Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Do you prefer print books or e-books?

I'm curious what you guys think about this whole debate that's been going on for a few years. E-books are hot right now. But do you think they'll get so hot that they'll put print books out of business?

To be honest, I don't think print books are going anywhere. Sure e-books are doing very well, but print books are still selling. I, for one, LOVE print books. I'm sort of a hardcover freak. I LOVE them. I have three bookshelves full of books. Hardcover and paperback and sometimes I just sit and stare at them because they're so pretty. In other words, my hubby thinks I'm weird. :) Who can resist a killer cover though? Oh, pretty covers. How I love you.

I also love my Kindle. I love the feeling of clicking a button and having a book appear on my Kindle in seconds. I love taking it places and having a bunch of books to choose from wherever I go. And how lightweight it is. I can stick it in my purse and pull it out at the doctors office or wherever. The funny thing is though, I don't buy a lot of new releases on Kindle. Most of the books on there are older books. Books I've gotten on sale or are less than five bucks. I'll happily plunk down money for a hardcover, but I'm very selective about the Kindle books I buy. Not sure why I do that... Maybe I'm am weird! Ha ha.

What do you guys prefer? Digital or Print? What do you love about both? And if you don't have a Kindle or Nook, will you ever break down and buy one? I told myself over and over I wouldn't ... but obviously I did. :)

42 comments:

Stephanie McGee said...

Print books. All the way. I have an iPad and have read a couple of ebooks but I still vastly prefer print. When I was reading, I found my iPad slipping or my hands slipping on it. It's not as easy to hold and when you grab it as it slips you run the risk of turning the page accidentally. (Happened far too often for my liking.)

Print books slip from your hands far less often.

Not to mention the eye strain.

Angela said...

I got my first Kindle this Christmas and I love it, but even loving the ebook format as I do, I cannot completely give up reading hard copy books.

There's something wonderfully tactile about holding a book in your hands and flipping paper pages.

Angela Cothran said...

I'm a hardback freak too!!! I don't think print books are going anywhere either. Especially since most publishers charge the same amount for a e-book. Who buys an e-book for $10 when you can buy a hardback for the same price? I do love my Kindle though. Mostly because I find there are now books I can only get in that format.

Jessica R. Patch said...

I love the convenience of my Kindle, but I always buy writing craft books and non-fiction in print...and sometimes fiction in print. But these days, mostly Kindle!

Tobi Summers said...

You know, as a writer and a lover of books, I've always said print books. Even after I got my Nook, I said both. But honestly? I can count the number of print books I've read since getting a Nook on one hand. I love ebooks. I love the convenience of having half my library in my palm. I love being able to shop for books without leaving my house or office or gym or train. I love that it syncs up with my computer and my phone. I love that I can prop it open on my lap while I'm eating or the elliptical while I'm exercising without something to hold the pages open.

The only thing I really miss from print books is the freedom to lend books to friends. Barnes and Noble has yet to come up with a LendMe system that works for ALL their books, not just a fair few.

I resisted getting a Nook for a long time, and I still love the feel and smell of a print book. I love going into a Barnes and Noble (or, even better, an independent used bookstore). I wouldn't want an iPad or a Kindle Fire, or anything with a backlit screen because I don't really want to read on a computer (my Nook uses eInk). But I've always been a read-on-the-go type of person, and the practical applications of ebooks are starting to outweigh the sentimentality of print books for me, especially when the content is the same no matter which you use.

And apparently I feel quite passionately about this issue, lol. Sorry, I didn't expect this comment to be as long as it is.

Ruth Josse said...

I don't think print books are going anywhere either. That being said, I buy books mostly for my kindle app on my phone. I love the compactness and ease of reading on it. And I don't have room in my house for all the books I buy! I envy your three bookshelves. :) But if I'm planning on getting a book signed, then I'll pick up a real life copy.

Liz said...

You've put into words exactly how I feel. I love my Kindle, but I've only read books available for free. I love that my copy of Little Women is the same one my mom read as a kid, and the one I would read on summer vacation at Grandma's as a kid. I love that different books feel different. I don't ever see having that type of emotional connection with an ebook.

