Why NYC subway riders still read (print) books

[TadW]

Here's an enjoyable read: Why NYC Subway Riders Still Read Books (Huffington Post).

There are a number of things to consider in the battle between paper and pixel: cost, physical limitations, reading comprehension and interactive capabilities to name a few. Paper prevails in every measure.

Books foster a sense of physical connection that New Yorkers need. "I get a great sense of satisfaction closing the cover at the end of a book," said Santos. Books offer readers like Santos a way of interacting with the physical world that a tablet simply can't replicate. There is something about a bookmark sticking out of your novel that entreats one to pick it back up and give it more quality time. Yes it's helpful to roll over a word for a definition; but life is about tradeoffs and for many the tactile pleasures of paper are priceless.

No - it is not my intention to spark another print versus digital discussion.

[Kaitou Ace]

As someone who rides the NYC subway on a daily basis, I see a lot more ereaders than paper books...

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by TadW

Here's an enjoyable read: Why NYC Subway Riders Still Read Books (Huffington Post).



No - it is not my intention to spark another print versus digital discussion.

100 years ago they probably made similar arguments about the smell of horse manure on the streets that cars can never match. Time to let go people, your pro-pbook arguments are getting desperate (the allure of bookmarks!???). And I don't mean let go of pbooks, but let go of those feeble attempts to convince people that ebooks are inferior for all kinds of reading.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Kaitou Ace

As someone who rides the NYC subway on a daily basis, I see a lot more ereaders than paper books...

Ditto. I'm only in NYC a half dozen times a year but I too see more devices than books.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Ditto. I'm only in NYC a half dozen times a year but I too see more devices than books.

Same here. The last few times I took particular note of the variety of devices I saw. Actually far more than any pbook or ereader, people had smartphones/ipods. Maybe they were reading books on them, I don't know.
My personal preference for ebooks while on the subway is based on the fact that I can hold on with one hand and hold the reader and turn pages with the other.

TadW, what WAS your intention?

[PatNY]

Originally Posted by Kaitou Ace

As someone who rides the NYC subway on a daily basis, I see a lot more ereaders than paper books...

Same here. I think the author of the article just used that angle as a hook to talk about digital vs. print. There are valid points made in the article for both.

Personally I am fully converted to e-books. So much so that I have problems reading a physical book nowadays.

I love the ease of navigation with an e-book ... the bookmarks ... the toc. The only exception to this are magazines and heavy picture books, which are still a challenge on smaller reading devices.

As for reading on the subway/bus, the e-book has the great advantage of fewer people peering over to see what you are reading. Your book of choice can remain anonymous, whereas with a physical book its identity is in full view for all to see -- which may or may not be desirable!

One thing that caught my attention in the article:

Did you know the NYC subway goes all the way to Chicago?

Huh? That is total news to me! What's the catch? I think if it went all the way to Chicago, that would be the cheapest (half) cross-country trip one could ever take short of hitchhiking.

--Pat

[RHWright]

It's been awhile since I've been on an NYC subway, but about the only reason I can think to prefer paper is I doubt anyone would be tempted to relieve me of it. Whereas a pricy electronic gadget (tablet, phone, ereader) being flashed around might be tempting for certain unsavory individuals.

(And before you get offended, I'm not saying all New Yorkers or subway passengers are unsavory ...just a certain subset. If NYC has reduced subway crime to zero, I apologize.)

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by PatNY

One thing that caught my attention in the article:

Huh? That is total news to me! What's the catch? I think if it went all the way to Chicago, that would be the cheapest (half) cross-country trip one could ever take short of hitchhiking.

I can't get the article to load, but they maybe meant that laid end to end the subway system has 656 miles of track and could get you to Chicago, or almost there...
http://www.visualnews.com/2012/12/22...rk-to-chicago/

[ApK]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

but they maybe meant that laid end to end the subway system has 656 miles of track and could get you to Chicago, or almost there...

Originally Posted by Huffington Post

Did you know the NYC subway goes all the way to Chicago?

Oh, yeah baby, now that's some good journalism right there!

[PatNY]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I can't get the article to load, but they maybe meant that laid end to end the subway system has 656 miles of track and could get you to Chicago, or almost there...
http://www.visualnews.com/2012/12/22...rk-to-chicago/

Ahhh, yes, that's probably what they meant. Thanks for the insight.

The writer should have worded that better -- perhaps, "Did you know that if laid end-to-end, the NYC subways would reach all the way to Chicago?"

--Pat

[QuantumIguana]

There appears to be a confirmation bias at play here. If you see someone on the subway who is merely holding a paper book, you count them as a reader of paper books. But unless you see someone actually reading an e-book, you're not going to count them as reading e-books. They might not be actively reading when you observe them, and if so, the most you would know was that they were holding some sort of device, but you wouldn't know if they read from it or just play Angry Birds.

Also, when someone attempts to explain why something is true, they must first establish that it is true.

[PatNY]

Originally Posted by RHWright

Whereas a pricy electronic gadget (tablet, phone, ereader) being flashed around might be tempting for certain unsavory individuals.

The theft of iPhones in the subways was actually a problem a year or two ago. Tablets, including iPads, and e-ink readers weren't a problem, however. Don't know if the rise of Samsung has made those phones a target of late as well ... or whether the iPhone thefts have abated.

--Pat

[PatNY]

Originally Posted by ApK

Oh, yeah baby, now that's some good journalism right there!

LOL, well put. The article otherwise seemed to be well written, so maybe the author just had one of those goof-ups that we all have from time to time.

--Pat

[ApK]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

There appears to be a confirmation bias at play here. [...]
Also, when someone attempts to explain why something is true, they must first establish that it is true.

Yes. Here's an example:

Books offer readers like Santos a way of interacting with the physical world that a tablet simply can't replicate.

Yeah...and ereaders offer readers like me a way of interacting with the physical world that a pbook simply can't replicate.

[Lutraa]

Quote:

Books offer readers like Santos a way of interacting with the physical world that a tablet simply can't replicate.

This explains why most subway riders are still using DayRunners and Rolodexes to record appointments and store contact information. And why they enjoy the tactile experience of popping a tape cassette in their Sony Walkman when they want to listen to music.

Oh wait . . .