For and against ebooks. Interesting read

[Slingsby]

Thank you for linking to this article.

I don't think it's an either / or. Why not have both?

I expect to read both paper and e-books over the next few decades.

[charleski]

The most intriguing comment is buried down near the end:

“We used to go to the beach and we’d both take out books, but he had an iPad, and it was almost distracting because it didn’t feel like he was reading with me.”

To be honest I can sympathise with this a bit. We tend to gloss over the physical experience of reading books, which extends far further than 'the smell of paper'. The vast majority of books I read now are digital, simply because they're far more convenient, but it's certainly true that the physical presence of paper books added a dimension and individuality that's not found with ebooks. If you read an ebook while your partner reads a paperback, you are engaging in different experiences, a difference that is sometimes not that subtle.

[CaraM]

Interesting thread. My Kindle hasn't arrived yet. I have about 200 paper books in my TBR pile and a flash drive filled with ebooks. Now I'll have my Kindle in which to download books. I don't know when I'll get time to read all the books I want. Even though one of my publishers, The Wild Rose Press, is mostly an epub, I'd resisted reading ebooks until the last six months. I downloaded a lot of free books from All Romance ebooks and got hooked on ebooks.

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[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by charleski

The most intriguing comment is buried down near the end:

To be honest I can sympathise with this a bit. We tend to gloss over the physical experience of reading books, which extends far further than 'the smell of paper'. The vast majority of books I read now are digital, simply because they're far more convenient, but it's certainly true that the physical presence of paper books added a dimension and individuality that's not found with ebooks. If you read an ebook while your partner reads a paperback, you are engaging in different experiences, a difference that is sometimes not that subtle.

That quote puzzled me. Reading is a solitary activity. I don't need someone reading with me. Read however you like; just don't bug me while I read, is all I ask.

[Sonny Blount]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

Interesting to me that every one of the examples cited of split couples involves a p-reader and an iPad or iPhone. Neither of these devices was winning over the p-reader, quite understandably IMO. I wonder what the case would be if the e-reading spouse had demonstrated a Kobo or Kindle or other dedicated e-ink reader instead of an expensive multi-function device.

The usual result is a 2nd ereader I would think.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by v1k1ng1001

For casual reading, ebooks are fine, but for serious academic research ereaders can be a hassle, especially if you're working with a series of critical editions with endnotes and such. The key, I think, is reformatting the material to make it easier to work with but I doubt there's much incentive to do this.

I know that all too well! Even a large-screen e-reader wouldn't cut it in many cases. I do have many of my academic books in electronic and printed format, but I usually only use the electronic format for reading during my commute, so that I don't have to drag my large books around, and I prefer the printed version for home use. As for fiction, I only buy paper (mostly hardcover) copies of books by my favourite authors, even through I prefer reading on my reader to reading a paper copy.

[Ken Maltby]

For me it's the story. Once I get into the world the author has created (and my
imagination has embellished) I don't really notice the words much less how they are
being presented. It matters little to me while searching the southern continent of
PERN a dragonback, or following Harry Dresden thru Chicago, if the story is on paper
or my ereader screen.

Luck;
Ken

[Acousticvillage]

I think therre is still room for both e and p. It's a little like comparing MP3 listening to CD listening. I think Charleski did make a valid comment. Learning to enjoy reading with an ereader is a lot different from using a conventional paperback/hardback. In addition, I don't know how an ereader entices children to read. My children look at the cover, see the thickness, even at times look at the font and size of font...and all of these factors subtly influence the decision whether to begin reading the book.

We are still at such an early stage in ereaders. At the moment, the emphasis is on being able to deliver the text in a convenient way and using a tool which is only now getting to grips with e-ink and decent ergonomics.

E Readers will come into their own when they can show colour, are fully multimedia, with links to web sources for different parts of the story, for the background context, for info on the author, etc. When children can turn pages to quickly "peek" at what is coming next, flick to the end, or to see the cover notes, or to quickly jump back a hundred pages or so (we can "see" roughly where we want to go) to remind himself/herself about a part of the story, etc....until that time, I would say there is still room for both experiences....but like Charleski, and with all respect to Ken Maltby, I believe they are two different things, and just being presented with raw blocks of text does not enable me to immerse myself, or get lost "in the world the author has created".
Jim

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by v1k1ng1001

For casual reading, ebooks are fine, but for serious academic research ereaders can be a hassle, especially if you're working with a series of critical editions with endnotes and such. The key, I think, is reformatting the material to make it easier to work with but I doubt there's much incentive to do this.

