When to use your ereader?

enarchay · 05-24-2009, 02:12 PM

What do you use your ereader for? For example, how do you decide when you should buy a given title for your ereader instead of paperback? I ask because some people prefer to have the actual paperback version of some books, but I was wondering by what criteria you figure that out. (I'm having trouble deciding which books I'd rather have in paperback than on my ereader.)

lilac_jive · 05-24-2009, 02:14 PM

I always prefer reading on my 505. Always. I don't when 1) It's not available as an ebook or 2) It's too expensive as an ebook and I can get it at the library (this usually only happens with hardcovers).

It's so much easier for me to read on my Reader. I hate reading pbooks now. Blegh.

Elfwreck · 05-24-2009, 02:32 PM

If I want to read it, I want it in ebook form. If I want to loan it to friends, or use it as a reference (that needs to be shown to other people), I want paperback. I can barely stand to read paper books anymore.

I suppose there are image-heavy books that I'd prefer in paper. And practical-use books, like lyricbooks and RPG manuals, that need the larger page size and quick page-turning ability. (I can quickly go to a known page in an RPG book, but an ebook reader won't let me flip through the green-bordered pages until I find the one with that picture of the sword & shield, which starts off the price listings.)

But for casual reading? Novels, mainstream nonfiction? Ebook all the way.

Idoine · 05-24-2009, 02:43 PM

I use my Cybook for all the novels I can find as ebooks.
For technical books (I'm a developer/teacher in Microsoft softwares, Office and stuffs related), I prefer paperback, because of screen copies and size of pages that are not adapted to the Cybook screen...
And as I have a sort of collector's bug, if I've started to buy a series in pback, I'll finished it (just for the beauty of the object !)

purl4peace · 05-24-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I always prefer reading on my 505. Always. I don't when 1) It's not available as an ebook or 2) It's too expensive as an ebook and I can get it at the library (this usually only happens with hardcovers).

It's so much easier for me to read on my Reader. I hate reading pbooks now. Blegh.

Basically, if it isn't available for eReader, I'll move onto something else. I'm very spoiled now.

kelly1010 · 05-24-2009, 03:12 PM

I still have more UNREAD paperbacks than I know what to do with. So I'm trying to finish though, but any new books I buy, I try to buy ebooks. I found that some hardbacks are cheaper as ebooks than actual books. So I have bought a few books in ebook form that I otherwise wouldn't have bought. As time goes on, I will buy more and more ebooks. I definitely prefer reading ebooks as opposed to regular books.

Elsi · 05-24-2009, 03:27 PM

I still buy the occasional paperback book -- usually at a second-hand book store. All new releases I buy in electronic editions. Since I belong to a book swapping group, I still read about 40-50% of the titles in paper. If I moved totally to reading on my Kindle or Sony, then I'd have to drop out of my group. But, with the swapping group, there's a steady flow of paperbacks into and out of the house. On road trips, I used to carry a box of paperbacks. Now, I just put my readers into my backpack with my laptop and a 160-gig USB drive.

MelC · 05-24-2009, 05:43 PM

My preference is for ebooks but if the book is heavily format driven (e.g. House of Leaves which is on my tbr) or if it doesn't look like it is coming out in a suitable ebook format any time soon I will give in and buy it paperback.

Mel

sirbruce · 05-24-2009, 11:49 PM

I have so many books to read now on my Kindle that I wouldn't even consider buying a paperback or hardback book unless it had some special format.

Stitchawl · 05-25-2009, 01:08 AM

I haven't bought (nor wanted to read) a paper book since I got my e-reader. Unless there is some 'special book' that isn't available as an e-book that I simply MUST have, I don't foresee buying paper again.

Stitchawl

ruth1304 · 05-25-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I haven't bought (nor wanted to read) a paper book since I got my e-reader. Unless there is some 'special book' that isn't available as an e-book that I simply MUST have, I don't foresee buying paper again.

Exactly - I'm restricted to pbooks at the library, and I have a lot of pbooks at home which I'm gradually trying to replace with ebooks where possible. But I'm not buying pbooks any more unless there's a really good reason.

I never used to go into bookshops unless I'd just been paid as I was almost certain to buy something, but on my last 3 visits to bookshops I haven't bought anything. I've also cut my number of Amazon orders since I bought my 505 (used to be 2/3 per month of books, now none!). I've now got over 150 unread ebooks so I'm not going to run out any time soon.

I've got to the point where the library annoys me because it restricts me to pbooks, even though using the library is the only way I can afford my reading habit. Free ebooks are helping somewhat at the moment, but I resent my ebook reading being interrupted by my library books, which are often books I REALLY want to read.

ficbot · 05-25-2009, 07:09 AM

I don't read non-fiction on it. Th only non-fiction I buy are cookbooks and fitness books and for those, I prefer to see the whole page at once, with pictures and everything, so I buy them in print. All fiction, I get on the reader.

Polyglot27 · 05-25-2009, 07:33 AM

I read mostly non-fiction. These are books with illustrations and tables and do not lend themselves to the present generation of eBooks too well. So, for these I still buy them in paper form. My Cybook I use entirely for reading free eBooks of the classics. There are tens of thousands out there and more than I can read in a lifetime. Main reason is that I can't bother with DRM on the current publications.

lemon lime · 05-25-2009, 08:28 PM

I wouldn't even try reading a reference book on my ereader - much easier to to quickly flip through real book. On the other hand, any book that is meant to be read cover to cover, will be read on the ereader. If it isn't available for ereaders, I'll wait. There's a lot available already that will keep me occupied for a long time.

