Do you still buy physical books/CDs, or have you gone 100% digital?

@cuttyrish (3012)
United States
March 9, 2026 9:13pm CST
I was cleaning out my guest room today and found a box of old CDs and paperbacks. It’s 2026, and I can stream basically any song or book in seconds from my phone, but holding that physical copy felt... different. There is something about the smell of a real book and the 'hunt' for a rare CD that digital just can't match. I’ve gone about 80% digital for the space-saving, but I can’t seem to part with my 'forever' favorites on the shelf. I still have my books, and would want to buy more books in the future. The things is i dont have the time to read yet because of work.
12 people like this
15 responses
@LadyDuck (495065)
• Italy
11h
I own a Kindle reader, but I still like a real book a lot more. I read a lot, so the Kindle is fine when I am not sure about a book and the digital version is a lot less expensive.
2 people like this
@cuttyrish (3012)
• United States
5h
I prefer books, but I am planning to buy a kindle as well. I love that screen is not bright.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (495065)
• Italy
5h
@cuttyrish The screen of the Kindle is really comfortable, it's just like reading a real book.
16h
If i saw a book I wanted to buy I would buy it For instance a first edition of Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, As for CD,s If it's on Vinyl I would prefer it on Vinyl Cd,s are not worth as much as good old fashioned Vinyl
2 people like this
@cuttyrish (3012)
• United States
16h
Nice! If I ever came across something like a first edition of Catcher in the Rye, I’d probably grab it too. That’s the kind of book that’s really cool to have. And I get what you mean about vinyl—there’s just something about it that CDs don’t quite match. Vinyl definitely has that classic feel to it.
2 people like this
16h
@cuttyrish Vinyl will always have that classic feel to it, hundreds of years from now
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14974)
• Malaysia
14h
I still buy some books that I would really like to read and keep. Flipping through a book is just different from reading digitally, I find it more relaxing and I can easily bring along a book with me. Reading on phone isn't really comfortable for me, the screen is too small. I don't buy CDs anymore, but I still keep a box of old CDs. I wonder if I can just copy them in my harddisk, or just throw them away. I don't have a CD player anymore. Space saving is an important factor for not buying more physical stuff. Sometimes I wonder what to do with my old boxes of books that I might still want to read when I have some free time, but whenever I have time, I might read something else...
1 person likes this
@cuttyrish (3012)
• United States
5h
Reading a physical book just feels different, it's more relaxing somehow. Screens, especially phones, can get tiring after a while, as i wear an eyeglass.
@toniganzon (74297)
• Philippines
14h
As of music, it's fully digital for me. Books, I still love and prefer the smell of paper books.
@cuttyrish (3012)
• United States
5h
I love the old smell of books
@Deepizzaguy (119011)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
15h
I usually get my song on digital since buying compact discs is too expensive.
@cuttyrish (3012)
• United States
5h
Yeah, and its so hard to look for.a player now
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (119011)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12m
@cuttyrish You are correct.
@pitsipeahie (5520)
10h
Yes, I still buy physical copies, but only for the ones that are truly my favorites. I like having a tangible keepsake or proof that I really loved the book or cd's.
@cuttyrish (3012)
• United States
5h
I have book copies of my law books, as i wrte on it, high light it before, and my favorite books
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (114536)
• United States
15h
I don’t have any CDs, but I do still have several books in my bookcase. I just haven’t bought any new ones lately. They are just so much cheaper to buy digitally.
@cuttyrish (3012)
• United States
5h
And also you also get muisic for free, digitally nowadays, specially you can stream using free version of spotify
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (83770)
• United States
2h
I’m primarily digital, but I do still own a lot of CDs and albums!
• Torrington, Connecticut
2h
CD's no but books yes!
@JESSY3236 (21715)
• United States
1h
I bought a real book last year. I found some cds my uncle had. But I have no way to play them now.
@JudyEv (373807)
• Rockingham, Australia
3h
I prefer to read real books. I still have a lot of books.
@Traceyjayne (8785)
• United Kingdom
Just now
I prefer real books ….
@thelme55 (78417)
• Germany
39m
Yes, sometimes I buy real books. I like the smell of a book.
• Angeles City, Philippines
1h
I can totally relate to that. There’s something special about holding a real book or an old CD—it brings back memories in a way that digital files just can’t. The smell of the pages, the cover art, and even the feeling of flipping through a book makes the experience more personal. Going mostly digital is definitely convenient, especially for saving space, but keeping those “forever favorites” on the shelf makes a lot of sense. It’s understandable that work leaves you with little time to read right now, but the good thing is the books will always be there waiting. Maybe one day when things slow down a bit, you’ll be able to enjoy them again—page by page, just like before.
@LindaOHio (215954)
• United States
8h
I prefer real books and CDs.