Paperback vs. digital

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

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

Ummmmmmm

[RHWright]

DTB have just become too much of a storage problem for me, so I usually go digital.

The exception would be for certain favorite authors (hardcover, usually), cookbooks or other reference, or the few books I know I only want to read once (usually some trashy thriller, e.g. Jeffrey Deaver). That last category I'll usually go with the cheapest option or the library.

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by stop__dreaming

Hadn't thought about libraries!

That's what makes this sort of comparison question strange to me. There are not only two options, buy a new paper book or buy an ebook, there are free borrows from your library or very cheap secondhand books as well. Since all my reading used to be from those last two sources I don't care what the price of a new paper book is, I never bought those before and I'm not buying them now.

I buy ebooks because I like the convenience and functionality of digital, so I'm willing to pay a little for that (generally under $5 and usually under $2). I also still borrow many books from the library, as ebooks now. Since I got an eReader I've read hundreds of ebooks, and I've bought less than 10 ebooks at full agency price and those were mostly for bookclubs, otherwise I'd not have bought those either.

[crossi]

I don't buy fiction in paper anymore at all. If the ebook isn't less than a MM paperback I simply won't buy either the paper or ebook version. I buy a different ebook that is.

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

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

Agreed. For me, the upper limit is generally $10 for an ebook.

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Ummmmmmm

Thanks for pointing out my brain fart. I corrected it. Karma to you.

For the most part, neither. My eInk reader is mostly used for reading public domain works and library books. My LCD reader is mostly used for reading government documents and other PDFs that have a substantial amount of text. None of this costs money. Most of my book purchases are physical: either non-reference technical literature that I am willing to pay a heafty price for but expect to be a physical copy, or used/remaindered books that are dirt cheap and that ebook prices are rarely even comparable to.

I have bought ebooks in the past, but have given up on it. It is unlikely that they will get me back either, since I don't see any positive movement on price or quality.

[Elfwreck]

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.

Me too.

I'll read nonfiction on paper. For leisure reading, I'm sticking to pixels, which means if the price is higher than I'm willing to pay, I find something else to read.

I may, of course, have to reconsider when I run out of free reading material.

[The Terminator]

If the eBook is grossly over priced I just wont read the book, if the publishes want's to try and rip me off I'll take my money to a different novel.

[kaleissin]

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?

I'd wait for the price of the digital edition to fall. Plenty more fish in the pond after all.

[lucasfernan89]

I would definitely go for the physical form, although here in Colombia that hasn't been an issue

[Dara England]

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?

I usually go for whatever is cheapest. But I also have to take space into account because I really don't have room in my house for many more books. For that reason, I may eventually start considering space more important than price and when that happens I may pay more to have the e-version.

[BeccaPrice]

I discovered today that I have a really hard time reading in print anymore. The type is just too small, and the lines generally are too close together. I've got my calibre set to add space between lines, and a line between paragraphs, and it makes a much more readable document for me.

[Joshua.P]

I read most of my books on the kindle, but sometimes you just need that feel of paper in your hands.

[Vala]

I go for ebook unless I have a need for the pbook which is usually some sort of instructional or technical and then I try to get it second hand first. I don't like pbooks taking up space. I keep the book shelves for certain kinds pbooks only.

Space was a reason I switched to ebooks a few years ago, and then to try to get rid of the build up of pbooks was horrible. I still have a box in the garage left to donate.

[maxiart]

I prefer ebooks. It is very hard to get the books I want on paperback around here, this being a Spanish-speaking country and all. Come to think of it, thats the very reason why I got a nook.