Kyra Lennon said...

I love them both, but I read so much more now I have a Kindle. I can get books within seconds, and it doesn't cost much either. That said, I picked up four print books in Waterstones the other day, and I am looking forward to cracking open the spines!

Saba said...

Print books for sure!!!! I have a hard time reading books from the iPad :( I honestly do not think e-books will ever make books obsolete ( I hope not anyways!)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I say I love them both, BUT...I have not bought a new book since I got the kindle ap on my iPod. I buy all digital. I suppose those books I LOVE and can't live without, I will still want to set on my book shelf.

S.P. Bowers said...

It depends on the situation. They both fill different needs. So sometimes I prefer the kindle, sometimes a physical copy. Print books aren't going anywhere soon. I don't think they ever will.

I think I'm more selective about physical copies. Probably because you can be so much more spontaneous with digital books. If I buy a physical copy I literally have to plan it into my schedule, load up my kids, go down to the bookstore. or I can order it on Amazon, but then there's shipping and you have to wait for it. All of those things combined tend to make me think before buying, whereas with a kindle, instant gratification and impulse purchases.

Amanda Olivieri said...

I'm a print book girl, all the way! I have nothing against e-books. I have an ipad with the Nook and Kindle apps, and I have books on both, but I just love collecting print books. I like to stare at them, too! :)

Philip Siegel said...

I love print books mostly because I get most of my reading material from friends' bookshelves. And I do love staring at my pretty,overstuffed bookcase. You can't borrow friends' books on the kindle...at least I don't think. But I'm not anti-ebooks. I just don't feel like making the plunge yet.

Shanda said...

I love holding a book in my hand and turning pages. I just purchased a Kindle Fire and I love it, but I haven't actually read a book on it yet because I'm getting through the Whitney books I checked out from the library first. I have downloaded several free books, though, and I enjoy checking email and google reader on it (larger screen than my iPod touch). I've always believed that as time goes by, I (and people in general) will find a happy medium with both formats. I will always want a hard copy of my favorites for my shelf, but I appreciate the convenience of reading digitally as well. Who knows, maybe books will be like movies where you can purchase several formats for a little more. Buy a hard copy and get a code for a digital download in the format of your choice. I, personally, would LOVE that.

Charity Bradford said...

I love print books but I'm finding I read more on my kindle now than ever before. Mostly because my life if so busy and I love having my library with me.

But I'll always prefer the feel and smell of a paper book in my hands when I have the time to curl up at home with a good story.

Mark Koopmans said...

Hey,

Print books allll the way, but I will have noooo problem using ebooks as a way to reach more people when my book is published:)

Susan Oloier said...

I don't read paper books anymore. I am too much in love with the lightweight feel and ease of my Kindle. And I was one of those readers who said I would never give up print books.
I think it will take a lot of time, but eventually e-books will dominate. Kids will soon be exposed more to e-books than print books, which (I believe) will change the industry. Just as music consumption has changed over the years.

Emily R. King said...

I like both too. Each has it's place. Sitting down with my Kindle Fire is fantastic, but I also love snuggling up with a great picture book and my kiddos.

Melanie Stanford said...

Print books all the way.
I have this feeling that books might go the way of movies- you buy a Blu-ray and get a digital copy with it. They might hike the price of books but add a digital download so you can have both at once.
At least that's what I think they should do.

Tara Tyler said...

totally prefer the feel of a book and the breeze of hundreds of new pages!

but if you look in the schools, the young are taking to ebooks. and to conserve natural resources, i believe paper will one day be an endangered species.

Rachel said...

I prefer print books. HOWEVER my mother just got an iPad and I enjoyed reading a book on there because you got to "turn" the pages similar to when you flip a page in real life :-) It also told you the page #, which I liked a lot - Kindles tend to tell you what % you are on.

I also wrote a paper on this a few years ago for a sophomore year class I took. My paper was about digital books (e-books) and print books and what it looked like we were heading towards in publishing. I really wish I could continue it now- I would love to see how things have changed since 2 years ago! (Weird lol I'm a senior in college)

I also just wanted to say hi and I am a new follower. I stumbled upon your blog, looking for interesting writer's blogs and I love yours already. I can't wait to read what you post next.
Best of luck with everything,and your upcoming book.

kjmckendry said...

