The urge to only read e-books - Page 5

Andy_T · 12-01-2011, 07:19 AM

On one hand I love to read eBooks since I got my Kindle, because it's so convenient and I love the possibilities to have my books with me everywhere.

On the other hand, I am sometimes feeling reluctant to pay 10$ for an electronic book, if I can get the same paper book for 11$. Of course, what is important about the book is the content, still, if you buy a paper book, you can put it on the shelf, give it so somebody else to read, or sell it on after you have read it.

So although I never really do sell books after having read them (and in the very few cases where I did sell them did not get much more than maybe 2 $ for a used book, plus having the hassle of shipping etc.), it is still my feeling that Amazon is making much more money on me (not so much of it goes to the author I fear) when I buy an ebook instead of a pbook. Weird, isn't it?

Best regards,
Andy

Kevin8or · 12-01-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_T

if you buy a paper book, you can put it on the shelf, give it so somebody else to read, or sell it on after you have read it.
[...]
it is still my feeling that Amazon is making much more money on me [...] when I buy an ebook instead of a pbook. Weird, isn't it?

It's not weird, although I'd not say it's much more money. The shrinking of the re-sale market is a lamentable aspect of the rise of e-books. I've bought some real gems through abebooks. As the years go on, second-hand inventory will decrease. The downward pressure it exerts on new-book prices will also decrease.

gurion · 12-01-2011, 12:16 PM

I'm too reading only e-books nowadays. It was just 1 hardcover book from the library in the past 2+ years that I was interested to pick up.

Lsantiago7859 · 12-01-2011, 01:48 PM

It has been 1 year since I got my Nook and more than a year since I bought a book. I have no intention of buying any physical books. I hope all books will be epub by the time I reach 80 (which is not too long LOL).

piper28 · 12-01-2011, 03:34 PM

I'm pretty much just reading e-books now. That said, I have to admit that I've got a couple series that I've still bought the hardcover for because I've already got the whole other series that way, and I'd kinda like the set to be complete. That said, I've also been looking at the bookshelves in my house pondering how much space I could reclaim if I started packing away or getting rid of the duplicates.

CelestialSong · 12-01-2011, 07:56 PM

I almost exclusively read e-books now. I'll still get the occasional physical book from the library but I far prefer e-books. In fact, pre-e-book era I wasn't much of a reader at all, and now that I have a Kindle I read much more often. I just find it so much easier and more convenient that it's really gotten me into reading much more than before.

shanghaichica · 12-02-2011, 01:57 PM

When I first got an eReader I made a conscious decision not to buy/ read paperbooks, as I felt that I needed to get the value out of my purchase. However over time I grew to naturally prefer ebooks over pbooks. I haven't read a physical book for about 18 months and I don't miss them.

idraw22 · 12-02-2011, 10:04 PM

Hi,

I'm trying to commit to ebooks, I have a rule that if I need to buy a pbook (like a manual or a learn to book) that I have to give one of my pbooks away. I don't have the space! I still browse bookstores tho. They have ereaders in there, and you can try them out while you're there. Also, if there's an book that's there, that I'd like in ebook format, I can browse it there first.

jj2me · 12-03-2011, 12:58 PM

For me, the progression to preferring ebooks only occurred recently when I got a Sony PRS-350. Sony 505, nope. Kindle 3, nope. Don't know why, probably a mix of small size/weight, maybe touchscreen, maybe the overall feel of it including its size and TPU skin.

Still prefer pbooks for reference and technical books that I thumb around a lot and bookmark pages with yellow stickies.

CWatkinsNash · 12-03-2011, 02:38 PM

Since getting my Kindle almost exactly a year ago, I've read ebooks almost exclusively except for cookbooks and non-fiction that is illustrated or heavily formatted. I did recently buy the 13th Dresden Files book in hardcover because I wanted it on my shelf - I've all the others in e-format. When it comes to basic text on a page, I have no desire to read paper.

