Ebook or paper?

[Timba]

How do you browse ebooks? I understand you can look inside, but it's only the first few pages, right? Where if I have a physical copy I can flick ahead and see if I like where it's going.

Also, there is just so much choice? How do I find what's good amongst it? On bookshelves there are some indicators that work has gone into producing something - quality of cover, binding and what not which indicates, to me, that it won't be chock full of typos etc. How do those with e-readers discern this?

These are genuine questions, by the way, based on my confusion the odd time I do go to the kindle store (I have the kindle app on my ipad, but as I also crit from the pad, using it feels not enough like leisure). There are just so many titles that, unless I knew what book I wanted, I wouldn't know how to start browsing.

On a more personal level - we are losing a lot of specialist knowledge through losing bookshops. Mr Springs used to work as an academic bookseller and was able to guide students not just to the books but research sites, find other related books, search rare books. Now he works in Waterstones (part time as all of the staff are, because the market is under such pressure) and mostly puts stock out and serves customers.

For that reason - I like the idea of specialists guiding me - and because I collect books (and you can't sign a kindle copy) I am afraid I'm a book shop customer and wish we could find a way to end the dominance of Amazon.

I never really browsed books in the manner you do Springs. I relied on cover blurbs and went with the authors I knew. In addition I am a 50 year member of the Science Fiction Book Club and got a lot of ideas on new authors and books there. I use this site for recommendations also. I find with e-books I try authors I have never heard of more often, usually by picking up a free offering of the first book in a series. I subscribe to a couple of services to keep me apprised of what is being offered free and that has been a lot of fun. Sometimes they do not turn out well but other times I have been thrilled to go back and spend my money on the rest of the series.


It is also worth realizing that just keeping up with my favorite authors gives me a steady stream of e-books to read without any of the worries you mention, after all those books are simply e-versions of hardback books.


I also love the ability to take so many books with me so easily. I can remember going on vacation for 3-4 weeks and having to take an extra suitcase to simply carry my books. Now I just grab my tablet.


As my wife and I approach the idea of moving to smaller quarters without so much yard work and maintenance in our elder years I have begun to give away my books as they will simply not fit in an apartment, hell they barely fit in the house now, and I am busy making sure I have e-book versions of those I just cannot live without.


Having said all that I find it really irritating that e-books are not taking advantage of the computing power of say the Kindle Fire, the I-pad or a good android tablet. Maps and graphics ought to be outstanding on these platforms and instead they suck. They need to fix that along with adding in features such as small film clips, quest maps that show where you are on the map based on where you are in the book etc. Once they do that I will not complain about the price which I have been known to do on occasion.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

That's interesting, Overread and Timba. Timba - any links to the sites you use?

I can see the convenience of having lots of books in one place, but I'm like a hamster surrounded by my old friends in every room. I also use the local library a lot which reduces the held physical copies a little.

 

[Timba]

That's interesting, Overread and Timba. Timba - any links to the sites you use?

I can see the convenience of having lots of books in one place, but I'm like a hamster surrounded by my old friends in every room. I also use the local library a lot which reduces the held physical copies a little.

Springs,
I totally understand loving being surrounded by your old friends, it has been painful in the extreme to give them away and had I not found a good program that gets books into the hands of people in an attempt to inspire them to be readers I probably would not have been able to do so.


I check this site for freebies regularly eReaderIQ | The Easier, Faster, Smarter Way to Kindle!
This site emails me on books I am waiting on price drops on https://www.bookbub.com/landers/index2.php?source=mskn418


I use to buy a lot of books here but now that I have moved to e-books I just browse the site Science Fiction Books at Science Fiction Book Club

 

[Munch]

Both for me. I do quite a bit of camping (both walking and cycling) and my Kindle allows me choice while cutting down the weight I have to carry. Charging it the night before I go anywhere is second nature to me and it has never run out of battery in the wilds of nowhere.

But I love my paper books too. Nothing can beat snuggling up in winter with a lovely cinnamon hot chocolate and a battered old copy of a favourite story. Hmm bliss.... Also for purposes of reading in the bath or while cooking a paper book beats the ebook hands down. Paper books can be dried out a lot easier than Kindles or tablets

Different formats for different situations and nothing to say the two can't coexist peacefully

 

[Nick B]

Again, both. I like books for at home but my phone is my kindle and that means I can read anywhere at any available opportunity.

