eReader V.S. A Real Book

[Karli]

Which do you choose? I'm thinking of going to Barnes and Noble and trying out a Nook. My friend has one, but I can't stand the fact that you have to turn it on, then type your password, THEN read. Haha. Or maybe I'm just lazy?
I hate that I don't know what my best friend is reading, too. Now I have to ask her, instead of seeing what book she has on her desk.
I also heard, I'm not sure if this is true so don't take me up on it-that you can increase your chances of cancer with looking at a screen for too long, and I read for hours. ;) You CAN stimulate your brain, though. That's why I can't go on the computer or watch TV right before I go to bed. You have to read for a half-an-hour, at least.
If the book gets wet, then it isn't that bad, it will dry. If an eReader gets wet, there goes 200 dollars down the drain.

So, here's my question:

Which do you choose, eReader, or a real book?

[★ Jess]

Got to love the texture and feel of tuning pages, and the smell of a new book, or the smell of an ancient one. Got to love displaying them on your shelf and watch as they get battered and creased with ware and love. Corny much?)

[Mia Claire]

Real books! You can't smell an ebook and you can't put it in a bookshelf, well, except for a virtual bookshelf.

[harshini]

I don't mind both. I have read too many e-books on my ereader I hardly notice the difference.

[Swiftfire]

I will always prefer real books, of course. But I've found when I read books on my Kindle I'm a lot faster. It fits inside my tiny purse, for one, so I can take it anywhere. However, I don't think I would like reading off it as much if it had a touch screen or anything... So there are pros and cons for each.

[ɐzzıɹʞ]

I dunno. I prefer eReader. I guess it depends on the person.

[Ingrid]

I can see why both are good. I can tell that ebooks would be REALLY useful.
But I do love my real books. There is something beautiful about holding the real thing in my hands.

[James]

I actually perfer eReader too. It just depends on the person you meet.

[anilee]

eReader.

I love real books. I have too many of them. I love turning pages and smelling books and how they sit on my shelf and on and on and on.

But.

I have a lot of books on my Kindle, and they're ALWAYS with me. Also, the e-ink screen is a lot crisper than a printed page. I'd rather read from it any day, although I miss being able to flip through a book as easily.

Also, real books can start irritating my hands. I have sensory issues.

[Irene]

I love real books but there are some pretty cool books not aviable as real books so I love both. I enjoy both emensily. They both have thief pluses and minuses so either are good.

[Mayze]

I love love love real books! That being said, when I'm going on vacation or to camp my kindle is great (because I can bring about 10 new books on it)

[Brittany]

Well I prefer books but when I saw my book shelf getting to crowed I decide to get a nook. You don't have to turn on your nook or have a password for it thats optional. I too can read for hours and hours and I was afraid that the screen on the nook would eventually hurt my eyes like if you read on a computer screen. But the screen has something that when you read it your eyes don't hurt even if after hours. Even though I have a nook I still bye books because I just like having them and the feel of slipping a page. But having a nook saves spaces and it can be lighter than most books

[Nelle]

Books!!!


1. There magnet proof, if you drop a magnet on a book nothing happens, I don't believe kindles or nooks are magnet proof.
2. If anything happens to your kindle your going to have to replace all of those books, it's more likely somthing happening to your kindle (or nook)than your house
3. Do you really need to have that many books on vacation or with you? Yes for school textbooks on the kindle would be nice. It would be better just to bring 1 or 2 books with you on vacation or buy a book you've been wanting to read in soft cover (if possible)

4. You still have to buy the books, your pratically just buying a 79 or 100 dollar book shelf.

5. If your really carefull with your books, and at one point want to sell them, you can for a really good price. You can only sell a kindle once.

6. When I'm waiting in line for help at B&N, the line is usually backed up because some one is having a problem with there kindle or nook, or because the extra help is helping someone with it.

7. Sometimes they don't have the books you're looking for! And sometimes, the library doesn't have them, so I guess that is a plus.

8. I have a friend who has one, after a while of reading they get headaches, about 8 hours maybe, yes some people get head aches after reading that much, but most people spend whole days reading without any problems.

9. It feels just plan weird, the feel of paper, the smell of ink, you just can't replace that.

If you want it for textbooks, that;s fine .But besdies that, as I said before, it's just a 79 to 100 dollar book shelf. I hope that helps!!!! :D

[Swiftfire]

^ Actually, if a Kindle gets broken or lost you still have all of your books on your Amazon account, and can easily transfer them to a different Kindle or read them off a computer. Unfortunately, I know this from experience... I brought my Kindle to camp last summer (which probably wasn't the smartest thing to do in the first place) and it got broken. But since it wasn't a year old yet, I could call Amazon and they sent me a new one for free.

