Kindle vs real book

[ALB2012]

Was having a chat with my friend about the merits of e-books. I was wondering how people here feel about kindles or other e book devices vs a "real" book

[Steerpike]

I like them both. I'm pretty much out of space for real books, I have so many. I seem to be able to read equally well on both of them (so long as it is the Kindle with the e-ink display; I don't like reading on an LCD).

[ALB2012]

I agree, I have shelves of books getting dusty. Kindle is really handy to take to work or holiday and with all the free books its handy.

There is something nice about a new book though. But I love my kindle

[Steerpike]

I do like both as well. There is something more intimate about a book, somehow. But my Kindle travels nicely with a large number of books on it.

I suspect at some point eBooks will be the norm and having a bunch of paperback books around will be kind of like people having vinyl, now. It will be done, but it will be something collectors do.

[Kelise]

I will always adore printed books, and I can't think of a better way to 'decorate' - in my opinion there's nothing that looks better than rows and stacks of books around the place.

However, I (used to) travel a lot. I literally broke my suitcase the first time I was in the UK because it was too heavy with books. For the last few years I've been ill with a thing called 'Ross River', which (among other things) effects the joints in my hands, making it hard to hold a book that's 200+ pages. Reading on the iPad or Kindle means I can read anything again. I also generally flick between three or four books as I review for a publisher, judge for the Australian Aurealis Awards, and join book clubs - this means I don't have to lug around all the books or try to pick which one I'll feel like reading over lunch.

My father easily reads four or five books a week, and Mum used to have to go to the library once or twice a week for him. Now he has my old iPad and he only puts it down to drive, sleep, and for it to charge. Now he's probably reading six books a week. His eyes are also pretty bad and even the 'large print' books weren't really large enough for him - now he has no trouble reading.

So while I adore printed books, and I will always have my thousands stacked around the house and in storage since I can't stand the thought of selling or giving them away... eBooks are really handy for those who travel, or those who are ill. Really, really handy. When I first got sick, I managed maybe two books in three months. Now I'm back to 120+ a year.

[Steerpike]

You'd like my home office, Kelise. Books occupy every space along the walls. When I hit around 1500 books or so I realized I had a serious space problem. I have some in storage (since I won't sell them), and now I'm going about half Kindle / half paper.

[Chime85]

I must confess, I am a book lover in this sense. As handy as e-books and kindles are, I cannot do without the familiar thumbed page. I will be one to buy the printed word until it dies out.

x

[Benjamin Clayborne]

I haven't bought a physical book in a couple of years now. Everything I buy is on Kindle. I've read hundreds (perhaps thousands) of physical books in my life, but for me, the experience is in the story, not the medium. I read the entirety of A Song of Ice and Fire on my Kindle (actually, I read book 5 on my phone!) and I doubt very much I would have enjoyed it more had it been on printed paper.

To me, ebooks are worth it just for the fact that they break the traditional publishing industry's stranglehold on distribution.

[Phil the Drill]

I like both as well. It's kind of like asking "which do you like more, steak or chicken?" Well, I like both. The Kindle is more convenient for me to carry around, since I take lots of public transportation. Also, when I used to fly, I always would pack like seven or eight books for my flight. I haven't got a chance yet, but when I fly next time, the Kindle is coming only.

So I'd say for people who are on the move a lot, the Kindle is awesome. But, I'm not throwing away my books yet. Although they do crowd my place up.

[Endymion]

I like real books more, but I am just getting used to e-books so who knows.
I am writing on my Ipad by the way. Really handy.