Paper books still have an advantage

[Renate]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That is true. Those colorful and well designed covers do their job.

Maybe you should read French paperbacks.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Renate

Maybe you should read French paperbacks.

Presumably no connection to French Letters, Fnar, Fnar.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Presumably no connection to French Letters, Fnar, Fnar.

Or French Postcards, or... well. Nevermind.

I did Google (well, Bing) French paperbacks and it looks like many used to come in generic covers. Not sure that is still true.

[JSWolf]

One advantage pBooks is they make good kindling to start a fire.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One advantage pBooks is they make good kindling to start a fire.

The Amazon device is called a Kindle after all...

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

But I have found that I can enter a tag or even a random word in Calibre's search and similarly come across books buried in my elibrary.

Calibre also has a 'similar books' feature, and this can be mapped to different columns (or even a grouped search) in preferences > searching.

[azayn]

The only advantage of paper books is they look nicer on bookshelves. E-readers excel at everything else.

[Dsharma]

Originally Posted by azayn

The only advantage of paper books is they look nicer on bookshelves. E-readers excel at everything else.

While e-readers excel in many areas, paper books have some advantages beyond aesthetics. They provide a sensory experience, don't require power, and are easier on the eyes. They also enable annotations and sharing, hold sentimental value, and allow for used book shopping. Both formats have their merits, so it's up to personal preference to choose the best option.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Dsharma

While e-readers excel in many areas, paper books have some advantages beyond aesthetics. They provide a sensory experience, don't require power, and are easier on the eyes. They also enable annotations and sharing, hold sentimental value, and allow for used book shopping. Both formats have their merits, so it's up to personal preference to choose the best option.

All this is very subjective (well, except for the bit about requiring power). For example, I hate the feel and smell of paper books, so the sensory experience they give is a disadvantage for me. They're also a lot harder on my eyes than ebooks. As for used book shopping... I'm glad I won't have to do that again. As for sharing... can't do that with paper books. You either give your paper book to another person and don't have it yourself, or you have it yourself and the other person doesn't. While you can easily share ebooks without DRM (whether you should do it or not, is another kettle of fish).

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Dsharma

While e-readers excel in many areas, paper books have some advantages beyond aesthetics. They provide a sensory experience, don't require power, and are easier on the eyes. They also enable annotations and sharing, hold sentimental value, and allow for used book shopping. Both formats have their merits, so it's up to personal preference to choose the best option.

I absolutely agree that it's all about personal preference, but have to point out that the points you list above are also subjective. "easier on the eyes" - For me, my Kobos are much eeasier on my eyes than paper books. "A sensory experience" - pushing buttons is very tactile, a sensory experience different from that of paper books but still definitely a sensory experience. "hold sentimental value" - this one's 100% subjective of objects generally, assuming as it does that one feels asentimental attachment to things. Ditto "allow for used book shopping" - subjective because it assumes that one finds that an enjoyable experience And of course, there are many ereaders now that allow annotations, no longer a feature exxclusive to paper books. All of which reinforces the point that there are NO objective advantages, all are subjective.

[Asawi]

Originally Posted by Dsharma

They provide a sensory experience, don't require power, and are easier on the eyes.

I think both eBooks and paper books have different advantages. But as others hvae said, they are subjective. For me eBooks are WAY easier on the eyes! That's what got me hooked once upon a time. And while paper books don't require electricity to run, they do require good reading light. So does the eInk device, but with the built in lights being so good nowadays I can forget about that.
I do like the feel and smell of paper though. But I hate having to hold a heavy textbased hardback book. Flicking through paper book pictures I like though. So yeah, I like both paper and elctronics...

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by Dsharma

While e-readers excel in many areas, paper books have some advantages beyond aesthetics. They provide a sensory experience, don't require power, and are easier on the eyes. They also enable annotations and sharing, hold sentimental value, and allow for used book shopping. Both formats have their merits, so it's up to personal preference to choose the best option.

Paper books aren't "easier on the eyes" if those eyes can't read the small print and or deal with bleed through on cheap thin paper.

I don't need the sensory experience of smelling an old book or having to heft a heavy book. A paper book can't be read in the dark without a light source.

All of those "advantages" are subjective and depend on the needs/wants of the reader. My first Kindle in 2009 gave reading back to me. When the front lit Kindles came along, I was overjoyed. Adjustable font size? Wow, amazing! I could read! Hundreds of books in a lightweight device that I can use anywhere regardless of ambient light? No sensory experience beats those advantages.

When I want to lend a Kindle book, I lend one of my Kindles. I make good use of my public library, and KU. I love print books, but I read on my Kindle. That is what matters to me. Not any real or imagined emotional connection to the "thing" that holds the words.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Dsharma

While e-readers excel in many areas, paper books have some advantages beyond aesthetics. They provide a sensory experience...

I admit, I may be a weirdo. But I like reading on multiple devices for similar reasons. My Kobo Clara is my primary reader (my only reader at night). But then I also like to cycle through reading on my Nook Glowlight Plus and even the Kindle. And I really enjoy the nostalgia of reading on a Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight.

They all use similar technology, but are different experiences.

[Apache]

Another advantage to me, is not having to carry two books when I was near the end of one. Now I carry my entire library everywhere I go.
Apache

[afv011]

Originally Posted by Dsharma

... and are easier on the eyes.

I would disagree. With a paper book you have the font family and size that the publisher and/or author decided to use, with ebooks you can customize the font family and size to your needs.