Bought my first ereader and I miss real books already!

[stodge]

Awesome replies people - thanks! Maybe in time I'll be converted but we'll see!

[SameOldStory]

For over a year I've only read ebooks. But last week I re-read a series, one ebook, the other a paper book. The last paper book before that was over a year ago.

These are the things that I noticed with paper books;

1 - When "turning" the page there is a moment where you can't read either side of that page. Very annoying. I'm not sure how this can be corrected.

2- Without page turn buttons you have to stop reading the book, reposition the book in your hands, "turn" the page, reposition the book in your hands again, and only after all that can you return to your book.

3 - Stains and smears. Because you have to actually touch the part that you're reading, you end up with nasty, and annoying, stains and smears. Perhaps someone could convert a screen protector into a paper page protector?


Last Veterans Day I brought 2 large boxes of books to a veterans medical center. Until then I had 4 full bookcases. Now I have just over one full bookcase. As you can see in the picture below I had to build stands for each bookcase shelf so the paperbacks could show their spine titles.


And speaking of dusting, look at the actual shelf. Like I said, it's been over a year.

[SeaBookGuy]

With a print book, however, you get two pages (odd + even) at once, so fewer "page turns" to even things out, no?

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

With a print book, however, you get two pages (odd + even) at once, so fewer "page turns" to even things out, no?

It also takes up twice as much room. Six of one, half a dozen of another. Big whoop.

[boxcorner]

Originally Posted by Lo Zeno

... nostalgia ...

I get the impression that for many people here, for the most part, books=fiction. Whereas, the vast majority of my p-books are non-fiction. If my books were mostly fiction, now that I have a reader, I would probably keep a few for nostalgia's sake and then give the rest away. However, I don't understand why some people bother storing large numbers of e-books on their readers. Is it to impress people who don't own a reader?

[Seanette]

Originally Posted by boxcorner

I get the impression that for many people here, for the most part, books=fiction. Whereas, the vast majority of my p-books are non-fiction. If my books were mostly fiction, now that I have a reader, I would probably keep a few for nostalgia's sake and then give the rest away. However, I don't understand why some people bother storing large numbers of e-books on their readers. Is it to impress people who don't own a reader?

For me, it's more about having more range of choices to suit my mood when not at home.

[SameOldStory]

Just to set the record straight, My posting was tongue in cheek.

I see over and over again where people say that THE major problem with e-ink is the page flicker, or THE major problem with touch screens is the smears and finger prints on the screen. People will dislike whatever they want to.

Originally Posted by boxcorner

....

However, I don't understand why some people bother storing large numbers of e-books on their readers. Is it to impress people who don't own a reader?

My guess is that your emphasis is on the word "storing". I think that I've seen somewhere on MR someone having more that 15,000 books on their reader. I don't think that that number was the highest, but that’s the only number I can recall.

I usually have between 100 - 115 books on at a time. These are books that I will read. After I read them I delete them from the reader. Calibre keeps track of the books I've read incase I ever want to re-read them at a later date.


"Is it to impress people...."

For the ones with over 10,000 book libraries on their reader, I think so. Whether it's to say "Look how smart I am" or "Looks at me!!! I'ss gots me 50,000 books". I do wonder, however, about the quality of those books. Were they paid for? Sure.

How many little kids pack their readers with every torrent download they can find, only to be toting around books that, if they knew, would embarrass the hell out of them.


The rest, those with just a few hundred books or even a thousand, on their reader, just like to keep their "library" handy. I think that's neat, cool, whatever.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by boxcorner

I However, I don't understand why some people bother storing large numbers of e-books on their readers. Is it to impress people who don't own a reader?

No one knows how many books a person stores on their ereader unless they tell.......

And the more books you can store, the more choice you have when it comes time to read a book.

If you are waiting in a doctors office, or in a long line in a store or post office.....you choose what you want to read.

Its already there.

[SameOldStory]

How fast you read could be a determining factor in the number of books on your reader.

One question. How many unread books do you (anyone reading this thread) feel are necessary to give you a reading cushion? Someone want to start a poll?

For me, it's about a hundred unread books.

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by boxcorner

I get the impression that for many people here, for the most part, books=fiction. Whereas, the vast majority of my p-books are non-fiction. If my books were mostly fiction, now that I have a reader, I would probably keep a few for nostalgia's sake and then give the rest away. However, I don't understand why some people bother storing large numbers of e-books on their readers. Is it to impress people who don't own a reader?

I buy most of my prose fiction electronically, and most of my non-fiction in paper. It's what works for me.

I've about 400 books on my 505, and a similar number on my phone - with about 80% overlap. I've bought hundreds of books over the years and I like to have them with me; and I certainly don't think it's too many.

The key for me, is that I don't consider the reader a replacement for a book. I consider it a bookshelf I can put in my pocket. So naturally I put any books I buy on there, whether I plan to read them immediately or not. Books belong on bookshelves, and my ebooks on my reader.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

One question. How many unread books do you (anyone reading this thread) feel are necessary to give you a reading cushion? Someone want to start a poll?

Stop.

Looking.

At.

Me.

[twowheels]

In general I agree with most of the comments... I find ebooks to be best for fiction/light reading, not so great for non-fiction/technical books (as a general rule). I've been reading much more fiction lately, which is good, I missed it.

I've been an e-reader for a number of years, but the kindle is the first device that I think addresses most of my concerns with ebooks...

1) Position... light reading is, IMO, best done kicked back, laying down, walking, and just about any other position other than sitting at a desk. Few of these work well with a laptop and PDA/cell phone screens are a bit small.

2) Texture/smell/etc... The Amazon leather cover on my kindle helps with this. The cover feels very nice, adds just enough heft (to me it feels way too small and difficult to hold w/o the cover) and adds that sensation of holding a book. The smell and feel of the leather (I put a small touch of proofhide on my hands and rubbed it in to soften it and protect it) and the felt lining is reminiscent of high quality old books.

3) Readability... eInk... I'm in love. :-)

To me, the biggest thing that's missing is the experience of perusing used book stores. I *LOVE* used book stores, I love the discovery process, and really enjoy the types of people that you meet in them. I also love the library experience and feel that the online library experience is lacking. I've always loved dimly lit confined spaces and the closely spaced towering rows of books are bliss. Sadly I fear that their days are numbered.

[SameOldStory]

You've pretty much hit it on the head.

For studying any complex technical books, I want paper. I then want the same book as an ebook for quick reference.

I spent a great deal of time in libraries, and later in used book stores to find all those books I couldn't afford when I was young.

To me, reading a paperback book again was like doing something that people did way back when.

[357mag]

I love to read, and one of the greatest annoyances I had when reading paper books was when I was done with one, I didn't have another with me to start right away. Yes, I could have bought several and had them on hand so when I finished one I could have another ready to read, but that didn't help me when I was on lunch break and all of my reserve books were at home.

Now I have a reserve of 50 books with me and ready to read at any time. Also, I stopped reading in bed because holding a book like Stephen Kings "Under The Dome" which probably weighed 3-4 lbs, was quite uncomfortable. Now I can hold up to 3500 books on my Kindle that weigh in at a little over .5 lbs.

No I don't miss paper books.

[SameOldStory]

Originally Posted by stodge

Awesome replies people - thanks! Maybe in time I'll be converted but we'll see!

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but there is one way that ebooks absolutely beats paper books. New authors.

Even at it's best a publishing company can't print every good book presented to it. Conversely not all books are worth reading.

With ebooks you can usually read a portion of it before you buy it, so you can decide if you want to buy it. Result - less bad purchases, more good stories, and less money spent.