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Book or e-book?

V

Violanthe

New Member
Have you ever read an electronic novel? How did you take to the format? Was it tough not to have that paper book in your hands? Or was it easier than you expected? If you've never read an e-book, why haven't you? Would you ever consider it? Why or why not?
 
If you've never read an e-book, why haven't you? Would you ever consider it? Why or why not?
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I would never read one, to me, it's just another example of technology "dumbing-down" our culture. Short attention spans, and even shorter syllable word usage can be directly blamed(in my opinion) on computers being used in schools, not to mention the work place. The 19th century farmers with a sixth grade education would spin circles around our little tech-noid children and "desktop" publishing society.:rolleyes:
 
I don't like reading large amounts of text on a screen, simply because it's inconvenient and hurts my eyes. Paper and print, please.
 
I've read one e-book and didn't have too many problems with it. But yeah, it's bad for your eyes and isn't near as good as real books. I'd only convert to them if the world was in some crisis and couldn't waste paper anymore.
 
I prefer paper books that I can hold, but I do read small amounts of text on my PDA. I signed up for sample chapters of books from my local library and bits are emailed to me daily. I download these onto my PDA and read them at my leisure. If I like it, I'll get the whole book to read. It's the best of both worlds, IMO.
 
I have a desktop computer and find it difficult to lug out to the screened porch and hold onto while laying on the lounge chair. :)
 
I don't really like the idea of e-books because one of the best things about reading is the feeling of the book in your hands and the wonderful smell of new pages. And as other have stated, my eyes start to hurt after sitting at the computer for too long, and I should think that this would happen with e-books too. The little PDA things would be handy though - they would save a lot of space!
 
Yes, Violanthe, I've read ebooks. I've tons of them downloaded free (legally, I might add) of full blown novels you'd scramble to buy from bookstores. I've even (gasp!) bought a book that I couldn't find in stores anywhere, and I needed to read the book *now* (that book was Lois M Bujold's Shards of Honor, which proved to be a brilliant read and a good buy).

Many classics are available as a free download (check out Free Books threads by Wabbit), and consequently I never buy classics anymore.

Btw, I don't recommend reading on your computer desktop, or even notebook. I've tried it, and like all bibliophiles, hated it. I agree with all who complain that you can't bring a desktop monitor to bed, you can't slouch on your favourite couch with something so heavy you can hardly breathe.

There are plenty of ways of reading an ebook properly, and I submit that one of the best ways at present time is using a PDA. My PDA is outfitted with no less than 3 ebook reader software (all free), lest there be a book that I cannot read because of incompatibility. :D

We've talked about ebooks on this forum on and off for a long time, so do go ahead and search for those threads too if you want to know what others think of ebooks.

I'm one who thinks that soon enough, ebooks will be the predominant way books will be bought and delivered, and, whether we like it or not, read.

ds
 
Well it may be true that the predomninat technology for delivering books to readers in the future may take the guise of e-books but I think given the amount of resistance people have to e-books vs. the tactile and currently practical appeal books retain that there will always be a significant percentage of the community that demands books delivered in the more traditional format.

I suspect the % of those preferring the traditional format will lessen over generations as the e-book technology closer simulates the traditional book format and becomes more widely accepted but I feel that given books in their traditional format appeal to several of our senses as humans and indeed our humanity that you will never eraidicate the need for touch completely.

I for one remain an ardent and passionate fan of the traditional format although I recognise the convenience and cost effectiveness of obtaining certain materials especially those that are out of print or that would otherwise be difficult to obtain for certain groups around the world.

My 2C....
 
Gollum... I totally agree with you on the tactile feedback being important. That is the primary reason in my opinion why ebooks hasn't taken off. For now.

I love the feel of a real book. But I'm optimistic about ebooks because there are far too many pros compared to cons. And don't forget, you can print from a digital source. Brewster Kahle is involved in an initiative where mobile print stations are driven to remote locations in Africa (or elsewhere, I forget) and public domain or open sourced books are printed on the fly for poor kids who have no access to libraries. Imagine what this will do for those of us lucky enough to be a little more privileged.