And I don't know about anyone else, but I bring WAYY too many books on all my vacations. Carrying a small little device instead of ten books definitely makes my shoulders very thankful. I haven't noticed any headaches yet (that depends on the person), but I have noticed I can get through books a lot faster, just because it's so convenient. Plus there are lots of great classics you can get for free! I have about 20 books on my Kindle that I got for free or for a very low price.

So that's my defense of eReaders, I guess. I was convinced I would never use one until my aunt sent me a Kindle last spring and I was surprised by how much I ended up liking it. Of course, nothing could ever replace good old books.

[Kate]

I bring at least 15 books with me when I go to camp or on summer vacation. For that, I think an ereader would be nice. I've used two, a kindle and a nook color, and I don't think they're terrible.

That being said, I think books are far superior. Nothing beats having the physical volume in my hand; the texture, the smell, the weight, everything. Plus, ereaders are killing the publishing industry, because it costs as much to make an ebook as a regular book, but people aren't willing to pay the cost of a normal book for an ebook.

[Jewel]

i like actually experiencing the book, and i think its better to actually see it, so i like the actual book better. i dont think im reading a book if i use electronics, i guess when you go on vacation its easier just to bring a nook or kindle, but you always have to pay for books. if you use an actual book, you can just run over to the library instead of spending your money on a book you might not like

[Kate]

You can use the library for nook or kindle too. My mom has a nook, and she has never bought a single book for it. Although the library selection is currently pretty limited.

[Mayze]

One serious limitation I've found with e-books is illustrations. I read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children on my kindle, and it was impossible to see the pictures. Also, it's harder to lend books to people with the kindle.

[Kate]

Really? I read the same book on the same kindle and saw the pictures. I'm confused now.

[Mayze]

I know, but remember how small they were? It annoyed me. Also I think some were cut off.

[Kate]

Were they? I don't remember that part. But I was reading it on a bus, so.....
Anyway, that is very annoying.

[Taylor]

i really like to hold a book in my hand and i really hate how small nooks are.

[Kari Jennifer]

Books! Because I love flipping pages, it reminds how much I've progressed through the book :)

[Yue]

Books all the way! But the positive thing about Ebooks is that you cant lend your books to anyone (I have a hard time lending some books to some people...they dont know how to treat a book or worst, they dont even give them back!)

[Briana]

Books, absolutely! First because I like to actually hold the real book in my hand, not a small electronic. Also I don't really like reading books on an electronic, because, if your reading when it's darker, then the screen is bright even if you put the brightness to the lowest setting. And the screen is not good for your eyes. And I always like the smell of books.

[Kat]

I don't have a Kindle, but I'm seriously considering getting one. First of all, because you can carry a lot of books on that one small device (I tend to have A LOT of books with me when I go on vacation and stuff); secondly, your books are always backed up on your Kindle library just in case your Kindle is damaged; and thirdly, a lot of the books on the Kindle store are pretty cheap (from what I've seen at least).

I do like the feel of a regular book, though. I love smelling the pages and feeling the covers. Plus, the weight of a book in my hand just feels.. sturdy. I won't ever stop buying printed books, but I think I'll end up getting a Kindle also, just because it seems a lot more convenient.

[kento]

Real books are better! (in my opinion)

[Valencia]

I love books and seeing them on my bookshelf, but I love the Nook apps too!!!!! It's true that you don't need a whole lot of books with you when you go places, BUT I'm an options girl. I may be reading one book and hear or do something and I want to switch genres. I love the Nook Color you can do so much on it besides just reading. I can read, play Sudoku, hop on Twitter, get a new release all without moving from a comfortable position or having a million objects surrounding me. And it's great for new releases too. They automatically download to your Nook at 12 a.m. the night of the release instead of me driving an hour to Books-a-Million or waiting (impatiently) on the UPS man.

[Amber]

Love ereaders now!!! I have a Kindle and it is the coolest thing. I read a lot more now than I did when I had to go to the library or bookstore.

[Danica]

I agree with Briana! I like real books better: feeling it, smelling it, etc.
With too much light, you might not be able to see the screen of the electronic reading device, but you would still be able to see the page of a book.

[Valencia]

Danica wrote: "I agree with Briana! I like real books better: feeling it, smelling it, etc.
With too much light, you might not be able to see the screen of the electronic reading device, but you would still be a..."

I thought the same thing, but most eReaders have screens where you can read in daylight or no light even.

[cy]

I love real books, but i'm thinking about getting a kindle or something, i would probably still get real books anyway

[Marian]

real book are cooler but ebooks are cheaper...and nothing can beat the smell of a new book

[Valencia]

Samantha wrote: "I love the absoulte feel of holding a real book and with me I feel like i can experiance the enjoyment of the story more. Although I hate to admit it, E-Readers are good for the enviroment. They sa..."

