Paperback vs. digital

[DreamWriter]

Except for some nonfiction reference books, I now purchase only ebooks. If an ebook is more than I want to pay, I'll borrow the book from the library or choose another book.

[ucfgrad93]

I prefer the ebook to the physical book. If the ebook is too expensive, then I read something else.

[spindlegirl]

If the printed book is lower cost than the e-book, then most definitely. I get more value from a printed book. I'll only buy the e-book if it is a fraction of the cost of a printed book. If I need to increase the font, I have a magnifying glass and am not afraid to use it.

[alexande]

I prefer e-book,perssonally.

[HansTWN]

If the ebook is priced just a little higher, then I buy the ebook (with international shipping the ebook almost always is cheaper in the end, anyway). If the difference is really great, then I would feel like I am being ripped off and I just find something else to read. There are no "must reads" for me.

[tecweston]

When I buy a book in paperback, it sits on my shelf unread. I don't know why, I just only ever read off my Nook. So I'd buy the ebook no matter what. If the price is outrageous (like more than $12) it has to be a book I really really want. Otherwise I'll find something else to read or get it from the library if its available.

[Giggleton]

I would prefer a reading device that lets me non destructively alter the contents of the text.

[charlesatan]

Depends on my mood but most likely eBook. (My iPad just got stolen so might revise my opinion...)

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

Except for some nonfiction reference books, I now purchase only ebooks. If an ebook is more than I want to pay, I'll borrow the book from the library or choose another book.

This.

I rarely even look at the price of the physical book. If the ebook is at a price I'm willing to pay, I'll buy it. If it's not I'll either check it out from the library (if it's available digitally), buy (or check out) the audiobook if one is available, or read something else and hope the price comes down eventually. And there isn't a set cut-off price where I automatically decide not to buy - it depends on how badly I want to read the book and how broke I'm feeling at the time.

[morantis]

You are talking about something that is very cheap, I get both, that way I can switch from one to the other depending on where I am reading.

[soulfuldog]

I prefer ebooks too, I don't like reading physical books now!

If the price of the physical form is cheaper than digital, I choose to buy neither. I'll wait until the digital price comes down to the same or cheaper than the physical book, and just read something else in the meantime.

[stop__dreaming]

Hadn't thought about libraries!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by stop__dreaming

If you find a book that is offered on both formats (paper and digital), which do you normally go for if the price of the physical form is cheaper than digital?

Do you go for the 'ease' and pay a little more?

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

I prefer the ebook to the digital book. If the ebook is too expensive, then I read something else.

This. But the "expensive" can be different per book. Some books, I find €5 too much, others I'll glad play over €10.

Originally Posted by stop__dreaming

The book I am pondering over is half the price, second hand, over the Kindle edition, but we're only talking a couple of pounds/$3-4 dollars.

I never take the price of a second-hand book into account. I only buy those when I really want that book badly, it's not available in ebook format and it's more than 50% cheaper than the new price.

[DrNefario]

A while ago I would just have got the paperback, but I'm becoming less tolerant and I'd now just wait until the ebook price dropped or not buy it at all. If I really wanted that particular book I'd still get the paperback.

[supermighty]

I tend to buy the paperbook over the ebook unless I need (want) it right away.

If the ebook is DRM-free then I will almost always buy it first.