I never thought I would like reading e-books. I love the way a real book feel, the pages, everything about them. But my husband got me a Kindle for Christmas and I love it! SO I love both!

New follower! :)

Kate said...

Yep, I love both too. If it's a book I don't really care what the format is. They both have their perks.

Megan Dolan said...

I will never make the move to e-books. I love, love, love paper books. I hoard them and reread them constantly. I just cannot imagine ever liking to read a book on an e-reader.

catherinemjohnson.com said...

Print books for sure. I'm getting more and more from the library and every now and then ordering in bulk from Chapters online. I have Kobo books on a playbook but find it very unreliable. It's embarrassing to buy a friend's book and only get two pages of it because of formatting problems. I can't keep risking that.
I love beautiful covers too :)

Luanne G. Smith said...

I just got my first Kindle for Christmas, and I've read maybe three novels on it now. I find it more tedious than a paper book. It seems like it takes me longer to read an e-book than paper book. BUT I do love the instant gratification of buying an e-book and having a new novel in my hands in seconds. That, I suppose, is the biggest appeal for me right now. Oh, and the Kindle fits in my purse, so it's easy to take anywhere.

Nicole said...

Definitely print books! I just love 'em!!

Christine Rains said...

I'm still a fan of print books. I have a Nook, but I haven't gotten use to reading on it yet. I can only take it in small doses.

Leigh Covington said...

I don't even have an ereader but I will ALWAY, ALWAYS, ALWAYS prefer books in print. I do have a kindle app on my phone now so I will probably purchase an ebook or two, but I can't help but loving a book in print.

Meredith said...

I'm the exact same way! I buy older, cheaper books on my Nook. But if I'm going to be spending the money on a new release, I'll splurge so I can get the print book. I use books as decoration around my apartment, so I love pretty ones. :)

Jolene Perry said...

here's the rule.

Gorgeous cover?
Must have it in my hands.

So-so cover?
Goes on my kindle.

Snowstorm and new book release I must have?
Goes on my kindle.

ALSO - I use my kindle to edit my stuff. LOVE that. Saves paper.

Kelley Lynn said...

I love both.

eBook for travel and working out. For working out its AWESOME! And for travel its nice to not have to drag more than one thing around.

But I love holding books too. I agree they aren't going anywhere :)

Myrna Foster said...

I've never read an e-book. I'm not saying I never will, but I really like books: the art, the weight, the smell, the pages.

Unknown said...

Honestly, for a couple of days I've replaced those heavy books with a Kindle Fire, especially that I can't carry them with me wherever I go. I downloaded so many eBooks from All you can books, because I heard that it's a great site with thousand of interesting titles.

Anonymous said...

Print book! I like nice covers, but for me, the texture and smell of the paper is one of the pleasures of reading. I might use e-books in the future - especially if I'm not sure whether I'll like a book or if I think I won't re-read it - but I adore proper books.

I love the freshness of a new book and the mustiness of old books. I like coming across comments or underlinings in used books. Dammit, I'm just in love with books...

Shallee said...

I still read both. I love my Nook, and buy a lot of books on it. But if it's a book I REALLY am excited about, I want a paper copy. Preferably a hard-back, like you. I'll never be a fully e-book girl!

Crack You Whip said...

I love digital because I don't have to worry about storage. I do love to hold an actual book in my hand, but they do take up space.

Samantha May said...

You know I really do love my Kindle, but for me nothing will ever replace the feeling of a hardcover book. It just feels more personal.

Great post! By the way I've tagged you in the Lucky 7 Meme :)

Sarah Tokeley said...

Until they invent a waterproof tablet you can safely read in the bath, there will always be room for both :-)

Brooke R. Busse said...

I've never read an eBook. Most likely never will. See... I have a bit of a... fetish for paper. I love the way it feels. I even find if there's any kind of paper related thing on my desk when I'm trying to concentrate, I start rubbing it. Can't live without that. That is part of reading for me... and now I've made myself sound completely demented. XD

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