Also, E-Ink is coming along well, and when they get their technology right, we can expect lots of good stuff, like the Minority Report train scene where newspapers change content on the fly. That isn't science fiction anymore. At least it won't be very soon.

ds
 
I prefer paper. I don't mind doing sopme work on the computer or browsing forums, but I much prefer pen and paper. If I write something I always write it on paper before typing it. I just don't seem to think as clearly when I'm reading on the computer.
 
Certain types of books work well in e-book form. Cookbooks and any info that I might want to print out for use in the real world lend themselves to the format. But to sit down and read a regular book in e-book format? No thank you. It doesn't fit my reading lifestyle. Around here, we usually sit or lounge around with several of us reading our own books. One or more of us staring at a screen would break the mood. Besides, another common practice is to swap books amongst ourselves. Real book format is much more swap-friendly; easier to share. And if I want to underline a passage, my hubby would get very, very irate if I drew on the computer screen;)
 
Yes, it's important to be able to underline, or use Post-It notes on pages of importance!

Where's the fun of hunting for a bookmark, when reading an e-book? Is slopping pizza sauce on a PDA quite the same as slopping pizza sauce on the pages of a book? Can an e-book be thrown across the room with impunity? Can an e-book be used in a pinch to prop open a door, boost a monitor to a higher level, provide a place for plants to sit? Can you hide money in a PDA? I love to run my fingers across the spines of my books lined up on shelves.

Besides, what would we do with all the space unoccupied by books? ;)
 
Miss Shelf said:
Yes, it's important to be able to underline, or use Post-It notes on pages of importance!

Where's the fun of hunting for a bookmark, when reading an e-book? Is slopping pizza sauce on a PDA quite the same as slopping pizza sauce on the pages of a book? Can an e-book be thrown across the room with impunity? Can an e-book be used in a pinch to prop open a door, boost a monitor to a higher level, provide a place for plants to sit? Can you hide money in a PDA? I love to run my fingers across the spines of my books lined up on shelves.

Besides, what would we do with all the space unoccupied by books? ;)
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<GASP> a house without books???:eek: Talk about nightmares, that gives me the heebeejeebees. Take it back..take it back!
 
abecedarian said:
<GASP> a house without books???:eek: Talk about nightmares, that gives me the heebeejeebees. Take it back..take it back!
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Excellent point-there is a difference between holding a thick paperback or a newly printed hardback and holding........a laptop.:eek:
 
abecedarian said:
<GASP> a house without books???:eek: Talk about nightmares, that gives me the heebeejeebees. Take it back..take it back!
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Excellent point-there is a difference between holding a thick paperback or a newly printed hardback and holding........a laptop.:eek:
 
a few years ago i was searching the internet for free e-books, but concluded that its better to just read a regular book. i don't want to stare at a pixelized screen for hours while i can have a portable book to read whenever/wherever i want
 
Miss Shelf said:
Yes, it's important to be able to underline, or use Post-It notes on pages of importance!
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But you can do that on an ebook too. My Dorian Gray ebook is underlined so much that it looks like a colouring book, and I can jump straight to the pages I've highlighted.

Where's the fun of hunting for a bookmark, when reading an e-book? Is slopping pizza sauce on a PDA quite the same as slopping pizza sauce on the pages of a book? Can an e-book be thrown across the room with impunity? Can an e-book be used in a pinch to prop open a door, boost a monitor to a higher level, provide a place for plants to sit? Can you hide money in a PDA?
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LAUGH! :) Hide money, huh? Well, I hope I'll be able to come around someday to your house, Miss Shelf; browsing through your library will seem like a treasure hunt. :D

Don't you know you're not supposed to throw (with impunity or no) your books? I've got chided by a TBFer just for chucking my books under my bed. :D

People! Don't read ebooks on computer monitors or laptops!!! :mad:

ds
 
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