Opinion: Would you destroy physical book in exchange for a electronic version? - Page 3

idraw22 · 05-01-2011, 08:00 PM

Gad, I'd have to reallllly want that ebook! Otherwise, I'd try to consider any other ways of acquiring the ebook. I don't think I'd wanna destroy any book, unless it was really sucky. But I still have the physical one, so I can read it.

CazMar · 05-01-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tome Keeper

I agree with you there depending on the state of the old books. The library I worked at once threw away a whole skip full of old books, most were reference non-fiction and so hardly used. Luckily they offered the books to staff who wanted them so I saved about 100 books, wish I could have saved them all, it was such a waste. I would have understood with old books that were in tatters but these were pristine.

Our library puts these books out for sale at anything from 50c to $2.00 depending on how good they are. At least this way the only books getting destroyed are ones no-one really wants. I sometimes buy a few novels for holiday reading and just give them away when I have read them.

Freeshadow · 05-01-2011, 09:40 PM

no, I'd still need the p-copy as proof that the posession of the homebrew ebook is legit for me

mbagsh55 · 05-02-2011, 07:59 AM

I read many of the "I shudder at the thought" comments with a somewhat wry smile, being in the same position years ago.

My situation now is that I live in Japan, in a country with a very controlled ebook market where it is near impossible to buy ebooks (in Japanese). When they can be bought it is usually in a format that cannot be read on my Sony eReader (ePub, BBeB).

In reaction to this controlled market, there are probably 5 or 10 businesses that will accept your paper-book by mail and cut and scan it for around a dollar. I have used one such service on a 'test' book and was impressed with the result.

I am still cleaning up the OCR output which is far from ideal, but I will definitely put some other books through the same process. In my case it mostly Japanese language learning materials, but a half dozen fiction novels will be going the same way.

Were there the option to buy the ebook versions for a few dollars I probably would not bother with this, but since this is the only option it serves my needs well.

I also have no qualms with 'killing my paper books' since I feel the live on in the electronic version I have had made.

mldavis2 · 05-02-2011, 08:55 AM

A pBook does not need a backup copy. Do you trust your eReader to remain functional and a viable retrieval device 20 years hence? Do you trust Amazon or ... (?) to retain an accessible copy in your name 20 years from now?

snarkophilus · 05-02-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mldavis2

A pBook does not need a backup copy. Do you trust your eReader to remain functional and a viable retrieval device 20 years hence?

This for me is the greatest argument against DRM, and secondarily for an open format like ePub. I like to have an un-DRM'd copy of every book I own, and these are backed up (including offsite). I know these will always be accessible in the future because the format is open. If my house burns down I'll have lost some (to me at least) unreplaceable pbooks but I'll still have my ebooks.

Cheers,
Simon.

pagansoul · 05-02-2011, 09:57 AM

I used to be a comic book collector. I have many TPB that do not come in ebook form so I had them made. I still have the original but love having a copy on my iPad. So far I have not had to cut-up any of them.

Tattncat · 05-02-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

I have a visceral antipathy toward destroying any book, no matter what I get in return. I just can't do it. It's destroying a book. </shudder>

My view precisely.

Rich_D · 05-02-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mldavis2

A pBook does not need a backup copy. Do you trust your eReader to remain functional and a viable retrieval device 20 years hence? Do you trust Amazon or ... (?) to retain an accessible copy in your name 20 years from now?

I have back ups of all my books. In addition to the copy on my nook, I have copies on my phone, my pc, a jump drive I keep at work and an external back up drive. I feel safe enough.

leebase · 05-02-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mldavis2

A pBook does not need a backup copy. Do you trust your eReader to remain functional and a viable retrieval device 20 years hence? Do you trust Amazon or ... (?) to retain an accessible copy in your name 20 years from now?

I trust those far more than my ability to not loose my books or see them get damaged by flood or fire.

Lee

Analogus · 05-02-2011, 12:13 PM

That, destroying physical books, doesn’t sound that hypothetic to me. I for myself converted I guess 100 books into PDFs by cutting and scanning it, not only old schoolbooks but more expensive ones. My standpoint is: not the book itself rather the information, the content is of value. At least for newer releases.

A.

