People Don't Buy Books Anymore...

tubemonkey · 11-13-2013, 01:54 AM

...they download them.

Well, I'm watching this Hallmark movie - Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012) - when I hear that line. The star of the movie went to a bookstore with her friend, only to learn that it was going out of business and being torn down. She considered it a landmark, but the developer of the new project (our male lead) just happened to be there (yeah, right) and didn't care. Anyway, she jumped all over him saying how she bought her first Nancy Drew there and here first Agatha Christie. His response - "people don't buy books anymore, they download them" - love that line.

So, that brings me to the purpose of this thread. Of the books you read, what percent are ebooks? For me, I totally relate with the thread title. I download 100%.
.

GeoffR · 11-13-2013, 02:06 AM

~90% ebook. I would be happy if I never read a paper book ever again, but unfortunately some books I want to read are not yet available as ebooks.

meeera · 11-13-2013, 02:18 AM

I put 51-75%, but I've estimated, not counted. A lot of books I want to read aren't available as ebooks within my library's system.

That's of books I read, not of books I buy. Of books I buy to read myself, I'm closer to 90-95% ebooks. Of books I buy for others, nearly 100% paper.

Gazella · 11-13-2013, 02:29 AM

100% for me. Ever since I got a Kindle, I haven't purchased a single pbook.

eschwartz · 11-13-2013, 02:33 AM

I read a lot of both. They complement each other nicely.

Besides, as a religious Jew I cannot use electronic devices on the Sabbath.

Jessica Lares · 11-13-2013, 02:36 AM

Only when I get a B&N gift code.

So I'm very close to 100% too.

Yapyap · 11-13-2013, 02:46 AM

I generally buy before downloading. I mean, I still pay for them and get them from a shop, so I'd rather consider that "buying", not just "downloading"...

As for the poll, it's basically 99% ebooks for me. Not quite 100% as I've been buying the odd collectible or just plain beautiful hardback or, if I can get hold of them, an ARC / uncorrected proof copy of a favourite book, but pretty much all my actual reading is ebook-only.

library addict · 11-13-2013, 02:52 AM

I read 95% digital. Still buy some print and sometimes get library books in print as my library's digital collection isn't that big yet.

crich70 · 11-13-2013, 02:55 AM

On occasion I buy a book (from my local used book store) but most books I get now are ebooks. Not sure how much I've spent on ebooks either as most of them were bought during free periods for the actual books (like Smashwords Summer/Winter sale). Something that wouldn't be possible with paper books.
Besides you need a lot less space to store ebooks than you do the paper ones.

Rumpelteazer · 11-13-2013, 03:07 AM

I voted for 100%. In the past two years I've read two pbooks, both were rereads of books I had for years. I do occcasionally buy pbooks, but those are books as cookbooks or about hobbies and I don't count those as reading books.

tubemonkey · 11-13-2013, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

I do occcasionally buy pbooks, but those are books as cookbooks or about hobbies and I don't count those as reading books.

I agree with that

stevenaleach · 11-13-2013, 04:08 AM

I voted 100% - which isn't entirely true, since I do own one - and only one - paper book: Mother Earth News's Handbook of Homemade Power from 1974. However, my netbook contains around 28,000 books in epub/mobi formats (in a VERY slow Calibre library) plus a couple hundred gigabytes of PDF's on an external drive. When I hear a book mentioned that I think I might want to read, I usually google it immediately and have added it to my collection within minutes. Similarly, I was curious about the movie that tubemonkey mentioned above - so it is cued up in another tab ready to be streamed (as soon as the How I Met Your Mother episode I'm watching in yet another tab is over). The other day, two older ladies were sitting behind me in a coffee house and one was describing and recommending Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere to the other. Since I've never read anything by Gaiman, and it sounded interesting, I pulled out my tablet while listening - and had downloaded the book before she finished describing it. I have spent nothing on media in many years. Having less than $300 to live on once my rent and phone bill are paid each month, I don't feel guilty about this - I am not denying anyone sales that they would receive without my piracy.

cromag · 11-13-2013, 05:11 AM

By the wording of the poll, I checked off 76 - 99% ebook, but the poll does ask about reading, not buying. I occasionally buy used books, more often used Science Fiction magazines from the fifties through the seventies, but I haven't bought a new paper-based book in a few years, at least.

I do read pbooks that I borrow from the library, especially when I want to dig deeper into a series that maintains a high price point. In fact, I expect to be borrowing another book next week.

Apache · 11-13-2013, 05:54 AM

100%. I do still own a lot of DTBs, but I would only read them if I really wanted to read them and an ebook would not be available. Or I can convert them to ebook.
Apache

RDaneel54 · 11-13-2013, 06:04 AM

I had to do 76 - 99% as my Bible study is not yet 100% digital. All my other reading is ebooks though. So I guess I.m around 95%?

