How Do You Feel About E-Books?

[[deleted user]]

Hello,

Was wondering what everyone thought about e-books. Is the quality the same as "traditional" books? Have you found e-book authors you like more than traditionally published authors?

Do you use your phone to read with apps? Or do you use a tablet like a Nook or Kindle? Was the cost of the Kindle or Nook worth it?

Did you have any ideas about what e-books would be like that were totally different than what they really were; did they meet or not meet your expectations?

Is having e-books worth it just so you don't have to deal with parents using the local library as a daycare center? :)

[Julia Joanne Black]

To me its like a dream come true. I have a Nook and I love it. Before getting myself an ereader I wasn't an avid reader. Now I am. Both the ebooks and ereaders worth 100%. I don't care about the book format. I care about the content.

[Jada]

I don't like them, but that's only because I like the way traditional books are.

[Imani]

I personally hate them. I like being able to pick a book off the shelf and flip through the pages and feel it in my hands. E-readers take that away, and I just feel like I'm holding a piece of plastic.

[Kim]

I adore both e-books and traditionally printed books. I used to scoff at the thought of owning an e-book reader because I collected books, loved looking at the covers, dust jackets and spines, loved the "scent" of books (yes, I know you smell them too), and used them as decor in my home. The absence of a physical book was something I thought I wouldn't like...

...until I discovered smut. Don't get me wrong. I own up to what I enjoy reading and I've publicly declared my love of romance novels, trashy or not. But there are places where I deem them inappropriate to display especially if the cover has a scantily clad male or female or both in a rather passionate embrace. The privacy that an e-reader provides is one reason why I eventually bought one.

Another reason why I succumbed to e-books is the price. Without the cost of what traditional publishing entails, they are cheaper and more affordable for me.

Lastly, I am able to purchase a book I want right away. There have been instances when I eagerly await the release of a new book I've been wanting to get but either have no time to head to the bookstore or too cheap to buy a book from the bookstore (even my physical books are bought online, because they're always cheaper). Clock hits midnight and I go to the e-bookstore of choice. A few clicks and BAM! I have my new book in my hands.

I still adore physical books. I tend to buy them even if I own the e-book already. Like I said, the physical books I buy online are always cheaper, sometimes a lot cheaper, that I don't end up paying more if I just bought the book from the bookstore. Plus, I only buy the physical version of the books I really loved. I can't count the number of times I've read books that I didn't enjoy that much and felt glad that I only spent 99 cents or a couple of dollars on.

Oh! I remembered another reason why I like e-books. You get to highlight them and make notes! I tend to highlight quotes and passages I like. And when I had to discuss a book for my work I "made notes" on parts of the e-book as I was reading along.

So, in conclusion, I am a fan of both e-books and physical books. I now read mostly on my e-reader (Kobo) and through the Kindle app on my iPad and iPod Touch but I continue to buy physical books for my personal collection and to help keep bookstores and publishing houses alive.

[Hannah]

I love eBooks. I can understand what some older people would think, but I believe its a new era. I have recently had a discussion with my class on this and since I am in school many people think it is much more efficient. No more paper and a cleaner Earth is great. The only thing I dont like is the eReaders that have TV like screens. Personally, I love my Nook which has a very book like looking screen. Traditional books are still very close to my favorite because I like touching the pages, but it is kind of amazing how eBooks really can look and feel like paper.(try a simple Nook if you don't like other eReaders you have seen)

[Candice]

I was totally against them at first bc I am a book nerd and love that feeling of flipping the pages and holding the book in my hands. I got one and now I don't even leave home with out it. Sometimes I get tired of reading my current book and want to start another. Instead of having to carry multiple books my ereader holds it all for me. I have over 1300 on my nook and I love it.

[Venise]

I think that e-books have been great for both readers and writers. Before getting an e-book reader, I barely purchased a book unless it was an absolute favorite that I wanted to read over and over again. I am an avid reader and after a while, the books piled up and I had no space in my apartment to hold them all without being an episode of hoarders. So, I mostly checked them out at the library. Now, I can hold thousands of books in one little device. It's amazing.

It's also convenient. I see a book I want, or is recommended, and instantly I can have it. It only takes a few clicks or finger touches. I don't have to leave my home. This works for me because as a writer, I am a nocturnal creature. When I do decide on a new book to buy, it is the middle of the night when my local stores are closed. I am way too impatient to wait until I wake up the next afternoon.

[Ginny]

I always find myself in a conundrum when I try to answer this question. I don't think I will ever resolve the issue. (When I die, am I doomed to roam the Amazon warehouse between the Kindles and books?)

