What makes you buy??? - Page 2

ardeegee · 09-29-2010, 05:39 PM

I still buy most of my science non-fiction books in hardcovers because

1.) they are more like reference books than a "semi-disposable" item like a novel

2.) they have charts, tables, and illustrations that do not work as well on a 5 or 6 inch greybeard screen

3.) With science books, if you are willing to wait, you will usually be able to get a used hardback in nearly pristine condition for a few dollars (or often for a penny plus shipping.) For example, here is a book that I have in hardcover. A used hardback is 5 bucks. A Kindle copy is 40 bucks.

Ravensknight · 09-29-2010, 06:20 PM

If I think I'll re-read the book at least 3 times in the next 20 years, I'll buy it hardcover. But the more I read, the less I find like that

But there are always more books than I'll ever get through

Williamlk · 09-29-2010, 06:28 PM

I still have a weakness for great cover art, if a picture really grabs my attention in the bookstore, I may still buy it.
I also buy anything that I consider a classic. It just feels right to have those books sitting on my shelf.

Other than that, everything else I will download.

murraypaul · 09-30-2010, 04:53 AM

Either:
i) It is a genre I'll collecting second-hand copies of. This is a hobby, rather than anything rational.
ii) It is from a small group of good SciFi authors where I will buy all their books.
iii) It is something crap to read on a plane. One a 2-3 hour plane trip, far too much time is taken in takeoff/landing with no devices allowed on to rely on eBooks.

Soldim · 09-30-2010, 05:10 AM

A paperback at the used bookshop for 50 cents beats most eBook prices.

jhempel24 · 09-30-2010, 06:06 AM

Special Editions, or autographed copies....and Star Wars novels....those are what I'm going to be buying from now on. I have a select few authors that I want on my shelf still, Clive Barker/Stephen King/Tolkein/Robert Jordan etc, and I have every star wars novel written (not including the kiddie books), so I'll keep doing those.

Maggie May · 09-30-2010, 07:38 AM

I will buy the paperback if I can't get it in eBook format due to geographic restriction.
If the wait is too long before it's released as eBook.

Mag.

Quake1028 · 09-30-2010, 08:16 AM

The next physical book I will buy is The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, simply because I have the first two in paperback. After that, I don't know. Probably the 4th book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, for the same reason.

ficbot · 09-30-2010, 09:00 AM

The only paper books I buy are cookbooks.

kcmay · 09-30-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robkat

Ebooks only from now on. Save the trees.

This. Since getting my Kindle, I've only bought used DTBs that weren't available in Kindle format.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ficbot

The only paper books I buy are cookbooks.

Oops. Yes, I have bought DTB cookbooks. Don't want to get goop on my Kindle. :P

MrPLD · 09-30-2010, 09:31 AM

What you need then is an iPad suspended from the wall

kcmay · 09-30-2010, 09:47 AM

Now THAT is a good idea!

Bikeridr · 09-30-2010, 11:15 AM

I'll probably buy pBooks for a very long time still.
I don't find it likely that Amazon will publish Norwegian books.
The parody of "e-market" in Norway is a bl**dy joke. Books DRM'ed beyond recognition and prices *starting* at rouhgly US$ 30 and averaging US$ 45'ish.

ManosHandsOfFate · 09-30-2010, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bikeridr

...prices *starting* at rouhgly US$ 30 and averaging US$ 45'ish.

Holy crap!

Bikeridr · 09-30-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManosHandsOfFate

Holy crap!

Yep. You said it.

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09-29-2010, 05:39 PM	#16
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	I still buy most of my science non-fiction books in hardcovers because 1.) they are more like reference books than a "semi-disposable" item like a novel 2.) they have charts, tables, and illustrations that do not work as well on a 5 or 6 inch greybeard screen 3.) With science books, if you are willing to wait, you will usually be able to get a used hardback in nearly pristine condition for a few dollars (or often for a penny plus shipping.) For example, here is a book that I have in hardcover. A used hardback is 5 bucks. A Kindle copy is 40 bucks.

09-29-2010, 06:20 PM	#17
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	If I think I'll re-read the book at least 3 times in the next 20 years, I'll buy it hardcover. But the more I read, the less I find like that But there are always more books than I'll ever get through

09-29-2010, 06:28 PM	#18
Williamlk Guru Posts: 624 Karma: 700001 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York Device: kindle	I still have a weakness for great cover art, if a picture really grabs my attention in the bookstore, I may still buy it. I also buy anything that I consider a classic. It just feels right to have those books sitting on my shelf. Other than that, everything else I will download.

09-30-2010, 04:53 AM	#19
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,726 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	Either: i) It is a genre I'll collecting second-hand copies of. This is a hobby, rather than anything rational. ii) It is from a small group of good SciFi authors where I will buy all their books. iii) It is something crap to read on a plane. One a 2-3 hour plane trip, far too much time is taken in takeoff/landing with no devices allowed on to rely on eBooks.

09-30-2010, 05:10 AM	#20
Soldim Not so important Posts: 1,064 Karma: 10181343 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Zurich Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 4, iPad, Kobo Glo 4	A paperback at the used bookshop for 50 cents beats most eBook prices.

09-30-2010, 06:06 AM	#21
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Special Editions, or autographed copies....and Star Wars novels....those are what I'm going to be buying from now on. I have a select few authors that I want on my shelf still, Clive Barker/Stephen King/Tolkein/Robert Jordan etc, and I have every star wars novel written (not including the kiddie books), so I'll keep doing those.

09-30-2010, 07:38 AM	#22
Maggie May Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,907 Karma: 87755439 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Device: CYbook Gen3 and Sony PRS 3505 Kindle 3 G Nexus 7 iPad	I will buy the paperback if I can't get it in eBook format due to geographic restriction. If the wait is too long before it's released as eBook. Mag.

09-30-2010, 08:16 AM	#23
Quake1028 Guru Posts: 917 Karma: 9155462 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Device: See signature	The next physical book I will buy is The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, simply because I have the first two in paperback. After that, I don't know. Probably the 4th book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, for the same reason.

09-30-2010, 09:00 AM	#24
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	The only paper books I buy are cookbooks.

09-30-2010, 09:31 AM	#26
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	What you need then is an iPad suspended from the wall

09-30-2010, 09:47 AM	#27
kcmay Addict Posts: 363 Karma: 500001 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle2	Now THAT is a good idea!

09-30-2010, 11:15 AM	#28
Bikeridr Information Acquirer Posts: 436 Karma: 4265156 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Latvia, Rigas Rajons Device: Kindle 3 International, Pocketbook Color	I'll probably buy pBooks for a very long time still. I don't find it likely that Amazon will publish Norwegian books. The parody of "e-market" in Norway is a bl*dy joke. Books DRM'ed beyond recognition and prices starting* at rouhgly US$ 30 and averaging US$ 45'ish.