What makes you buy???

Georgiegirl2012 · 09-29-2010, 01:49 PM

Now that you have an e-reader what makes you buy a physical book?

susan_cassidy · 09-29-2010, 01:56 PM

I don't, unless it is a reference book. For leisure reading, I buy only ebooks.

robkat · 09-29-2010, 01:57 PM

Ebooks only from now on. Save the trees.

James_Wilde · 09-29-2010, 01:58 PM

Unavailability of what I want in ebook format.

Ebook priced like the hardback, with the paperback at a third of the price.

desertgrandma · 09-29-2010, 02:02 PM

Some books are simply "Shelf Worthy".

I buy very very few.....but those I do stay with me.

Also....buying paper books as gifts for friends who don't use e-book readers.

dmacmart · 09-29-2010, 02:02 PM

I will get physical books out of the library, if I can't borrow them in eBook and they're over $4 or $5 (or unavailable) to purchase.

I would buy a physical novel if:
* I knew the author personally, to support him or her and get it autographed
* My book club selected it and it was the only way to get it (in time)
* I got a gift certificate that could only be used on books
* If I was going somewhere that I couldn't bring my Kobo and I would have free time to read

Of course, there are some books that would be best in paper: reference, cook, workbooks. Magazines.

SeaBookGuy · 09-29-2010, 02:03 PM

I buy few of either -- library books, baby!

Pookeysgirl · 09-29-2010, 02:08 PM

If I've already bought books 1, 2 & 3 in a series as a pbook and book 4 came out, I would want that as a pbook as well to have the complete set on my future bookshelf. (I don't have room for a bookshelf now, so all my pbooks are in a rubbermaid bin)

ChaoZ · 09-29-2010, 02:15 PM

For me, it depends on a couple of factors (excluding availability):

• Which format would I have the most pleasure reading from? (i.e. a book with lots of illustrations, photos or charts would probably be better in physical form.)
• Which titles would look good on my shelf? (Shallow of me, but true)
• Which titles would I possibly lend to others?

pdurrant · 09-29-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georgiegirl2012

Now that you have an e-reader what makes you buy a physical book?

I still occasionally buy physical books for several reasons:

It's a reference book I want want to be able to flick through it quickly, references several pages in quick succession.
It has complex formatting that works best on a physical page
It's an old book that I want for scanning

Mostly the last reason. I really don't buy many physical books any more.

Pomtroll · 09-29-2010, 02:28 PM

I still buy some non-fiction books that I want to re-read & maybe make notes in. And if a fiction book is exceptional I may buy the paper version. That way I can share it with my sister who doesn't have an e-reader.

mstetz · 09-29-2010, 02:57 PM

If I come across gaps in a series that I'm reading, I check the pbook out of the library.

Marty

Rumpelteazer · 09-29-2010, 04:53 PM

Availability: either because it isn't out in ebook at all or not in my region or not in a readable format for my reader. If I can't get it I usually won't buy the book unless I know it's a good book, for instance when it's part of series I'm reading.

Series: I just ordered a David Hewson pbook because I got the first novel of the series as a pbook.

Price: At times it's cheaper to get the pbook, I recently found a book I wanted in a second hand bookstore for 1/4 of the price of the ebook, it was brand new and as far as I could tell never read. Though usually I wait until the price of the ebook is lowered, there are enough books on my wishlist to keep me busy for a while.

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-29-2010, 04:54 PM

Lower price, better availability, and no DRM. I can always lop off the spine and scan it once I've bought it.

Mickey330 · 09-29-2010, 05:21 PM

I've given up on buying paper books. My PB360 is just too too handy!

However ...

... that doesn't count for my textbooks. Believe me you, I'd LOVE to have e-textbooks (I swear my Business Law textbook weighs ten pounds+ alone!). But, I don't keep my books when the class is done and there is no re-sale on an e-text. Until/unless they come up with a public-library-like way of borrowing e-texts, my cost advantage is to buy, then re-sell.

I don't really know how that can be fixed, either, although I have seen that some colleges are looking into making textbooks a part of the tuition cost (or loaning them out at the start of the semester and taking them back at the end). However, for now, paper textbooks it is for me.

Wow! I went off on a tangent, didn't I? Sorry. Must have been thoughts of the weight of my backpack!