Niche market, not important at the moment. But it will be, and someone will figure out how to service it well.

Originally Posted by Acousticvillage

I think therre is still room for both e and p.

Of course there is: just as books are currently available free in physical format at a library; the latest p-book bestseller at an airport; lots of titles, especially hard-to-find regional books at your local bricks-and-mortar store; and tons of p-books online ... in addition to e-books from a variety of vendors.

But the sales channels are evolving and consumer demands are forcing change: including libraries expanding e-book content and dropping physical books; and vendors selling only p-books being displaced by those selling both p-books and e-books, as well as those selling e-books alone.

Originally Posted by Acousticvillage

I don't know how an ereader entices children to read. My children look at the cover, see the thickness, even at times look at the font and size of font...and all of these factors subtly influence the decision whether to begin reading the book.

A different audience: Dr Seuss on the printed page? on a large format e-reader? on a computer or tablet? on TV?

I wouldn't worry so much: it's what happens when they reach the teens and beyond. Long form content, the ability to digest complex ideas from the printed word -- that's a skill many adults require and will acquire as they mature. Moby Dick, Great Expectations and the Constitution are equally digestible on paper and e-ink.

Originally Posted by Acousticvillage

E Readers will come into their own when they can show colour, are fully multimedia, with links to web sources for different parts of the story, for the background context, for info on the author, etc.

I completely disagree: that is a different experience, as different as a radio play is from a 3D Imax movie. There is room for both; a dedicated e-reader, or some facsimile, which is focussed on text only, has a long future. The device you are describing is not for reading, but for a different experience entirely.

[artig]

As a fairly recent convert to ebooks I find the reading experience as good as or better than that with paper books. However, there are two problems with the ebooks that I've bought so far that make me reluctant to buy any more.

The reader is the Kobo, and the six ebooks were purchased from the Whitcoulls/Kobo web site. Virtually all my reading is non-fiction.

Obviously I realize that colour illustrations will not be shown in colour, but I had expected original illustrations (graphs, maps, diagrams, etc.) to be present. So far, in the four books I've read, not a single illustration. The captions are there, but the illustrations are missing. Many non-fiction books are worthless without diagrams. The least Kobo could do would be to indicate on their web site whether illustrations are present in the ebooks or not.

The second problem is that footnotes are not readily accessible. This is partly due to the design of the Kobo software (no search or goto or linking), and partly due to ebooks being paginated 'on the fly'. Some books have the footnotes right at the end, others have them at the end of each chapter.

In future I'll still be buying paper books when they have colour illustrations, and others with b&w illustrations if I can't get an assurance before buying that the ebook version does contain illustrations.

[taming]

Artig--did you load the books using ePUB with ADE or the Kobo software? I can't say it is always true, but I have ePUB w/ADE books on my Kobo with illustrations. I generally do not buy e-books with lots of footnotes or endnotes. That is one reason why the Kobo was the right gadget at the right price for me. I have occasionally wanted to check out endnotes and have used the ADE desktop to do that.

I prefer analog for more complicated books. I expect that as the technology improves and the price point for it moves, I may change my mind.

[artig]

The books were loaded with the Whitcoulls-branded Kobo software. The illustrations are not shown on the Kobo, or in the Windows reader application. I haven't installed ADE.

I've just talked to Paul on the Kobo helpdesk, and he was very helpful. Apparently the publisher who provides the ebook edition does not currently notify Kobo whether the ebook version contains illustrations or not. A request should now be in the system somewhere, asking for this information to be provided, and added to the book description on the website.

[GreenMonkey]

Duplicate thread btw, see discussion on same article here:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=97237&page=2

[eric11210]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

Duplicate thread btw, see discussion on same article here:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=97237&page=2

Actually, technically, that one is a duplicate thread. This one was posted first.

[GreenMonkey]

Originally Posted by eric11210

Actually, technically, that one is a duplicate thread. This one was posted first.

Oh. Either way.