 

[kythe]

I always thought ebooks were expensive since you have to buy the kindle plus books. But I just downloaded a free ereader app on my phone, and many old classics are "public domain" books - free. I just downloaded some Edgar Allen Poe, H.G. Wells, and Lovecraft.

Maybe I can read these at work without being noticed the way I would if I just brought in a book.

 

[Overread]

Kythe try an e-reader. Whilst you are right you do have to buy it, have a look at one in the shops The e-ink is fantastic and seriously better than the phone or tablet approaches as you get no screen glare what so ever.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I used to really like real books, and was suspicious of ebooks. Then I came to enjoy both equally.

But now I've decided I'll no longer buy physical books and focus only on buying ebooks. I'm also going to begin the slow process of buying ebook versions of my physical library - certainly the favourites.

Ebooks are simply so much easier to keep and manage. My shelves are a mess and struggle to remain organised when I've constantly been getting books. I'm also abandoned the process of buying second-hand copies, because that's not fair to the authors - on top of the reasons above. Ebooks are also far easier to reference for research than physical books. And, frankly, a Kindle/Fire is far, far cheaper than a set of shelves.

So, I've already begun the process of going digital only, and will hopefully start buying up ebook copies of my physical from this Christmas...

 

[Vince W]

Too bad they can't develop a reader to emit that musty library smell.

 

[nixie]

I was determined I would not switch to e-books, then I won a kindle back in 2014. Now physical books are still my preference but I do use the kindle and I'm happy to say it is not servant of evil I once thought.

 

[Overread]

The only downsides to ebooks that still isn't really resolved is the cover-art. Honestly unless someone invents an affordable colour e-ink I don't think we'll see that one fully resolved.

That said I do wish Amazon would replace their clunky default set of screensavers with a setting that shows the first page (ergo cover art) of the last read book. I still can't work out why they don't.



Also since this thread was posted I've bought a second ebook - a kindle paperwhite - for the back light which makes reading in bed or any dim lighting effortless. No more contorting to get good light from a lamp; no more battling with shadows.

 

[Talysia]

I love the idea of ebooks, but real books are still my preference. The thought of being able to carry so many books around with you at once sounds like a dream, yet I find it more relaxing to sit with a book in my hand (or on my lap - some of them can be big in hardback). I guess I'm just an old-fashioned kind of person.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I am by far preferring my Kindle. My physical library is reduced to 5 shelves and they are books with meaning behind them like the copy of Oliver Twist my Gran gave me. The children have books but they also use their Kindles.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm afraid I actively dislike ebooks and love my paper books. I also do still but second hand but generally just to sample authors - if I find someone I love I them invest in their other books.

 

[Abernovo]

I love paper books, grew up with them, spent many a happy hour with them. But my life is unsettled; I have no fixed home, averaging maybe a year between addresses, so have to keep physical mass to a minimum. It's more stuff to lug about in the move. My Kobo is brilliant in that regard. I can store loads of reading hours on it and carry it almost anywhere. Plus, it can be read in bed, with the light off (integral front light, with a sensor, so it doesn't tire my eyes).

That said, I'd love a house of my own, with a room (or a hall/corridor) which could serve as a library. Such things dreams are made of.

 

[logan_run]

paper. a 1,00 times paper.

 

[Cathbad]

I like paper far better, but given my condition, eBooks are far easier to read. :-/

 

[BAYLOR]

I prefer real paper book.

 

[wintersmith]

If only there was a kindle in paper form... I like reading on paper because my eyes like it (I'm on my laptop a lot). Books are also pretty to look at. But, boy, is it easy to buy books on my phone.

 

[Parson]

But, boy, is it easy to buy books on my phone.

Totally agree here. But I rarely read them on my phone. I listen to them on my phone. If I read them I read them on my Kindle paperwhite. I find that eink to be much easier on my eyes. Another thing that I love about my Kindle is that I can adjust the font to something easier to read. --- A truly great invention.