Marilyn

09-29-2010, 01:49 PM	#1
Georgiegirl2012 Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 7038 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cwmbran, Wales, UK Device: Sony touch prs600	What makes you buy??? Now that you have an e-reader what makes you buy a physical book?

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09-29-2010, 01:56 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	I don't, unless it is a reference book. For leisure reading, I buy only ebooks.

09-29-2010, 01:57 PM	#3
robkat Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 38 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Scotland Device: Sony PRS 300	Ebooks only from now on. Save the trees.

09-29-2010, 01:58 PM	#4
James_Wilde Guru Posts: 802 Karma: 4727110 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Iriver Story	Unavailability of what I want in ebook format. Ebook priced like the hardback, with the paperback at a third of the price.

09-29-2010, 02:02 PM	#5
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Some books are simply "Shelf Worthy". I buy very very few.....but those I do stay with me. Also....buying paper books as gifts for friends who don't use e-book readers.

09-29-2010, 02:02 PM	#6
dmacmart Fanatic Posts: 531 Karma: 696908 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Glo, Arc, H2O, iPhone, iPad 2, (husband)Touch	I will get physical books out of the library, if I can't borrow them in eBook and they're over $4 or $5 (or unavailable) to purchase. I would buy a physical novel if: * I knew the author personally, to support him or her and get it autographed * My book club selected it and it was the only way to get it (in time) * I got a gift certificate that could only be used on books * If I was going somewhere that I couldn't bring my Kobo and I would have free time to read Of course, there are some books that would be best in paper: reference, cook, workbooks. Magazines.

09-29-2010, 02:03 PM	#7
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I buy few of either -- library books, baby!

09-29-2010, 02:08 PM	#8
Pookeysgirl Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 12696746 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K3, Kobo Mini	If I've already bought books 1, 2 & 3 in a series as a pbook and book 4 came out, I would want that as a pbook as well to have the complete set on my future bookshelf. (I don't have room for a bookshelf now, so all my pbooks are in a rubbermaid bin)

09-29-2010, 02:15 PM	#9
ChaoZ Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 192 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Mini, Kobo Touch	For me, it depends on a couple of factors (excluding availability): • Which format would I have the most pleasure reading from? (i.e. a book with lots of illustrations, photos or charts would probably be better in physical form.) • Which titles would look good on my shelf? (Shallow of me, but true) • Which titles would I possibly lend to others?

09-29-2010, 02:28 PM	#11
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I still buy some non-fiction books that I want to re-read & maybe make notes in. And if a fiction book is exceptional I may buy the paper version. That way I can share it with my sister who doesn't have an e-reader.

09-29-2010, 02:57 PM	#12
mstetz Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ohio Device: Kindle 3	If I come across gaps in a series that I'm reading, I check the pbook out of the library. Marty

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09-29-2010, 04:53 PM	#13
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,100 Karma: 24047426 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	Availability: either because it isn't out in ebook at all or not in my region or not in a readable format for my reader. If I can't get it I usually won't buy the book unless I know it's a good book, for instance when it's part of series I'm reading. Series: I just ordered a David Hewson pbook because I got the first novel of the series as a pbook. Price: At times it's cheaper to get the pbook, I recently found a book I wanted in a second hand bookstore for 1/4 of the price of the ebook, it was brand new and as far as I could tell never read. Though usually I wait until the price of the ebook is lowered, there are enough books on my wishlist to keep me busy for a while.

09-29-2010, 04:54 PM	#14
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	Lower price, better availability, and no DRM. I can always lop off the spine and scan it once I've bought it.

09-29-2010, 05:21 PM	#15
Mickey330 Addict Posts: 378 Karma: 1107420 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Western New York state (USA) Device: Kindle Oasis & the Kindle app on iDevices	I've given up on buying paper books. My PB360 is just too too handy! However ... ... that doesn't count for my textbooks. Believe me you, I'd LOVE to have e-textbooks (I swear my Business Law textbook weighs ten pounds+ alone!). But, I don't keep my books when the class is done and there is no re-sale on an e-text. Until/unless they come up with a public-library-like way of borrowing e-texts, my cost advantage is to buy, then re-sell. I don't really know how that can be fixed, either, although I have seen that some colleges are looking into making textbooks a part of the tuition cost (or loaning them out at the start of the semester and taking them back at the end). However, for now, paper textbooks it is for me. Wow! I went off on a tangent, didn't I? Sorry. Must have been thoughts of the weight of my backpack! Marilyn