Do you still purchase physical books? - Page 2

Ripplinger · 01-23-2022, 08:23 AM

For the last 12 years or more I've only purchased a few hard cover books signed by favorite authors and stored away, not read. And I purchased 2 cheap falling-apart paperbacks of old books I wanted to reread that weren't digital so I could scan them and create my own ebooks to read. I've gotten rid of any old paperbacks that I could get in digital format, but I've kept most hard cover books and donated the rest.

While I could manage to read physical books, with my crappy eyesight that's now aging crappy eyesight, it's just not as comfortable reading the smaller text of physical books.

Sunlite · 01-23-2022, 08:28 AM

I chose "Yes, but less than eBooks.", but I buy physical books exclusivly for other people/as gifts.

gmw · 01-23-2022, 08:41 AM

I still own a largish paper library but most of the novels I really want to re-read I have been collecting as ebooks as they come on special. Over time my library will probably shrink as I give away various parts of it to deserving recipients who have not yet found the joy of ebooks. (My hardcovers sets will probably remain as a problem for the beneficiaries of my estate to deal with.)

But there are still some books I prefer to read in paper. Some children's books that I have in large hardcover editions, and some picture books (eg: Shaun Tan), plus some large format photography and nature books. And I still use paper-based bird identification and other field guides. Even if/where these books might be available as ebooks I still prefer paper for these purposes.

So yes, I still purchase physical books. But since the sort of books I want as physical books are not something I go hunting for that often, such purchases tend to be few and far between.

cfrizz · 01-23-2022, 09:48 AM

No I no longer buy/read paperbooks, but I still have a few in my bookcase, but I haven't read any of them since 2010.

ps67 · 01-23-2022, 09:53 AM

If I want a book, I usually prefer the ebook, but if it's not there, I buy the printed book. A few months ago I was in the bookstore and bought a printed book. Then I saw that the ebook also existed but never mind. Instead I buy printed books if, for their nature, the printed book is better, for example if there are important maps or photos (such as art books).

ianthe06 · 01-23-2022, 02:19 PM

I still buy printed books, second-hand whenever possible. These are mostly guidebooks, cookbooks etc. but also fiction occasionally.

I voted "yes, more than ebooks" because I very rarely purchase ebooks. I am reading lots of ebooks that are in the public domain or I borrow them from my local library. So the money goes to the library for the annual fee but that is less than I spend on printed books in a year.

DNSB · 01-23-2022, 04:06 PM

For the most part, I prefer ebooks and have gotten rid of a lot of my older paperbacks where I have the digital version. OTOH, I will still purchase books related to photography and other of my hobbies as pbooks and have checked out a few library books as pbooks when the digital edition was either not available or had ridiculous wait times (really? the wait time for the book is over 2 years and you won't purchase another copy?).

Moonbase59 · 01-23-2022, 04:29 PM

I must admit I still love the "dead-tree-editions", and still buy and exchange lots of used ones. I have a rather large library, and books lying around in almost every room. Digital has to prove its longevity still, and I came to e-books relatively late in my life.

Then again, it’s also nice to be able to carry around hundreds (or even thousands) of books in a lightweight reader when traveling. Or when just too lazy to get out of bed on a holiday to fetch another one. :-) And I really love my water-resistant Tolino Vision 5 for outdoor reading.

Long story short: Voted »Yes, more than eBooks.«

JSWolf · 01-23-2022, 04:34 PM

Where is the option for for No and I don't read what I have?

Other does not cut it.

DiapDealer · 01-23-2022, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Where is the option for for No and I don't read what I have?

Other does not cut it.

Sure it does. You just explained your 'Other' situation quite aptly. As requested. The fact that you didn't want to vote 'Other' is neither here nor there.

ownedbycats · 01-23-2022, 05:55 PM

Really, I probably misphrased option 5; I should've put "No, but I still own physical books."

Apache · 01-23-2022, 07:06 PM

I have not bought a physical book in a long time. But I will read some of the ones I have, that are not available as eBooks, when I cannot use my reader. For example, my county does not allow electronic books when serving jury duty.
Apache

Deskisamess · 01-23-2022, 07:12 PM

I still buy reference books, like Heisey Glass books, and coffee table books, and books for the kids. But I've not read a paper book in years.

DuskyRose · 01-23-2022, 08:34 PM

I haven't bought a physical book in years. I do have a stash of about 300 or so that I have saved for power outages or total e-reader failure of some sort. And, I just like them around. But I can't buy more, as when we downsize, it'll be a struggle to go through this batch and pare them down.

jhowell · 01-23-2022, 08:42 PM

I don’t purchase or read physical books any more but I still own some, so “other” for me.

