Study: As E-Readers Increase, So Does Resistance

[RainingLemur]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

No, the resistance they mean is "I love REAL books and I will always read REAL books." Don't we all know someone who has this attitude?

Yeah... There's always a few of those. But, hopefully they'll come around.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by AndrewH

I agree. The usual complaint I hear is "I like the feel of paper". I have one friend who will only read hardback books.

My daughter is one of those. To be honest I agree with her that a physical book is a wondrous thing. Kelly loves the smell of a well aged book.

The oldest book in my collection is from 1870. It is counted amongst one of my most prized possessions.

However, physical hardcover books will become a niche market eventually, for collectors and enthusiasts. The paperback book is in decline.

[WT Sharpe]

Here's an idea for the entrepreneurs out there: Musty smelling paper ereader covers. For many, surely the best of both worlds.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

No, the resistance they mean is "I love REAL books and I will always read REAL books." Don't we all know someone who has this attitude?

Yeah ME! I love REAL books that is why I started collecting eBooks so I can carry around more real books than I could with paper books

=X=

[SteveEisenberg]

Pool: 130 million internet users across 5,400 web sites . . .
2,200 respondents . . .
1.5 percentage point margin of error

I don't quite understand how this poll was conducted. But this doesn't sound like any good polling methodology I have ever heard of. Weighing by sex and age? That's part of a good methodology, but useless if the data quality coming in is poor.

According to their powerpoint, more people have purchased ten or more books in the past year than have purchased none -- even if you include "uncertain" with none! This does not meet the smell test.

[speakingtohe]

Hey I overheard a conversation on a bus this week, that the agreed consensus was that VHS was better than DVD. More real. Of course both of the people were in my age group, over 60 and one of them was sporting a leather duster coat on his portly frame.

But who am I to argue if they feel that way. In the immortal words of Wolfie Smith, Power to the People.

Helen

[ApK]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Hey I overheard a conversation on a bus this week, that the agreed consensus was that VHS was better than DVD. More real. Of course both of the people were in my age group, over 60 and one of them was sporting a leather duster coat on his portly frame.

While those people were clearly blind and insane* it is true that many of us who are used to the un-realness of movies on film have a hard time accepting movies on high def video. The video looks TOO real. We are used to the grain and contrast curve of film, and life-like video doesn't look like a 'real movie' should.
Fortunately for me, I got over it.
OK, sorry... As you were.

*kidding...I love old people.

[robko]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

I'd also like to know how many of that 49.7% have tried an ereader and how many have not. Similarly, I'd like to know how many people that do use ereaders wanted an ereader before trying one, and how many were resistant until they used one.

This was my thought exactly. My perception is that with e-readers more than anything I can think of there is in some cases a huge level of resistance to using it which can flip to total love after use. Not sure how you could ever capture this factor in a poll.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

While those people were clearly blind and insane* it is true that many of us who are used to the un-realness of movies on film have a hard time accepting movies on high def video. The video looks TOO real. We are used to the grain and contrast curve of film, and life-like video doesn't look like a 'real movie' should.
Fortunately for me, I got over it.
OK, sorry... As you were.

*kidding...I love old people.

I'm fine with HD, but 3D? That's too much for me. Don't like it, don't want it.

The thing about physical books is not the smell or the feel per se. It's that the books is an object with a history. Maybe there's an inscription from a person who gave it to you, or an author's autograph. Maybe the pages with your favorite passages are folded down, or there's a letter tucked inside that you once used as a bookmark. Maybe there's a note or a phone number penciled in the margin. Maybe there's a tearstain, or a mark from a child's jelly-stained fingers. It's all part of the thing that is a book, and it's all missing from a digital file.

The book is more than just the words therein.

[pidgeon92]

Jumping though hoops with DRM? Honestly, once I installed the plugins for Calibre, it barely even registers.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Jumping though hoops with DRM? Honestly, once I installed the plugins for Calibre, it barely even registers.

Could not agree more.

I will buy any format ebook, then convert IF my preferred format is restricted for me to purchase due to to where I live.

[KenJackson]

It's hard to believe people love the feel of paper so much that they're willing to put up with the darn book flopping shut when you set it down or let go. I can't read a paper book without tasking at least one hand to the full-time job of holding the book.

But even though I committed myself to reading only ebooks, alas, I still find myself buying used books on Amazon. I just can't resist buying a used paper book in very good condition when it costs half or a third (including shipping!) of what the ebook costs. It's a shame that there still isn't any corresponding reduction in price with age.

Also, as others have noted, I hate everything about DRM: the hassle to me, the risk of loosing my ability to read books I've bought, the crimes by pirates that justify it's use, and the hateful laws that publishers and authors push for. Paper books never use DRM.

[Catlady]

If DRM is such a non-issue for some of you, why is there so much b*tchin' about it?

It all takes time. Say I spot a non-Agency book I want at Amazon. Then I have to go looking for it elsewhere in epub. If offered in epub, I check prices at various stores. Try to remember my password at store with best price. Give up and have password sent to me. Reset password. Buy book and strip DRM.

Or if not offered in epub, buy at Amazon. Wade through all the confusing file names to find the book on my computer. Strip and convert.

I only use Calibre for the Amazon books. I don't see the point of converting epub to epub just to get rid of DRM.

Multiply that scenario by dozens of books. I'm tired of doing it. I'm tired of having to do it. I just want to read the damn book.

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by Catlady

What you said.

I'm kind of burned out on e-books after less than a year and a half. I'm tired of having to jump through hoops with DRM. I'm tired of not finding the books I want. I'm tired of the fixed prices.

I like physical books. I think an e-reader should be a supplement to physical books, not a device that replaces them. I'm not about to give up my e-reader, but I'm not about to give up buying physical books either.

i'm burning out on it too. like you said, its a supplement, but it'll never replace my hard copies.

its great to have if the print in a book is too small for my eyes or to get ebook exclusive titles but when i look to buy books i'm looking to buy nice, fat paperbacks, not pay the same money for a digital file i'll forget that i have.

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm fine with HD, but 3D? That's too much for me. Don't like it, don't want it.

The thing about physical books is not the smell or the feel per se. It's that the books is an object with a history. Maybe there's an inscription from a person who gave it to you, or an author's autograph. Maybe the pages with your favorite passages are folded down, or there's a letter tucked inside that you once used as a bookmark. Maybe there's a note or a phone number penciled in the margin. Maybe there's a tearstain, or a mark from a child's jelly-stained fingers. It's all part of the thing that is a book, and it's all missing from a digital file.

The book is more than just the words therein.

i think imperfections on a book, or the grit of film grain or even the graphics of an atari are its "soul". it gives it personality. its not mass produced, one copy is exactly the same as another and all are perfect like with digital technology.