Can't get away from paper books

[issybird]

I prefer reading on my ereader and I'd love to get rid of the clutter (and I have years of p-reading in the house already), but buying pbooks is unavoidable.

Some (many) books can't be had in ereader format. Once you go outside the mainstream, it gets pretty scattershot. Especially for older books not in the public domain, there's no choice but buying a pbook.

Price! The Sony Reader Store recently had a coupon for 20% off. I found a book I wanted; the coupon would have knocked it down to 13 bucks and change, but when I looked on the Amazon Marketplace I found it for 28¢ plus $3.99 shipping (and hardcover, to boot). Done. I want to keep my devices stocked with a variety of books for when I really, really want the ereading experience, but when I can get three pbooks for the price of one ebook, well....

[Crusader]

I still love buying pbooks. I don't know if I'm the exception but most of the books I read/want to read are cheaper in their paper form or aren't available as ebook. I guess that might be a combination of geo-restrictions and the apathy publisher seem to have towards non-US buyers.

[elizilla]

I've been trying to make it a whole year without buying any pbooks. I think I will get there - only a couple more months to go. But it's been hard and I think that once my year is up I'll modify my strict "no pbooks!" rule to something like "No impulse buying of pbook novels, but long-sought pbook novels or pbook reference books are OK". And I'll probably buy the pbooks that have accumulated on my wish list, pretty quickly once my year is up.

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by jersysman

I just don't like reading a magazine on an ereader yet.

I would.

If I could subscribe to an EPUB format instead of the horrible PDF format they come in.

[faithbw]

Originally Posted by banjobama

I've pretty much stopped buying paper books but I still read paper library books. I have like, 200 unread books on my reader so my motivation to buy any more books is alarmingly low.

I haven't brought any books in a while (broke grad student here) so I borrow from the library a lot. There are some books I want to read that available in e-book format but the overwhelming majority are still only available as p-books so that's what I end up reading most of the time.

Originally Posted by feenix1363

I love my Ereaders (moon+ on my phone, Kindle app on my PC, audio books in the car and, of course, my Sony PRS 600) but there is still a place in my life for paper-books.

Specialist publications (watchmaking in my case) always benefit imho from being able to flick back and fore.

Exactly. I'm not sure why people feel that they must exclusively have p-books or e-books or have more e-books than p-books. Some books that I want aren't available as e-books. Plus, if a book is one that I want to mark up and take notes, I'll still buy it in p-book form because I just feel more comfortable being able to do that in a p-book at the moment. However, I often read novels in e-book format if the novel is available as such. I just go with whatever format is available and whatever format works for me at the moment.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by feenix1363

I love my Ereaders (moon+ on my phone, Kindle app on my PC, audio books in the car and, of course, my Sony PRS 600) but there is still a place in my life for paper-books.

Unfortunately, while paperbooks still have a place in my life, new paperbook purchases won't have a place in the house unless I discard older books from my collection - not gonna happen.

[anamardoll]

I'll throw down on the No Paper Books pile, since we're clearly under-represented here.

Husband and I are planning a move in the next year or so and we've got 6 bookcases CRAMMED full of books. And that's been pared down over the years quite a bit and we're still looking at boxes and boxes to move. Ugh. I'm converting as fast as possible to get the paper OUT of the house so that we don't have to lug it around to the new location.

The more I get into my eReader, the more I can't understand how I survived without it. You can carry your whole library everywhere for a pound of eReader technology. You can highlight, search, take pictures, and quote with the push of a few buttons. You can hold the book with one hand without straining your poor fingers. You never need to lose your place because your cat stole your bookmark. It's a miracle.

I have a bad back and it's getting worse. Just getting the books from the bottom shelves is impossible some days. But I never have trouble getting a book off my eReader. I WUV IT SO!!

Husband still likes to go browse at Half Price and I go for the fun and write down titles. I'd rather buy an eBook at new prices than get a paperback at used prices. But I get that I'm a Special Butterfly.

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I'll throw down on the No Paper Books pile, since we're clearly under-represented here.

Husband and I are planning a move in the next year or so and we've got 6 bookcases CRAMMED full of books. And that's been pared down over the years quite a bit and we're still looking at boxes and boxes to move. Ugh. I'm converting as fast as possible to get the paper OUT of the house so that we don't have to lug it around to the new location.

The more I get into my eReader, the more I can't understand how I survived without it. You can carry your whole library everywhere for a pound of eReader technology. You can highlight, search, take pictures, and quote with the push of a few buttons. You can hold the book with one hand without straining your poor fingers. You never need to lose your place because your cat stole your bookmark. It's a miracle.

I have a bad back and it's getting worse. Just getting the books from the bottom shelves is impossible some days. But I never have trouble getting a book off my eReader. I WUV IT SO!!

Husband still likes to go browse at Half Price and I go for the fun and write down titles. I'd rather buy an eBook at new prices than get a paperback at used prices. But I get that I'm a Special Butterfly.

I think most people here would agree with what you say (well, maybe not about the price, tough I agree myself). The thing is, at least for me, what's important in a book is the content. I prefer e-books for the reasons you gave, but if I want a book and it's not available in e-book, I'll buy or borrow what is available. I have to admit though, that I have to really want a book, and know it's a high quality book, to buy it in paper form. If it's just light reading, I know I can get another in e-form, so I won't bother.

[elizilla]

I am also reducing my pbooks burden, for the first time in my adult life. When I do start buying pbooks again, I'm going to have a strict rule that more must leave, than come in.

My sweetie will continue collecting pbooks. His attitude is basically "You can pry my pbooks from my cold dead fingers." He puts up with my motorcycle modifications addiction; the garage looks like a tornado hit it. Least I can do is reduce my pbook collection so he can continue growing his. The ebooks will make it easy.

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

... we've got 6 bookcases CRAMMED full of books. And that's been pared down over the years quite a bit and we're still looking at boxes and boxes to move.

Mere beginner... I have toilet, bathroom and kitchen without books, every other room and the entire (floored) loft loaded with books... I have no precise idea how many but at last estimate was 10K+... nice to have plenty to read and it's easy making more room now with eReaders... sell paper on net and replace with ebook then shelve some more of my proofs... too many books, no, just too little time but shouldn't be a problem as we're all supposed to be living longer if not forever...

[Catlady]

I think the last time I bought a paper book for myself was November. My goal in life is to weed out enough books so that the bookcase shelves are no longer double and triple stacked. I am finding that I have no problem tossing old paperbacks in the "donate" pile and replacing them with e-books (except for a handful that have sentimental value); hardcovers are another matter.

The biggest problem is that so many of my books are not available as e-books, and might well never be. The other problem, of course, is cost.

[xg4bx]

i still have so many physical copies that i forget what books i have. every time i dig through them its like "oh, i completely forgot i had that" or "when did i buy this?"

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by Skibble

I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. To me, the Sony is there for portability and the archiving of works I don't have or want in hard copy -- it's not a replacement for all books.

same here. i especially love buying used books that have already been out of print. got a gorgeous out of print hardback recently; can't wait to read it

[voracious71]

I still buy and read paper books- I love reading in any format.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Crusader

I still love buying pbooks. I don't know if I'm the exception but most of the books I read/want to read are cheaper in their paper form or aren't available as ebook. I guess that might be a combination of geo-restrictions and the apathy publisher seem to have towards non-US buyers.

Paper books are often less expensive than their digital equivalent. I recently discovered this while I was tabulating my savings for my library thread. Out of 43 books only 5 were cheaper in ebook form.