View Poll Results: Do you still purchase physical books?
Yes, more than eBooks.	18	9.68%
Yes, the same amount as eBooks.	4	2.15%
Yes, but less than eBooks.	47	25.27%
Yes, but only when the book is unavailable in digital format.	30	16.13%
No, but I still read physical books I already have.	43	23.12%
No, and I don't own any physical books.	19	10.22%
Other/Option not mentioned here.	33	17.74%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 186. You may not vote on this poll

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01-23-2022, 08:23 AM	#16
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	For the last 12 years or more I've only purchased a few hard cover books signed by favorite authors and stored away, not read. And I purchased 2 cheap falling-apart paperbacks of old books I wanted to reread that weren't digital so I could scan them and create my own ebooks to read. I've gotten rid of any old paperbacks that I could get in digital format, but I've kept most hard cover books and donated the rest. While I could manage to read physical books, with my crappy eyesight that's now aging crappy eyesight, it's just not as comfortable reading the smaller text of physical books.

01-23-2022, 08:28 AM	#17
Sunlite Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 547516 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: KObo Clara, Kobo Aura, PRS-T1, PB602, CyBook Gen3	I chose "Yes, but less than eBooks.", but I buy physical books exclusivly for other people/as gifts.

01-23-2022, 08:41 AM	#18
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I still own a largish paper library but most of the novels I really want to re-read I have been collecting as ebooks as they come on special. Over time my library will probably shrink as I give away various parts of it to deserving recipients who have not yet found the joy of ebooks. (My hardcovers sets will probably remain as a problem for the beneficiaries of my estate to deal with.) But there are still some books I prefer to read in paper. Some children's books that I have in large hardcover editions, and some picture books (eg: Shaun Tan), plus some large format photography and nature books. And I still use paper-based bird identification and other field guides. Even if/where these books might be available as ebooks I still prefer paper for these purposes. So yes, I still purchase physical books. But since the sort of books I want as physical books are not something I go hunting for that often, such purchases tend to be few and far between.

01-23-2022, 09:48 AM	#19
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 34583358 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	No I no longer buy/read paperbooks, but I still have a few in my bookcase, but I haven't read any of them since 2010.

01-23-2022, 09:53 AM	#20
ps67 Guru Posts: 731 Karma: 7000000 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Italy Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Elipsa, Pocketbook Color PB633, Inkpad Color	If I want a book, I usually prefer the ebook, but if it's not there, I buy the printed book. A few months ago I was in the bookstore and bought a printed book. Then I saw that the ebook also existed but never mind. Instead I buy printed books if, for their nature, the printed book is better, for example if there are important maps or photos (such as art books).

01-23-2022, 02:19 PM	#21
ianthe06 Member Posts: 14 Karma: 2137668 Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Germany Device: Kobo	I still buy printed books, second-hand whenever possible. These are mostly guidebooks, cookbooks etc. but also fiction occasionally. I voted "yes, more than ebooks" because I very rarely purchase ebooks. I am reading lots of ebooks that are in the public domain or I borrow them from my local library. So the money goes to the library for the annual fee but that is less than I spend on printed books in a year.

01-23-2022, 04:06 PM	#22
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 35,356 Karma: 145435140 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For the most part, I prefer ebooks and have gotten rid of a lot of my older paperbacks where I have the digital version. OTOH, I will still purchase books related to photography and other of my hobbies as pbooks and have checked out a few library books as pbooks when the digital edition was either not available or had ridiculous wait times (really? the wait time for the book is over 2 years and you won't purchase another copy?).

01-23-2022, 04:29 PM	#23
Moonbase59 Zealot Posts: 111 Karma: 196896 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Germany Device: Tolino Vision 5, Tolino Tab 8"	I must admit I still love the "dead-tree-editions", and still buy and exchange lots of used ones. I have a rather large library, and books lying around in almost every room. Digital has to prove its longevity still, and I came to e-books relatively late in my life. Then again, it’s also nice to be able to carry around hundreds (or even thousands) of books in a lightweight reader when traveling. Or when just too lazy to get out of bed on a holiday to fetch another one. :-) And I really love my water-resistant Tolino Vision 5 for outdoor reading. Long story short: Voted »Yes, more than eBooks.«

01-23-2022, 04:34 PM	#24
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,932 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Where is the option for for No and I don't read what I have? Other does not cut it.

01-23-2022, 05:55 PM	#26
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 8,596 Karma: 61176603 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Really, I probably misphrased option 5; I should've put "No, but I still own physical books."

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01-23-2022, 07:06 PM	#27
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,137 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I have not bought a physical book in a long time. But I will read some of the ones I have, that are not available as eBooks, when I cannot use my reader. For example, my county does not allow electronic books when serving jury duty. Apache

01-23-2022, 07:12 PM	#28
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,607 Karma: 42697471 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 7+, iPad mini, 2021 iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8"	I still buy reference books, like Heisey Glass books, and coffee table books, and books for the kids. But I've not read a paper book in years.

01-23-2022, 08:34 PM	#29
DuskyRose Guru Posts: 725 Karma: 9209502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Boox Palma, Kdle Scribe & Paperwhite, Kobo Eclipsa 2e & Libra 2, Ipads	I haven't bought a physical book in years. I do have a stash of about 300 or so that I have saved for power outages or total e-reader failure of some sort. And, I just like them around. But I can't buy more, as when we downsize, it'll be a struggle to go through this batch and pare them down.

01-23-2022, 08:42 PM	#30
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,496 Karma: 84420419 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tampa Bay, Florida Device: Kindles	I don’t purchase or read physical books any more but I still own some, so “other” for me.