MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Do you buy ebook versions of books you already own?

Worldwalker · 04-29-2010, 10:43 PM

I've bought a number of books I already own as ebooks. The complete P.C. Hodgell "Kencyr" series (I had all but one as pbooks), the Lankhmar books, Vonda McIntyre's Dreamsnake (which also got me a very nice letter from the author regarding my hope for other early books), two of the Wiz Zumwalt books, and some others. The reasons vary. Several of my Hodgell pbooks are collector's items, and I'd rather read them on my 505 than risk damaging them. My Lankhmar books are in sorry shape, and I've read two copies of Dreamsnake to pieces, so I wanted damage-proof editions. I wanted all the Wiz stories, which I had only some of in pbooks, so I bought the set (some of which are on the BFL, by the way, but of course only the ones I had in pbooks). Basically, I buy books that haven't held up well in physical form (often because I bought them used), or books that are part of a series that I have most of as ebooks, even if I have some of as pbooks, because I'm more than a bit OCD about complete sets.

I am, obviously, a re-reader. I like to revisit old favorites. And I have thousands of pbooks, so anything that can reduce the cubic footage (and weight on the floor) is a good thing.

Unfortunately, many of the books I'd like to replace are DRM-restricted. Yes, I know I could strip the DRM, but that isn't the issue. I won't support companies that use it; for what tiny difference it might make, I'm voting with my wallet. Otherwise I'd have the every available work byTolkien, and a whole lot more.

On the plus side, it looks like Baen is bringing out a lot of the Heinlein juveniles as ebooks. I'm waiting for a package deal on all of them.

There's also the matter of classics. Free eebooks (downloaded from here, PG, etc.) are replacing a lot of those, such as my rather musty set of Scott's "Waverly" novels (from an estate sale), and my Dickens, Twain, Poe, etc. Except that there are some I don't want to give up the pbooks of, even though I have a nice portable version on my 505. Sometimes the physical books have sentimental value, especially those received as gifts. Other times, they're something I want to collect for their own sake (such as my Ace "shorties" of Burroughs novels, with those awesome Frazetta covers) but want to read in portable form as well.

So ... basically ... it depends.

04-29-2010, 10:43 PM	#43
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	I've bought a number of books I already own as ebooks. The complete P.C. Hodgell "Kencyr" series (I had all but one as pbooks), the Lankhmar books, Vonda McIntyre's Dreamsnake (which also got me a very nice letter from the author regarding my hope for other early books), two of the Wiz Zumwalt books, and some others. The reasons vary. Several of my Hodgell pbooks are collector's items, and I'd rather read them on my 505 than risk damaging them. My Lankhmar books are in sorry shape, and I've read two copies of Dreamsnake to pieces, so I wanted damage-proof editions. I wanted all the Wiz stories, which I had only some of in pbooks, so I bought the set (some of which are on the BFL, by the way, but of course only the ones I had in pbooks). Basically, I buy books that haven't held up well in physical form (often because I bought them used), or books that are part of a series that I have most of as ebooks, even if I have some of as pbooks, because I'm more than a bit OCD about complete sets. I am, obviously, a re-reader. I like to revisit old favorites. And I have thousands of pbooks, so anything that can reduce the cubic footage (and weight on the floor) is a good thing. Unfortunately, many of the books I'd like to replace are DRM-restricted. Yes, I know I could strip the DRM, but that isn't the issue. I won't support companies that use it; for what tiny difference it might make, I'm voting with my wallet. Otherwise I'd have the every available work byTolkien, and a whole lot more. On the plus side, it looks like Baen is bringing out a lot of the Heinlein juveniles as ebooks. I'm waiting for a package deal on all of them. There's also the matter of classics. Free eebooks (downloaded from here, PG, etc.) are replacing a lot of those, such as my rather musty set of Scott's "Waverly" novels (from an estate sale), and my Dickens, Twain, Poe, etc. Except that there are some I don't want to give up the pbooks of, even though I have a nice portable version on my 505. Sometimes the physical books have sentimental value, especially those received as gifts. Other times, they're something I want to collect for their own sake (such as my Ace "shorties" of Burroughs novels, with those awesome Frazetta covers) but want to read in portable form as well. So ... basically ... it depends.