They're just plan conveniant!! I wouldn't trade my ereader for anything!! Not even the smell or feel of a book. (:

[[deleted user]]

E-reader!
- Have lots of storage, meaning you don't have to carry thousands of books around!
- Environmentally friendly.
- Usually cheaper than purchasing a book.

I love my Kindle! <3

[Claire]

I am amazed that teens are not the first to embrace eBooks! You see you don't have to chose-- you have the choice of both real books and eBooks. EBooks are really great for bringing to life ideas that are had to picture. If you are lucky enough to own a a iPad, download Life on Earth, by Edward O Wilson. Or download, The Adventurers of The Sizzling Six: The Living Treasure, part of a series of Eco mysteries for Tweens and teens. OMG, You will see what I'm talking about.

[[deleted user]]

Ive always loved reading on my nook but somtimes i miss turning pages of a real book

[Megan]

I know that ebooks have a lot of advantages (it's a good starting place for writers who want publishing etc) but there's nothing, to me, like the feel of a good book. Having a book that's aesthetically pleasing to have around and on your shelf. It's silly, but it's like having a memory or whatever with the book. I just like to feel that's it's just there, because I enjoy it more. Plus it looks great on shelves. ;) I don't mind carrying extra weight, especially since books aren't easily broken.

[cy]

I'm still undecided but having books like Angelfall at just a dollar for your ereader might be starting to swerve me (mind you I still have over forty of my own real books ;) )

[Claire]

You do not have to chose between real books and eBooks. You can enjoy both. If you are lucky enough to have an iPad, or know someone with an iPad you can actually download some books for free, or for 2.99. Plus ebooks now have video clips that are interactive with the story, to let you see and hear what the charcters in the story are seeing and hearing -- Wow!
To see what I'm talking about, go to the iTunes store and download The Adventures of The Sizzling Six: The Living Treasure, an Eco mystery series.

[Tom]

I think real books. just the smell of new books is wonderful, turning a page physically, it makes you feel like you've actually accomplished something. Having a computer device doesn't give the same sensation
that a real live book does.

[Claire]

I don't disagree, however, the power of interactive video can enhance books, especially books that bring the awesome wonder of the natural world alive. Try it you might like it.

[Kate]

What you're discussing, besides being your own book, isn't really a classic "ebook". It's more of a book-movie hybrid, which to me doesn't fall under the same category.

However, marketing your books like that qualifies as spam, which is not allowed in this group, so please edit your comments or I will delete them.

[£mily]

At the moment I prefer normal books, as for Christmas I got a Kobo Ereader, and everything was fine and dandy reading on it until a few weeks ago. A friend had given me a whole heap of ebooks and I was working my way through the Harry Potter series. I was about halfway through the Order of The Pheonix and BAM ( it didnt make a noise, I just did that for effect), it froze on chapter 18, Dumbledores Army (I know this because I've been staring at that screen for so long....). Like froze froze. As stuck as Augustus Gloop in a pipe. It WILL NOT BUDGE! I have tried the little reset hole in the back and everything. I am now sending it away to the Kobo company to get it fixed. I googled it and found out I'm not the only one with this problem. And I was enjoying all these new books so much! Luckily I have the Harry Potter series in paper form...

[cy]

I am undecided, ereaders freeze and get cracked, but book pages get ripped and the cover worn and sometimes, if it rains when you are walking somewhere, the PAGES WILL GET ALL WIBBLY, this happened to me yesterday..>:(

[Valencia]

Cy wrote: "I am undecided, ereaders freeze and get cracked, but book pages get ripped and the cover worn and sometimes, if it rains when you are walking somewhere, the PAGES WILL GET ALL WIBBLY, this happened..."

True that can happen that's why it's best to find a quality ereader. With most devices you can read your books on multiple devices and they will always be linked to your account unless you delete them. Either way you go it's best to treat both like an ice sculpture and a million dollar car (:

[Claire]

Right on!

[cy]

yeah!

[Lia]

I actually don't mind either of them. At night, I ALWAYS have to turn off the lights, and it's hard reading, say a Hard Cover book when you're lying flat in bed, so this is where an eReader comes in handy for me. But I still keep a balance on using both, like everyone, I love the feel and smell of real books, and the feeling of having such a great novel in your stash is BLISS! Hahah
I use the BB Playbook as an eReader mostly, and it doesn't freeze, depends on the Reader, I guess. OH, and actually, you could find free books online, like in epubbud.com Almost every book is there. Helps poor College students like me. XD That's where I get books that are almost close to impossible to find here in my country. :)

[Caity1616]

I don't have an ebook so my choices are my laptop or a real book and I way prefer a real book. Not just the texture but also for me read on my way to and from school and I can't take my laptop to do that so a book's also alot more handy for me.