Buying books vs borrowing from your local library

[Eric]

I have slightly more than 1300 Kindle books from AMZ and another couple hundred from Baen. I have one of the older keyboard Kindles (the ones with 3 times the storage space than a Kindle White). I've purchased a number of books that brag on AMZ that they have "real page numbers" but no book I've read, and I've read most of them, whether on the Kindle itself, or the app for my PC, has anything but % markings and the location "number."

But considering that Kindle remembers where I was when I stopped reading, I've never found the lack of page numbers bothersome. And since I don't highlight/note books...something I would never do to a "real" book either...being able to go to a particular page number has never been necessary.

As for the book with the page number and magical calculations that sounds interesting but I frankly don't need a gadget to tell me how long my reading journey is. I wouldn't want to get distracted by comparing calculations with ultimate reality. I get to the end of the book when I get there (well, duh!)

So I suspect that the ability to see/use "real page numbers" on your Kindle depends both on the Kindle itself, and the manner in which the Kindle version of a book is made.

Just my USD .02. No offense intended.

Eric

[Mystereity Reviews]

So maybe older models or more basic models don't have page numbers, not sure. You think they'd have an update to fix that if that was the case. As for the calculation, it was convenient for getting an idea of how long to the next chapter in a book with notoriously long chapters and came in handy when trying to wrap up reading before bed. I would say it serves as a guideline, not an absolute.

[Velia]

I have the Kindle Touch and Fire HD. Some of my books have page numbers, but most only have the percentages.

After reading Eric Alan's comment, I guess I agree. It's not that critical to have page numbers in the book. Since I do highlight and take notes in my ebooks (something I would never have done in a physical book),tells Kindle stores the location and I can go right to it when I need to.

[Randy]

Chris wrote: "Kind of frustrating when I have to go back to find something and it's done "by percentages."

Why wouldn't you just do it by location? Should be far more accurate than a page number.

In general, page numbers are only assigned if there is a print version of the book, so that any discussion between the two editions can be coordinated. And, even then, it's at the publisher's discretion. As I understand it, there's an external file that maps locations to page numbers.

So, unless you're coordinating to a print book, may as well just use location to begin with.

[LaSonya]

I buy books and borrow from my local library.

[Dorothy]

I have started using my library more since getting a Kindle. I will still buy hardcovers from my favorite authors, but I am haunting the bookstores less these days.

What I like about the library is not spending $20 or so on a hardcover just to find out the book is crap. I've actually bought 2 recent library loans - the books were good enough to know I'd read them again (Life After Life and The Ocean at the End of the Lane).

Our library is part of a big e-lending library, but I find it takes forever to get anything good and the majority of books available there aren't interesting to me.

I love the cheaper ebooks - and it'll make it much easier to travel with the epics I seem to prefer!

[Joe]

Although I just released my first ebook, I don't yet have an ereader. I still love to hold a book in my hands and turn those 3D pages. I love hardcovers. Most of my book buying these days is through Amazon.

[Todd]

I still enjoy regularly borrowing and reading from the library. I always try and read these books quickly, despite the often generous 21-day window. And I will return them as soon as I finish so somebody else can borrow versus waiting for the window to expire.

[Kay]

I still purchase certain books for my Kindle but I just moved to Tampa Florida and the library system is so terrific that I am reading a LOT from the library these days. There are books that they don't have and I still purchase those and there are others that I know that I will want to refer back to. I would say that I am about 80/20. I do really enjoy the portability but I also crave the book in hand! So I try for both!

[♛primadonna♛]

My library is also a part of a program that loans ebooks and I adore it. I still do a mixture though, buying the paperback (only from thrift shops or really cheap on amazon/ebay),buying the ebook, or loaning the ebook or paperback from the library.

[Steph]

The library used to be my second home, especially growing up. But it's so much easier using ebooks and eaudio books. A lot of libraries are limited with certain genres or are in inconvenient locations with inconvenient hours. Now, I only use the library's app to check out audiobooks and Kindle for ebooks.

[Maikku]

I borrow all my kindle books from library.