In ways I love my Kindle! I can buy books instantly (my husband sees this as a con rather than a pro), and I can also read a lot of reviews before I buy. It's easier to search for books on kindle than in Books-A-Million (the nearest bookstore that apparently does not believe in alphabetizing). Also, I can still get library books on my ereader. In grad school I was able to get text books on my kindle for a fraction of the price. Finally, I can tap on a word and get the definition!

On the other hand(in the other hand?), I really love traditional books too! They are a sensory feast! I can hear the wonderful sound of pages contacting one another, they smell wonderful, and the ink on the page is far more soothing to my eye than a screen. Also, they give a page number rather than a % which is more useful (during class or when updating a goodreads status). They look great, and can be used, secondarily, as decor. I'm still torn...

[Vicki]

I LOVE Ereaders! My Nook is currently sucking up the funds in my account. The only down side I've found is I can't loan books I've read and loved to my friends. Other than that, Ereaders are like fresh manna from the heavens.

[Anna]

I love books and was very anti-readers. Then I got an ipad and thought I'd try an ebook. E- readers re great for downloading free books, bargains and there are loads of free e-reads available. I find I get eye strain easier with an ipad screen, but then I do read too much. On the plus side, I can change font size. Have just started to use a basic Kindle, not as pretty but easier on the eyes. i haven't read a full book on it yet. Got my daughter a mini Kobo which is handbag size and cute. So all in all they have their uses.

[Raeanna]

I love ebooks, I read on my phone anywhere and everywhere!

[B.]

I love my nook. I think the best part is not having to carry around multiple books when you are getting near the end of book. it is small and can fit hundreds of books on it. As an author and reviewer I LOVE ebooks as it is an easy way to get my books out to people for free or get books to review without costing the author. I can giveaway as many ebooks as I want and it costs me no overhead to print and ship.

[Bethany]

I prefer having a physical book that I can turn the pages in, but I don't mind e-books. I use a kindle app on my phone or I read using the kindle cloud on my computer. I don't mind either. I only use it when my library only has the book in e-book form, so basically if that is the only way I will be able to read the book without buying it. It is pretty handy to be able to use it on my phone because it's even more compact than an actual book and I have my phone with me all the time, so it is convenient.

The one thing I don't like about e-books is the pages. For kindle the pages get turned into like 8000 and it skips like 100s when you turn the page. I know it wouldn't really work with the normal book pages because you can change the font and visual settings, but it still bothers me that I can't see what page I'm actually on.

[Char]

To be honest I prefer ebooks. I read them on my ipad on the iBooks apps. And it's pretty amazing. I could make notes and just delete them after I'm done. So you're being very eco-friendly cause you're not using those sticky notes. You can bookmark. I usually download ebooks which are already publishes books so I don't really know what ebooks writers are like. What I also love is that basically you can have a million books on there and you just have to carry that around.

Like I said I have an ipad and I use it for school too and it was totally worth it.

Yeah ebooks are definitely worth it. You could just go online and from the comfort of your home you can get them. And avoid those pesky library due dates.


Hope this helps.

[Amy]

I like both. I love the feel and heft of a book in my hands. But I also like being able to carry my books with me at all times via apps on my phone. It's great to be able to read whenever I'm stuck waiting somewhere (like the doctor's office) without having to lug a book around.

[MyPaperParadise]

As a Kindle owner I can honestly say that ebooks have many advantages, but I still prefer paperbacks when I can. I use Kindle mostly to read books in English (I can't get physical copies anywhere for a fair price) and books that I don't want to have on my bookshelf, but still wanna read.

[[deleted user]]

There was a study done not too long ago and it had some surprising answers to this very question. To sum it all up - for many people they use and like both. There are more people reading e-books than ever before but there are also more people just plain reading more books than ever before. And when asked which ones the public wants, the Pew report found that the public demands both are available at their local public libraries and school libraries. The public doesn't want to choose just one format because what they are finding is that it is important "why" and "where" they are reading that determines which format they want.

Here is the Pew Report: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012...

[Jessica]

I love both actually. As a book lover, my library room is overflowing with my love of books. I love how my nook can store so many and the books are a bit cheaper as well (if you're buying new of course). I prefer the feel of the book in my hands but I have to be practical and only buy books that I know I will love.

[chinami]

I love both paperback has this beautiful smell and feels so real in my hands but due to the costs being very low on ebooks i prefer them

[Randomperson]

I love my kindle but every time I read off of it I feel like I am cheating on books!
Also my kindle is REALLY old and I don't want it to die and have all of my books dissapear!
Call me old-fashioned but-paper books for the win!