But, I still love my p-book collection and have no intention of getting rid of any paper books.

beppe · 12-04-2011, 06:20 AM

Pbooks for non fiction mostly. Like cooking books in strange languages that are not available as ebooks. There is this new Scandinavian cooking that is in fashion, for good reasons, btw.
I like to read the printed version when I have to read fast, like when we were discussing the Master and Marguerite in one of the bookclubs and I was behind with the schedule. The printed version lets me jump ahead more easily to follow a particular thread. Temporarily. Creative reading

Cookbooks in eform are very handy in the kitchen. Either I keep them up on the ipad, or, better, I calibre them in rtf and put the recipes in Evernote, for easier reference. I even got a fancy book holder for the kitchen (that works marvels with the ipad also), with much myrth of the two primitive (in the sense of cooking) she persons that share my cooking, and enjoy it. You should see how they feed themselves when I am away on a trip.

hardgainer · 12-04-2011, 11:05 AM

I read both ebooks and pb's. Why? Different circumstances. To work i'd take pb,due to conditions we have there really inappropriate for e-readers(engineering environment) . To the bath also (i wouldn't like kindle slipped out of my hand)

When i read in bed or at the table or on the settee i prefer ebook. So i still troll for a used paperbacks in local charity shops and in general i do prefer to have an actual copy of anything i read on my kindle. But yes whenever it's possible i read in my kindle,it lighter has built in dictionary and can store some books for a future read

Sooo... If i had device which is virtually indestructible (like philips toughbook or olympus camera) i'd read in such device all the time without any fear to drop it or to harm it any other way but as for now i see that in many cases pb's a tougher than any of these e devices especially when it comes to children.

ragwitch · 12-04-2011, 12:00 PM

I prefer pbooks for reference and mostly non-fiction stuff. For novels I'd go for electronic formats, epub specifically.

Huey4prez · 12-07-2011, 01:39 PM

If I read a great eBook than I'll buy the hardcopy to add to my collection too. I used to do the same for library books.

mayoi · 12-08-2011, 12:17 PM

I only buy a pbook now if it's either not available as an ebook, or a used copy is less expensive than the ebook.

12-01-2011, 01:48 PM	#64
Lsantiago7859 Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 12642 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Decatur Device: Kobo Clara HD, Samsung 10.1 tablet, Nook HD+ and SONY PRS-T2	I only have eyes for e-books It has been 1 year since I got my Nook and more than a year since I bought a book. I have no intention of buying any physical books. I hope all books will be epub by the time I reach 80 (which is not too long LOL).

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12-01-2011, 07:19 AM	#61
Andy_T Evangelist Posts: 431 Karma: 5121676 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hannover, Germany Device: iPod touch, iPhone, iPad, Kindle KB, NT, Fire, PW II	On one hand I love to read eBooks since I got my Kindle, because it's so convenient and I love the possibilities to have my books with me everywhere. On the other hand, I am sometimes feeling reluctant to pay 10$ for an electronic book, if I can get the same paper book for 11$. Of course, what is important about the book is the content, still, if you buy a paper book, you can put it on the shelf, give it so somebody else to read, or sell it on after you have read it. So although I never really do sell books after having read them (and in the very few cases where I did sell them did not get much more than maybe 2 $ for a used book, plus having the hassle of shipping etc.), it is still my feeling that Amazon is making much more money on me (not so much of it goes to the author I fear) when I buy an ebook instead of a pbook. Weird, isn't it? Best regards, Andy

12-01-2011, 12:16 PM	#63
gurion Member Posts: 18 Karma: 475352 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: IN, USA Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-350, Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Aura H2o	I'm too reading only e-books nowadays. It was just 1 hardcover book from the library in the past 2+ years that I was interested to pick up.

12-01-2011, 03:34 PM	#65
piper28 Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 1178328 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: none	I'm pretty much just reading e-books now. That said, I have to admit that I've got a couple series that I've still bought the hardcover for because I've already got the whole other series that way, and I'd kinda like the set to be complete. That said, I've also been looking at the bookshelves in my house pondering how much space I could reclaim if I started packing away or getting rid of the duplicates.

12-01-2011, 07:56 PM	#66
CelestialSong Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Utah Device: Kindle 2	I almost exclusively read e-books now. I'll still get the occasional physical book from the library but I far prefer e-books. In fact, pre-e-book era I wasn't much of a reader at all, and now that I have a Kindle I read much more often. I just find it so much easier and more convenient that it's really gotten me into reading much more than before.

