy hard copies of all my 'smart' books that make my book shelf look sophisticated

[OldLoveSong]

paperbacks, its not the same on an ereader, not that i've ever tried an ereader .. ;P But i love books the way they are

[Aiden]

rl books r better cuz theyre real

[LoveToStack]

There are benefits to both. Paperbacks (and hardbacks) are great for books with diagrams which are referenced in the text whereas I often find e-readers struggle to display diagrams in the right place because the format of the physical book doesn't translate perfectly to a smaller e-reader screen. Another thing that's great about paperbacks is that if you want to scan through a book to get to a section quickly then you can flip through pages much faster than you can navigate through an e-book. However, paperbacks very quickly build up and they take up a load of space. The difference between storing 2000 books in your house and storing 2000 books on an e-reader is monumental. So if you're someone who reads a lot on holiday then it's much handier to have an e-reader.


Benefits of e-readers, apart from taking up less space, include the weight (you never struggle to hold an e-reader whereas you might do with a heavy hardback), the convenience (you can download a book in seconds and for free if you're willing to pirate) and if you want to find a specific portion of text from a book then the search function on an e-reader is much quicker than manually looking through a paperback. The major downside is the fact that e-books can run out of juice but really it's not that much of a problem. The kindle I have easily goes for more than a month on a single charge so unless you're going to find yourself in a position where you don't have access to any form of power supply for over a month then battery isn't an issue.


So yeah, I think they both have their place and their uses but eventually I can see things going the way of the e-reader due to them taking up much less space and materials. Once the kinks get worked anyway. And everyone I know who has used a Kindle or other device has enjoyed it. I was skeptical at first as well but once I used one I thought it was great and if anything I've found myself reading a lot more than I was before simply because of the convenience of it.

[Ashley]

I prefer holding a physical book and seeing my collection grow on my bookshelf. The only times I would have preferred an e-reader are when I want to lie down and read, or when I've got a heavy book weighing down my bag.

[Sho]

My sister has an e-reader and loves it, but I prefer collecting my books and filling up my bookshelf. I prefer having the physical copies :P.

[BlooBanana]

Both, I have two E-readers a Kindle fire HD and a plain old kindle, not sure of make, but it's the one without a keyboard stuck at the bottom. I have lots of books too. If a good series comes out I will buy the real books because It's always nice having a physical copy.

[orientalframe?]

i own a kindle myself, used it for about a week. i prefer a paperback by miles, i like to actually turn the pages :P

[Calum0812]

Love my iPad. Screen can be a bit harsh on the eyes after a while though.

[FlyingJesus]

Definitely paper books, I read in bed so it would be ridiculous for me to have a Kindle or whatever there because then I'd fall asleep on it and break it

[AgnesIO]

ereader for the ease of transportation.

[velvet]

i always buy books, i read finish 1 a week, sometimes more. i've always been a physical copy kinda gal but since having my flat i've seen i should probs get an e-reader :x

[Samantha]

I prefer proper books although I have the 100 Classic Book Collection on my DS :).

[Grig]

Kindles have benefits if you are a huge book worm and just read non-stop or go travelling a lot. But ultimately, they are **** and can never beat the real thing.

[Daltron]

proper books plz

[Chucky]

I have a tablet I use for pretty much everything but an ereader (except some comics), the screen's to harsh for anything heavy.

That being said, I have at this point, several book cases worth of paperbacks, making moving house a pain, so maybe it's time I gave in.