View Poll Results: Of the books you read, what percent are ebooks?
0% - all of my reading is done with paper books	2	0.67%
1-25%	19	6.35%
26-50%	14	4.68%
51-75%	20	6.69%
76-99%	136	45.48%
100% - all of my reading is done with ebooks	106	35.45%
What's an ebook?	0	0%
Who cares - I love voting in polls	2	0.67%
Voters: 299. You may not vote on this poll

11-13-2013, 01:54 AM	#1
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,851 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	People Don't Buy Books Anymore... ...they download them. Well, I'm watching this Hallmark movie - Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012) - when I hear that line. The star of the movie went to a bookstore with her friend, only to learn that it was going out of business and being torn down. She considered it a landmark, but the developer of the new project (our male lead) just happened to be there (yeah, right) and didn't care. Anyway, she jumped all over him saying how she bought her first Nancy Drew there and here first Agatha Christie. His response - "people don't buy books anymore, they download them" - love that line. So, that brings me to the purpose of this thread. Of the books you read, what percent are ebooks? For me, I totally relate with the thread title. I download 100%. . Last edited by tubemonkey; 11-13-2013 at 02:00 AM. Reason: forgot link

11-13-2013, 02:06 AM	#2
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	~90% ebook. I would be happy if I never read a paper book ever again, but unfortunately some books I want to read are not yet available as ebooks. Last edited by GeoffR; 11-13-2013 at 02:09 AM. Reason: 90% ebook.

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11-13-2013, 02:18 AM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,862 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I put 51-75%, but I've estimated, not counted. A lot of books I want to read aren't available as ebooks within my library's system. That's of books I read, not of books I buy. Of books I buy to read myself, I'm closer to 90-95% ebooks. Of books I buy for others, nearly 100% paper.

11-13-2013, 02:29 AM	#4
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 4619474 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite	100% for me. Ever since I got a Kindle, I haven't purchased a single pbook.

11-13-2013, 02:33 AM	#5
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I read a lot of both. They complement each other nicely. Besides, as a religious Jew I cannot use electronic devices on the Sabbath.

11-13-2013, 02:36 AM	#6
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	Only when I get a B&N gift code. So I'm very close to 100% too.

11-13-2013, 02:46 AM	#7
Yapyap Guru Posts: 861 Karma: 3543721 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	I generally buy before downloading. I mean, I still pay for them and get them from a shop, so I'd rather consider that "buying", not just "downloading"... As for the poll, it's basically 99% ebooks for me. Not quite 100% as I've been buying the odd collectible or just plain beautiful hardback or, if I can get hold of them, an ARC / uncorrected proof copy of a favourite book, but pretty much all my actual reading is ebook-only.

11-13-2013, 02:52 AM	#8
library addict Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,155 Karma: 37197878 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Nexus 7 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8" (retired=Sony PRS650, Kobo Mini)	I read 95% digital. Still buy some print and sometimes get library books in print as my library's digital collection isn't that big yet.

11-13-2013, 02:55 AM	#9
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	On occasion I buy a book (from my local used book store) but most books I get now are ebooks. Not sure how much I've spent on ebooks either as most of them were bought during free periods for the actual books (like Smashwords Summer/Winter sale). Something that wouldn't be possible with paper books. Besides you need a lot less space to store ebooks than you do the paper ones.

11-13-2013, 03:07 AM	#10
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,397 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	I voted for 100%. In the past two years I've read two pbooks, both were rereads of books I had for years. I do occcasionally buy pbooks, but those are books as cookbooks or about hobbies and I don't count those as reading books.

11-13-2013, 04:08 AM	#12
stevenaleach Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 134116 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Android Tablet	I voted 100% - which isn't entirely true, since I do own one - and only one - paper book: Mother Earth News's Handbook of Homemade Power from 1974. However, my netbook contains around 28,000 books in epub/mobi formats (in a VERY slow Calibre library) plus a couple hundred gigabytes of PDF's on an external drive. When I hear a book mentioned that I think I might want to read, I usually google it immediately and have added it to my collection within minutes. Similarly, I was curious about the movie that tubemonkey mentioned above - so it is cued up in another tab ready to be streamed (as soon as the How I Met Your Mother episode I'm watching in yet another tab is over). The other day, two older ladies were sitting behind me in a coffee house and one was describing and recommending Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere to the other. Since I've never read anything by Gaiman, and it sounded interesting, I pulled out my tablet while listening - and had downloaded the book before she finished describing it. I have spent nothing on media in many years. Having less than $300 to live on once my rent and phone bill are paid each month, I don't feel guilty about this - I am not denying anyone sales that they would receive without my piracy.

11-13-2013, 05:11 AM	#13
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,744 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	By the wording of the poll, I checked off 76 - 99% ebook, but the poll does ask about reading, not buying. I occasionally buy used books, more often used Science Fiction magazines from the fifties through the seventies, but I haven't bought a new paper-based book in a few years, at least. I do read pbooks that I borrow from the library, especially when I want to dig deeper into a series that maintains a high price point. In fact, I expect to be borrowing another book next week.

11-13-2013, 05:54 AM	#14
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	100%. I do still own a lot of DTBs, but I would only read them if I really wanted to read them and an ebook would not be available. Or I can convert them to ebook. Apache

11-13-2013, 06:04 AM	#15
RDaneel54 Aging Positronic Brain Posts: 633 Karma: 2155452 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora (when off-Earth) Device: Amazon Oasis; iPhone, iPad Mini	I had to do 76 - 99% as my Bible study is not yet 100% digital. All my other reading is ebooks though. So I guess I.m around 95%?