Book or Ebook?

United States
July 23, 2009 1:12pm CST
I was on a site to purchase books and was surprised to see how many ebooks they had for sale and the prices of them. Now I prefer to hold a good old fashioned book in my hands. Printing off or downloading to read from a screen turns me off. People must be doing it though if places are selling the downloads and at prices that are on the, what I believe, to be the high side. What do you prefer?
3 people like this
25 responses
• India
23 Jul 09
Always real books are comfortable.. But with my widescreen LCD monitor..I'm pretty much satsfied even if I didn't get the printed version. At times the quality of printing can make it worse than reading e-book. It all depends but still most people prefer readin the real books!
1 person likes this
@trickiwoo (2702)
• United States
23 Jul 09
In my opinion, the only way to read eBooks is with a device that uses e-ink technology, such as a Sony E-reader or an Amazon Kindle. The e-ink technology is really amazing! It's not at all like reading off a computer screen, it's more like reading a regular book. It doesn't put any strain on your eyes. What I especially like about reading eBooks on such devices is that you can change the size of the font! Depending on the lighting of where I'm at, I like my font to be a different size. I also like that it's flat and I can read hands-free! I don't have to constantly be holding the book open! The flat device makes for a lot more comfortable positions for reading, that's for sure! Plus you can store thousands of books in one small device! It's just handy! I have an Amazon Kindle so it has a lot of other features like an internet browser, a built in dictionary (so if I come across a word I don't know the meaning of, I just push a button and it gives me the definition!) And my Kindle will even read my books outloud to me... which I like to do while I'm at the gym! So yes, if you have an e-ink device, e-books are the way to go! But if not, then it's not really worth reading the books on your computer screen.
@trickiwoo (2702)
• United States
24 Jul 09
Yah, they are pretty expensive. They're around $300-$400. My Kindle has 2 gigs of storage space. I know some of the devices take memory cards so you can store even more books on a card and use it on your device. With the Kindle, all of your books are backed up online attached to your account. So if you lose your Kindle or it breaks or you decide to upgrade to a newer model, then you can just redownload everything you've already purchased for free. This is also nice in case you do use up all of your memory. You can just remove a book and then download a new book in it's place. Then you can always redownload any books you remove from your device at any time. So there's really no limit on the number of books you can access at any time!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
24 Jul 09
I prefer to hold the book myself. When it comes to ebooks you just never know if they'll be good. I mean, sure they're cheap, but then you've got to think of either printing it off, or risking losing the book if the computer crashes, or you buy a new computer. If you want to back the book up on a disc, that's fine too, but it's more money and in my opinion a waste of whatever material they use for the disc, the paper that the disc comes with, and then the plastic holder. Nothing beats having the book in your hand.
• United States
28 Jul 09
Well it is probably cheaper to just buy the book if your going to print it off anyway.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
24 Jul 09
I prefer to read a proper book, rather than read something online. If I download an ebook, I prefer to print it out rather than just keep it in the computer. Although I have many stored on my computer that I have not printed or read yet! I do not want to print out something until I am ready to read it, as it would be a waste of paper if I never got around to reading it! I give away a free ebook with my business and we also sell some, but the real books are much more popular with our customers and we have many more of them than ebooks.
• Philippines
24 Jul 09
E-books don't work well with me, i would prefer books for they give me much comfort while reading in my bed or wherever i go like beach.
• United States
24 Jul 09
I am sure electronics have issues with sand if it gets in them. None to mid water and I would bet the screens are to see in the sun just like on the cameras.
• Philippines
6 Aug 09
I love both but now I used to read ebooks rather than books, My work is online and I use the computer everyday so I don't have much time in reading books now.
@ishavasyam (1801)
• India
24 Jul 09
OpinionatedLady: That gives a way to my inner feelings also.I am also at a discomfort while going through the e books.In fact the basic fact that I m reading from an electronic screen and not through a piece of paper , really detours my mind off. And to tell you, getting the print out from a ebook is simply not workable due to cost constraints. When the ebook is at a higher price than the print, there is no question of buying it at all.Thanks.
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
24 Jul 09
Dear friend, I do consider the books as it has its own charm, its own uniqueness as in the case of certain rare books and those painting or any other had works done cannot be got in ebook in its natural way. I do consider books more than ebooks especially those really good one and for general informative aspects I may prefer ebook.
