E-book vs Print book?

Ms. Haiku
Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,381
edited July 2010 in All Encompassing Trip
I can't weigh in completely as I never tried anything like a kindle. However, I see people on the metro using ebooks. My brother's county in NJ decreased the library budget by 70%. This may be a good time for that area to invest in the ebook . . . maybe not as I don't know the financial implications of the ebook. What would be interesting is the redefinition of the library, if by financial decisions the ebook replaces physical print media.

I don't see how the ebook could affect new book or used book stores so much. I love to browse, and a bookstore is my happy place. For others who view the bookstore as just a quick stop for required text the ebook may be the better option.

IDK . . . anyone have thoughts on this? I've seen discussions about this on goodreads.com, but it focused more on how the ebook will affect the publishing industry.
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Comments

  • nuffingman
    nuffingman Posts: 3,014
    The day book shops close and everyone reads books on an ereader will be the end of civilisation as I know it. I love book shops, I can browse for hours.
  • Newch91
    Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    nuffingman wrote:
    The day book shops close and everyone reads books on an ereader will be the end of civilisation as I know it. I love book shops, I can browse for hours.

    Same here. I LOVE books. My mom said I always had a book in my hand when I was younger. I love going into Barnes N Noble and just walk around and look at the books and read bits and pieces of each in the store. I always buy a book when I go there.
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  • marcos
    marcos Posts: 2,112
    I like the the e-book. I like libraries and book stores as well. I think they can co-exist despite popular belief. There is something more natural about reading a book on the beach or in the woods that can never ever be replaced by the e-book, but I do get the easiness the e-book for the daily commuter. I am a commuter and also enjoy the privacy of the e-book as I'm not comfortable with other people knowing what I'm reading.
  • small town beck
    small town beck Posts: 6,691
    nuffingman wrote:
    The day book shops close and everyone reads books on an ereader will be the end of civilisation as I know it. I love book shops, I can browse for hours.

    Agreed. Call me old fashion but I love curling up with a good book and to me an e-reader just isn't the same. Isn't anything sacred anymore?
  • little_wish
    little_wish England, The North Posts: 532
    I completely agree!
    I love the idea of an e-book, you don't have to carry 3 books on holiday and worry about where to stuff them all in your case etc.
    However, I can't resist rummaging in book shops and picking something out.
    Paper alllllllll the way!
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  • Lizard
    Lizard So Cal Posts: 12,091
    My local news station just had a blurb on this this morning----something about Amazon's kindles sales are now bigger than regular book sales.

    I am old fashioned and hate change so I will stay with books.
    So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream
    Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
  • libragirl
    libragirl Posts: 4,632
    I love my Kindle. I don't miss regular books at all. :)
    These cuts are leaving creases. Trace the scars to fit the pieces, to tell the story, you don't need to say a word.
  • 81
    81 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    it's just a matter of time before everything is electronic.

    but at the same time, i still prefer a newspaper/magazine to reading everything online. at home on the big screen of the computer it's fine, but on the go/at lunch i still prefer the real deal.

    plus it's easier to skip the ads in the newspaper

    little off topic
    81 is now off the air

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  • nuffingman
    nuffingman Posts: 3,014
    libragirl wrote:
    I love my Kindle. I don't miss regular books at all. :)
    Civilization has now officially ended. :(
  • unlost dogs
    unlost dogs Greater Boston Posts: 12,553
    I just got an iPad and downloaded a couple of books. I do miss having the book in my hand, but I like the convenience of being able to have several books with me at all times.

    Although, I find myself more and more getting into audiobooks. My train and trolley commute is about 50 minutes, and I've never been able to read a book on the train without getting :sick: so I love the audiobooks for that.
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  • Brock Samson
    Brock Samson Posts: 328
    i love getting new books just as much as any other avid reader (love the smell of untouched pages, the crack when you open a brand new hardcover)......but i'd love to pick up a kindle.
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  • blackredyellow
    blackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    81 wrote:
    it's just a matter of time before everything is electronic.

    but at the same time, i still prefer a newspaper/magazine to reading everything online. at home on the big screen of the computer it's fine, but on the go/at lunch i still prefer the real deal.

    plus it's easier to skip the ads in the newspaper

    little off topic

    I agree about newspapers... for convenience, and skim/check out a bunch of stuff, online is the easiest. But if I want to sit down and read complete articles in newspapers or magazines, I'd much rather have the real thing.
    My whole life
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    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Lizardjam
    Lizardjam Posts: 1,121
    marcos wrote:
    I like the the e-book. I like libraries and book stores as well. I think they can co-exist despite popular belief. There is something more natural about reading a book on the beach or in the woods that can never ever be replaced by the e-book, but I do get the easiness the e-book for the daily commuter. I am a commuter and also enjoy the privacy of the e-book as I'm not comfortable with other people knowing what I'm reading.

    me too. I usually have a book with me wherever I go and almost ALWAYS have it wrapped in some sort of wrapping paper. I hate being harassed about what I'm reading, by that I mean even just being asked.

