MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - On vacation: 71 percent prefer paper over e-books, survey claims

Queensjoy · 09-08-2013, 11:11 PM

I am an active vacationer, but even so, I find plenty of downtime to read (waiting in a public area to meet friends; waiting for an aeroplane; the duration of a flight; waiting for a shuttle bus or taxi; winding down for half an hour before sleeping). In addition to this, I love e-readers and use them heavily (since switching to the Nexus 7, I'm most especially using it for comics). However, when I go on vacation, I bring both paper and an ereader.

I'll plan enough time in a holiday to be active and to spend one or two days on the beach. I don't want to leave my expensive tablet (or even a cheaper reader) in my bag, on my towel, or even in a locker; especially not in a foreign country. I'd prefer to take a paperback with me when I'm going to relax at the beach (I'm a swimmer - I'll spend 80% of the day with my head under the waves). However, at most other times I'm content with an ereader.

Further, Internet access is not as prevalent as some tend to make it out to be. What if I'm dying to read a new book, and there's a book store, but no wireless internet access? I'm a "budget" traveller and I don't like being overly wired when I'm trying to relax and escape the daily grind. It's easier to wander into a bookstore and pick something up when I'm somewhere away from home or McDonald's. I'm not bothered by paper. I read both formats in equal measure, so it's just not an either-or situation.

Finally, the most important part of the equation for myself: regardless of whether you agree or disagree, Australian airlines require that all electronic devices are switching off during takeoff and landing. I cannot psychologically handle takeoff and landing; I become anxious to such a degree that my doctor has attempted to prescribe me valium in the past, to be taken on the plane. As I don't wish to fill my system with opioids, I need to distract myself. Gripping the ever-loving hell out of a book, bending the spine to pieces, and mouthing the words of the story to myself as I read are the only way that I can cope with both takeoff and landing. Without paper books, I wouldn't be able to fly at all.

09-08-2013, 11:11 PM	#26
Queensjoy Nameless Being	I am an active vacationer, but even so, I find plenty of downtime to read (waiting in a public area to meet friends; waiting for an aeroplane; the duration of a flight; waiting for a shuttle bus or taxi; winding down for half an hour before sleeping). In addition to this, I love e-readers and use them heavily (since switching to the Nexus 7, I'm most especially using it for comics). However, when I go on vacation, I bring both paper and an ereader. I'll plan enough time in a holiday to be active and to spend one or two days on the beach. I don't want to leave my expensive tablet (or even a cheaper reader) in my bag, on my towel, or even in a locker; especially not in a foreign country. I'd prefer to take a paperback with me when I'm going to relax at the beach (I'm a swimmer - I'll spend 80% of the day with my head under the waves). However, at most other times I'm content with an ereader. Further, Internet access is not as prevalent as some tend to make it out to be. What if I'm dying to read a new book, and there's a book store, but no wireless internet access? I'm a "budget" traveller and I don't like being overly wired when I'm trying to relax and escape the daily grind. It's easier to wander into a bookstore and pick something up when I'm somewhere away from home or McDonald's. I'm not bothered by paper. I read both formats in equal measure, so it's just not an either-or situation. Finally, the most important part of the equation for myself: regardless of whether you agree or disagree, Australian airlines require that all electronic devices are switching off during takeoff and landing. I cannot psychologically handle takeoff and landing; I become anxious to such a degree that my doctor has attempted to prescribe me valium in the past, to be taken on the plane. As I don't wish to fill my system with opioids, I need to distract myself. Gripping the ever-loving hell out of a book, bending the spine to pieces, and mouthing the words of the story to myself as I read are the only way that I can cope with both takeoff and landing. Without paper books, I wouldn't be able to fly at all.