Shaggy · 05-02-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by askyn

Would you buy a physical copy, and exchange it for a copy of the ebook version, as long as the physical copy was destroyed?

I don't understand. What's the point of destroying the physical copy?

RainingLemur · 05-02-2011, 04:04 PM

No. As much as I enjoy the convenience of having an ebook...I'd still prefer to have the physical book.

NVash · 05-02-2011, 05:18 PM

Ive given many of my books to the library as I replaced them on my ereader but I also have many of my favorites in paperback as well. I guess thatd make the answer no.

However, one will eventually stumble upon the same problem I had. Too many books, not enough space. Thats why I started giving some away to begin with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbagsh55

My situation now is that I live in Japan, in a country with a very controlled ebook market where it is near impossible to buy ebooks (in Japanese). When they can be bought it is usually in a format that cannot be read on my Sony eReader (ePub, BBeB).

In reaction to this controlled market, there are probably 5 or 10 businesses that will accept your paper-book by mail and cut and scan it for around a dollar. I have used one such service on a 'test' book and was impressed with the result.

I cant say that Im not jealous. I wish they had some of these over here in the Americas or, at the very least, the publishers would hire them and scan some books. Im sick and tired of all these others I have just because they arent available as ebooks. At this point theyre just taking up space.

Nyssa · 05-02-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I don't understand. What's the point of destroying the physical copy?

To scan it in order to make an e-book copy.

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05-01-2011, 08:00 PM	#31
idraw22 Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 1094380 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: arkansas Device: Jetbook Lite, Kindle 3, jetbook mini, sony clie, sony prs-T1	Gad, I'd have to reallllly want that ebook! Otherwise, I'd try to consider any other ways of acquiring the ebook. I don't think I'd wanna destroy any book, unless it was really sucky. But I still have the physical one, so I can read it.

05-01-2011, 09:40 PM	#33
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	no, I'd still need the p-copy as proof that the posession of the homebrew ebook is legit for me

05-02-2011, 07:59 AM	#34
mbagsh55 Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 196 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kanagawa, Japan Device: Sony PRS-700/Zaurus SL-3100	I read many of the "I shudder at the thought" comments with a somewhat wry smile, being in the same position years ago. My situation now is that I live in Japan, in a country with a very controlled ebook market where it is near impossible to buy ebooks (in Japanese). When they can be bought it is usually in a format that cannot be read on my Sony eReader (ePub, BBeB). In reaction to this controlled market, there are probably 5 or 10 businesses that will accept your paper-book by mail and cut and scan it for around a dollar. I have used one such service on a 'test' book and was impressed with the result. I am still cleaning up the OCR output which is far from ideal, but I will definitely put some other books through the same process. In my case it mostly Japanese language learning materials, but a half dozen fiction novels will be going the same way. Were there the option to buy the ebook versions for a few dollars I probably would not bother with this, but since this is the only option it serves my needs well. I also have no qualms with 'killing my paper books' since I feel the live on in the electronic version I have had made.

05-02-2011, 08:55 AM	#35
mldavis2 Coffee Nut Posts: 410 Karma: 298350 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre	A pBook does not need a backup copy. Do you trust your eReader to remain functional and a viable retrieval device 20 years hence? Do you trust Amazon or ... (?) to retain an accessible copy in your name 20 years from now?

05-02-2011, 09:57 AM	#37
pagansoul Fanatic Posts: 509 Karma: 1098204 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Earth Device: iPhone5, iPad Gen3, Kobo, Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7	I used to be a comic book collector. I have many TPB that do not come in ebook form so I had them made. I still have the original but love having a copy on my iPad. So far I have not had to cut-up any of them.

05-02-2011, 12:13 PM	#41
Analogus Fanatic Posts: 568 Karma: 2170348 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: 2x Sony PRS-350; PRS-300 (†), Paperwhite (†), Voyage	That, destroying physical books, doesn’t sound that hypothetic to me. I for myself converted I guess 100 books into PDFs by cutting and scanning it, not only old schoolbooks but more expensive ones. My standpoint is: not the book itself rather the information, the content is of value. At least for newer releases. A.

05-02-2011, 04:04 PM	#43
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	No. As much as I enjoy the convenience of having an ebook...I'd still prefer to have the physical book.