    Really? I'm reading, that means please don't talk to me, I'm busy.

    On topic, I LOVE going to book stores. But, as I said, I usually have a book with me wherever I go, which also means I finish them and unless I feel like lugging around multiple books(which I don't) then I'm stuck. I would love the eReaders that can browse the store's catalogue anywhere and I am good to go. I still like book stores a lot and I still love having books but i really think I would love the eReader more. I don't have the storage for books like I used to and I still have a ton. Plus, they're usually cheaper in the eBook form.

    For those that say they love to browse the book stores for hours...well unless you're there to buy multiple books, they don't care, you're not supporting them by just being there...they need money. I buy books at the stores when they send coupons, otherwise it's just silly to pay that much anymore when there are so many other cheap resources to owning books.

    All that said, I am DYING to buy a NOOK!!!
    bugs in the way...I feel about you

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  • rrivers
    rrivers Posts: 3,698
    nuffingman wrote:
    The day book shops close and everyone reads books on an ereader will be the end of civilisation as I know it. I love book shops, I can browse for hours.

    Yeah if book stores go away, I'm outta here and by here I mean Earth.

    Funny story my wife and her friend are re-reading the the Harry Potter series this summer. Her friend's sister was out our house and over text her friend asked where my wife was in the book they were on. My wife said "page 453". When her friend texted back she said she didn't know the page number because Kindle doesn't have page numbers but she was 60% done. Something just not right about that.

    I can see the value of an e-reader, but I really have no desire for one. Of course I felt that way about an ipod and now I think it is the best invention of my lifetime. (Though I still wander into stores on all fours with a club and buy cds. :))
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • libragirl
    libragirl Posts: 4,632
    nuffingman wrote:
    libragirl wrote:
    I love my Kindle. I don't miss regular books at all. :)
    Civilization has now officially ended. :(

    ah, stop being so melodramatic! :P
    These cuts are leaving creases. Trace the scars to fit the pieces, to tell the story, you don't need to say a word.
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,335
    Admittedly I have this thing for books. Going to the bookstore and picking them out, going home, getting comfy on the couch and opening it up. I even like the smell of a brand new book.

    That said, I also travel a lot for work and books aren't that convenient, especially since I always pack as light as possible.
    I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a Kindle or a Nook, or something soon.

    I do believe both have their place.
  • rrivers
    rrivers Posts: 3,698
    mca47 wrote:
    That said, I also travel a lot for work and books aren't that convenient, especially since I always pack as light as possible.
    I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a Kindle or a Nook, or something soon.

    This is not directed at you, mca47, but I honestly cannot remember one time in my life hearing anyone complain about books being hard to travel with prior to e-readers becoming popular.
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    JB just got a Kindle, he's liking it, me to cause he can hold it, read in bed and rub my feet at the same time, harder to do with a book. I say yeah to that
  • Lizardjam
    Lizardjam Posts: 1,121
    rrivers wrote:
    mca47 wrote:
    That said, I also travel a lot for work and books aren't that convenient, especially since I always pack as light as possible.
    I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a Kindle or a Nook, or something soon.

    This is not directed at you, mca47, but I honestly cannot remember one time in my life hearing anyone complain about books being hard to travel with prior to e-readers becoming popular.

    Guess no one you've talked to reads a lot or travels for long periods? I took two of the harry potter books with me to australia. It's a long flight and if you finish your book, what else is there to read? You've got two fat books you're still lugging around. On the radio one day was a lady that was going into the peace corps too. She wanted to take an eReader because then she could have 200+ books with her. I think they're a wonderful invention, and believe me I'm obsessed with books in general. I'll always get books but, I want an eReader!! They sound wonderful for travel, or simply when carrying books around isn't really practical.
    bugs in the way...I feel about you

    "New music, new friends. Pearl Jam."

    I like our socks. I hear we make a fine sock. I always say, You might not love our records, but I think you'll like our socks. - Stone

    "This record is us speaking out in class." -EV on PJ
  • rrivers
    rrivers Posts: 3,698
    Lizardjam wrote:
    rrivers wrote:
    mca47 wrote:

    This is not directed at you, mca47, but I honestly cannot remember one time in my life hearing anyone complain about books being hard to travel with prior to e-readers becoming popular.

    Guess no one you've talked to reads a lot or travels for long periods? I took two of the harry potter books with me to australia. It's a long flight and if you finish your book, what else is there to read? You've got two fat books you're still lugging around. On the radio one day was a lady that was going into the peace corps too. She wanted to take an eReader because then she could have 200+ books with her. I think they're a wonderful invention, and believe me I'm obsessed with books in general. I'll always get books but, I want an eReader!! They sound wonderful for travel, or simply when carrying books around isn't really practical.

    Nope I don't know anyone that reads a lot. :roll:

    Sure there are rare cases when needing more than two books with you would be good. Most people aren't going to read more than 2 books on a trip and most trips are not across the world.

    Plus it's not like 3 or 4 paperbacks take up THAT much room.
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."

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