Lemurion · 05-25-2009, 10:30 PM

I prefer to read fiction electronically - and I think I'm going to move almost 100% e-book for fiction (except some series where I'm collecting hardcovers). Where I plan to stick with paper is with a) Graphic Novels and comics; and b) reference/writing/non-fiction books.

My paper copy of the Chicago Manual of Style is much more useful than the e-version- even though I can throw it on a different monitor.

05-24-2009, 02:12 PM	#1
enarchay Zealot Posts: 144 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: none	When to use your ereader? What do you use your ereader for? For example, how do you decide when you should buy a given title for your ereader instead of paperback? I ask because some people prefer to have the actual paperback version of some books, but I was wondering by what criteria you figure that out. (I'm having trouble deciding which books I'd rather have in paperback than on my ereader.)

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05-24-2009, 02:14 PM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I always prefer reading on my 505. Always. I don't when 1) It's not available as an ebook or 2) It's too expensive as an ebook and I can get it at the library (this usually only happens with hardcovers). It's so much easier for me to read on my Reader. I hate reading pbooks now. Blegh.

05-24-2009, 02:32 PM	#3
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,187 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	If I want to read it, I want it in ebook form. If I want to loan it to friends, or use it as a reference (that needs to be shown to other people), I want paperback. I can barely stand to read paper books anymore. I suppose there are image-heavy books that I'd prefer in paper. And practical-use books, like lyricbooks and RPG manuals, that need the larger page size and quick page-turning ability. (I can quickly go to a known page in an RPG book, but an ebook reader won't let me flip through the green-bordered pages until I find the one with that picture of the sword & shield, which starts off the price listings.) But for casual reading? Novels, mainstream nonfiction? Ebook all the way.

05-24-2009, 02:43 PM	#4
Idoine Which book will be next ? Posts: 661 Karma: 2172 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: France Device: Cybook Gen3 1.5, Sony PRS 600 RC, Samsung Omnia...	I use my Cybook for all the novels I can find as ebooks. For technical books (I'm a developer/teacher in Microsoft softwares, Office and stuffs related), I prefer paperback, because of screen copies and size of pages that are not adapted to the Cybook screen... And as I have a sort of collector's bug, if I've started to buy a series in pback, I'll finished it (just for the beauty of the object !)

05-24-2009, 03:12 PM	#6
kelly1010 Book Addict! Posts: 533 Karma: 1070 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Device: Sony PRS-505, iPod Touch, Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi	I still have more UNREAD paperbacks than I know what to do with. So I'm trying to finish though, but any new books I buy, I try to buy ebooks. I found that some hardbacks are cheaper as ebooks than actual books. So I have bought a few books in ebook form that I otherwise wouldn't have bought. As time goes on, I will buy more and more ebooks. I definitely prefer reading ebooks as opposed to regular books.

05-24-2009, 03:27 PM	#7
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	I still buy the occasional paperback book -- usually at a second-hand book store. All new releases I buy in electronic editions. Since I belong to a book swapping group, I still read about 40-50% of the titles in paper. If I moved totally to reading on my Kindle or Sony, then I'd have to drop out of my group. But, with the swapping group, there's a steady flow of paperbacks into and out of the house. On road trips, I used to carry a box of paperbacks. Now, I just put my readers into my backpack with my laptop and a 160-gig USB drive.

05-24-2009, 05:43 PM	#8
MelC Evangelist Posts: 410 Karma: 2081 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: Cybook Gen3, PRS600	My preference is for ebooks but if the book is heavily format driven (e.g. House of Leaves which is on my tbr) or if it doesn't look like it is coming out in a suitable ebook format any time soon I will give in and buy it paperback. Mel

05-24-2009, 11:49 PM	#9
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	I have so many books to read now on my Kindle that I wouldn't even consider buying a paperback or hardback book unless it had some special format.

05-25-2009, 01:08 AM	#10
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	I haven't bought (nor wanted to read) a paper book since I got my e-reader. Unless there is some 'special book' that isn't available as an e-book that I simply MUST have, I don't foresee buying paper again. Stitchawl

05-25-2009, 07:09 AM	#12
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	I don't read non-fiction on it. Th only non-fiction I buy are cookbooks and fitness books and for those, I prefer to see the whole page at once, with pictures and everything, so I buy them in print. All fiction, I get on the reader.

05-25-2009, 07:33 AM	#13
Polyglot27 Addict Posts: 231 Karma: 5588994 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Paris, France Device: Cybook Gen3, Archos 80 G9, Sony PRS-650, Sony T1, Asus MemoPad.	I read mostly non-fiction. These are books with illustrations and tables and do not lend themselves to the present generation of eBooks too well. So, for these I still buy them in paper form. My Cybook I use entirely for reading free eBooks of the classics. There are tens of thousands out there and more than I can read in a lifetime. Main reason is that I can't bother with DRM on the current publications.

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05-25-2009, 08:28 PM	#14
lemon lime Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Bebook, iPod touch	I wouldn't even try reading a reference book on my ereader - much easier to to quickly flip through real book. On the other hand, any book that is meant to be read cover to cover, will be read on the ereader. If it isn't available for ereaders, I'll wait. There's a lot available already that will keep me occupied for a long time.

05-25-2009, 10:30 PM	#15
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I prefer to read fiction electronically - and I think I'm going to move almost 100% e-book for fiction (except some series where I'm collecting hardcovers). Where I plan to stick with paper is with a) Graphic Novels and comics; and b) reference/writing/non-fiction books. My paper copy of the Chicago Manual of Style is much more useful than the e-version- even though I can throw it on a different monitor.