12-02-2011, 01:57 PM	#67
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	When I first got an eReader I made a conscious decision not to buy/ read paperbooks, as I felt that I needed to get the value out of my purchase. However over time I grew to naturally prefer ebooks over pbooks. I haven't read a physical book for about 18 months and I don't miss them.

12-02-2011, 10:04 PM	#68
idraw22 Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 1094380 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: arkansas Device: Jetbook Lite, Kindle 3, jetbook mini, sony clie, sony prs-T1	Hi, I'm trying to commit to ebooks, I have a rule that if I need to buy a pbook (like a manual or a learn to book) that I have to give one of my pbooks away. I don't have the space! I still browse bookstores tho. They have ereaders in there, and you can try them out while you're there. Also, if there's an book that's there, that I'd like in ebook format, I can browse it there first.

12-03-2011, 12:58 PM	#69
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	For me, the progression to preferring ebooks only occurred recently when I got a Sony PRS-350. Sony 505, nope. Kindle 3, nope. Don't know why, probably a mix of small size/weight, maybe touchscreen, maybe the overall feel of it including its size and TPU skin. Still prefer pbooks for reference and technical books that I thumb around a lot and bookmark pages with yellow stickies.

12-03-2011, 02:38 PM	#70
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	Since getting my Kindle almost exactly a year ago, I've read ebooks almost exclusively except for cookbooks and non-fiction that is illustrated or heavily formatted. I did recently buy the 13th Dresden Files book in hardcover because I wanted it on my shelf - I've all the others in e-format. When it comes to basic text on a page, I have no desire to read paper. But, I still love my p-book collection and have no intention of getting rid of any paper books.

12-04-2011, 06:20 AM	#71
beppe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,161 Karma: 81026524 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Italy Device: Kindle3, Ipod4, IPad2	Pbooks for non fiction mostly. Like cooking books in strange languages that are not available as ebooks. There is this new Scandinavian cooking that is in fashion, for good reasons, btw. I like to read the printed version when I have to read fast, like when we were discussing the Master and Marguerite in one of the bookclubs and I was behind with the schedule. The printed version lets me jump ahead more easily to follow a particular thread. Temporarily. Creative reading Cookbooks in eform are very handy in the kitchen. Either I keep them up on the ipad, or, better, I calibre them in rtf and put the recipes in Evernote, for easier reference. I even got a fancy book holder for the kitchen (that works marvels with the ipad also), with much myrth of the two primitive (in the sense of cooking) she persons that share my cooking, and enjoy it. You should see how they feed themselves when I am away on a trip.

12-04-2011, 11:05 AM	#72
hardgainer Invisible Man Posts: 33 Karma: 3454 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: UK Device: Pocketbook360,Kindle K4	I read both ebooks and pb's. Why? Different circumstances. To work i'd take pb,due to conditions we have there really inappropriate for e-readers(engineering environment) . To the bath also (i wouldn't like kindle slipped out of my hand) When i read in bed or at the table or on the settee i prefer ebook. So i still troll for a used paperbacks in local charity shops and in general i do prefer to have an actual copy of anything i read on my kindle. But yes whenever it's possible i read in my kindle,it lighter has built in dictionary and can store some books for a future read Sooo... If i had device which is virtually indestructible (like philips toughbook or olympus camera) i'd read in such device all the time without any fear to drop it or to harm it any other way but as for now i see that in many cases pb's a tougher than any of these e devices especially when it comes to children.

12-04-2011, 12:00 PM	#73
ragwitch Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 32890 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	I prefer pbooks for reference and mostly non-fiction stuff. For novels I'd go for electronic formats, epub specifically.

12-07-2011, 01:39 PM	#74
Huey4prez Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Atlanta Device: Kindle Touch, Nook Simple Touch, Kindle 3	If I read a great eBook than I'll buy the hardcopy to add to my collection too. I used to do the same for library books.

12-08-2011, 12:17 PM	#75
mayoi Member Posts: 127 Karma: 40426 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: USA Device: PW2 and K3 Kindles, TF101	I only buy a pbook now if it's either not available as an ebook, or a used copy is less expensive than the ebook.