@owelm0408 (1011)
• Philippines
24 Jul 09
I still prefer printed books because I usually read book lying on bed before I go sleep. I couldn't do that on an e book using my laptop.hehe
@kafrosGR (138)
• Greece
24 Jul 09
I belive that surely books are better than ebooks. to keep the book in your hands. the paper. instead of just being again infront of the pc destroying your eyes even for extra time.
@rajupaul (973)
• India
24 Jul 09
I like to read book but in a traditional way. But same time some precies e-book which is valuable I preserved in my CD as well as taking out print.
• Malaysia
24 Jul 09
I love reading. I like having a book in my hand too, and sadly, I am a packrat. I like collection books of my favorite authors. So, I have with me works by Sophie Kinsella, Jeffrey Archer, Sue Townsend and earlier Sidney Sheldon. Plus Harry Potter and Twilight series. However, I am sad that the pages are turning yellowish and brownish. I just bought Asus EEE netbook, where I am planning to use as an ebook reader. So, ebook for now. I am sad for my old books. :(
• Netherlands
24 Jul 09
Like most of the users here, i prefer the physical book. I just love the smell and the feel of a book. It feels so authentic. Although, I really do like the idea of ebooks. Things like kindle and stanza (iphone) are really useful and helpful and sometimes I read classics on my iphone because 1. I'm too lazy to actually buy them :P (you can get some classics for free) 2. I don't want to carry many books whenever a travel. But like I said before, I like books and I try to read as many books as I can whenever I'm home.
• France
24 Jul 09
I prefer to ebooks, maybe depending on my job. I am a programer,so I must fastly learn a lot knowlege about programs, and there are so many books to sell,but these books update very fast. Reading ebook is a good choice, for its updating and price. so I like to purchase ebooks.
• China
24 Jul 09
I prefer books,because the time can take one's time slowly to enjoy a cup of tea to sit and taste;and e-books need a computer,the eye injury,is not worthwhile
@dex1007 (556)
• Malaysia
24 Jul 09
well i was just like you a few years ago, holding and bringing a book in your bag, reading it when you want, its a good feeling. but ebooks are cheaper in some sites. i save a lot of money by reading ebooks, i bought a new laptop to read ebooks on it. here's why i like ebooks. -you can adjust the font, (so i don't have to get my glasses) -listen to music as you read -have countless ebooks in your laptop and read it anytime you want. -delete an ebook if you don't like it. (throwing away a book is.. well i can't do it) and etc etc. But i do miss putting my head down and reading the book on my bed while curling in blankets. :)
@Elaine77 (315)
• China
24 Jul 09
hi there, I start with the ebook, read it about twice or three times. If it's good enough, then I'll consider about brought one to fill my collection, I use to have a record of reading 200 thousand words a day, it would not be cheap to buy all these paper books and I havent got so much speace to put those books. Have a nice day mylotting!
23 Jul 09
I love books - I use the internet a lot for finding information etc and posting on forums, but for reading a book, I prefer an actual book. Having said that, books can be heavy to carry, especially reference books. I prefer to turn the pages of a book than read on screen - it's easier on the eyes for one thing, and if your connection's slow, it can take ages to go back to a page if you want to. If I'm going to buy something, I prefer to look though a proper catalogue than to look for products onscreen too. I hope books continue to be produced - I always buy people books for Christmas and birthdays - I'd hate to see everything onine...I like to see shelves full of books, and to see what others read. Books are very good for teaching children to read too - they like to turn the pages.
@grace118224 (1038)
• China
24 Jul 09
Like you i only enjoy a traditional book . i enjoy reading books very much although now i feel not so many good books around us . Ebook makes eyes tired and brings no good mood.
@Daisy11 (13)
• China
24 Jul 09
I prefer reading book.Some friends like ebooks which download from the Internet.Almost ebooks are free and more convenient,but they have no books's sense though they're full of words.I love the feeling that book in my hands.It's easy for me to fall into the world the writer discribes.I'm free to travel the imagination world,meet all kinds of people and feel them. Of course ,in the ebooks ,you can see everything as if the books have,but you may feel that it's far away from reality.It's just like the electronic world. Apart from the content,the papers in different materials also give you different feeling.It maybe smell good,or comfortable.