Books vs. E-readers
66 replies / 1163 views / last reply by Alexandra V. 4 months ago
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I LOVE real books. there's just something about them, you know? i love stocking my shelves with beautiful hardcovers. as a result, i generally think ereaders and ebooks are silly. i understand that they are convenient (smaller size, can carry many books in one ereader) and they are fast (you can download a book in minutes). there are definitely benefits to ereaders. but to me this is not enough to convince me to use them instead of real books. i feel like ereaders take away the...i don't know what the right word is...essence of the book? it's not just about the words, it's about holding the book in your hands and turning the pages, it's about putting it on your shelf to keep.
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Kayla W.
ABSOLUTE HELL,
United States
89 posts
OG since: 04/14/2009
I agree.
Even though I'm more of a library person, books are just more 'authentic.' I feel more in tune to the story when I turn the pages and smell the pages and I'm totally immersed in the story.
posted Aug 29, 2010
Robin H.
PLYMOUTH,
United Kingdom
3228 posts
OG since: 06/04/2010
e readers are balls.
real books all the way ?
posted Aug 29, 2010
Courtney W.
AUSTIN, TX,
United States
166 posts
OG since: 07/24/2010
I will never own an e-reader. fuck those things.
posted Aug 29, 2010
Sonia A.
PORTLAND, OR,
United States
33 posts
OG since: 07/06/2010
For some reason I've only seen old people using e-readers.
But I don't think real books will just "go away". There's still libraries and such even if book stores like b&n go out.
Powells FTW.
posted Aug 29, 2010
Chris F.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS,
United States
6820 posts
OG since: 06/21/2009
I prefer real books. You just lose something with digital doohickeys, despite their convenience.
posted Aug 29, 2010
Alexe G.
MONTREAL,
Canada
1932 posts
OG since: 03/22/2009
Nothing is ever going to replace having the physical book in your hand. The weight of it, the feeling of the pages. That wear and tear they get after much love. But, e-readers have so many advantages. Firstly, ecologically, in terms of paper. Second, in terms of convenience for transport and storage. No more bookcases in cramped appartments and you can bring as many books as you want on vacation.
I don't know, they aren't my thing but especially the ecological impact make me think about adopting it as an alternative and maybe buy physical copies of only the my favourite books.
posted Aug 30, 2010
Kenzie H.
GOTHAM CITY,
Canada
29 posts
OG since: 06/25/2010
I adore real books, I would much rather have a real book and feel the words dance across my fingers, but alas...i have limited funds and I can easily get books off the internet for free. So i use my ipod touch and read it off of it. To me all that matters is the story.
posted Aug 31, 2010
Juliette M.
THE SHED,
United Kingdom
209 posts
OG since: 03/14/2010
readtheprintedword.org/
e readers suck arse.
posted Aug 31, 2010
Anna J.
A LITTLE BIT NEAR LONDON,
United Kingdom
1520 posts
OG since: 10/06/2009
I love smelling books. E-readers just stink of plastic and technology. buergh,
posted Aug 31, 2010
Twiggy T.
NYC,
United States
359 posts
OG since: 08/20/2010
Yes! I totally agree. I have two book shelves in my room and I love it.
There's just something about physically holding a book in my hand and turning the pages while reading it. I love the feel and the smell. =)
posted Aug 31, 2010
Alathea B.
ENGLAND,
United Kingdom
20 posts
OG since: 08/02/2010
I'll always prefer an actual book.
I see the convenience of eBooks. It makes it possible to get loads of books quickly and (in some cases) for free. However, I don't like reading books on my computer screen.
I've never used an E-reader and I never intend to.
I agree with everyone else here, nothing beats holding the actual book in your hand.
Also, I adore bookshops.
Especially the old, small, quaint bookshops. I could spend hours in them. So, I find it heartbreaking that eBooks and E-readers are causing bookshops to close down.
posted Aug 31, 2010
Morgan G.
TORONTO,
Canada
44 posts
Member since: 01/15/2011
I started reading some books on my iPod over the summer as a way to get around reading in bed late at night when my BF had to be up early. That is the ONLY benefit IMO. Try to sunbathe and read? Forget it, you'll never get the reflection off the screen. Want to read in the bath? Not worth the risk of dropping it (whereas wet book pages add character). Also, forget about reading on the beach - silicone is super bad and dangerous for electronics, and what do you think sand is?
Books for the win.
posted Feb 10, 2011
Mika P.
DOWNTOWN MANILA,
Philippines
1908 posts
OG since: 05/21/2009
part of the experience while reading is the physical act of turning the pages, smelling the paper, getting these little cuts on my finger from all the page turning (well at least for me) aside from actually reading the text. i also really love well-designed and well thought off book covers, so i think i'll always prefer reading books than e-books. besides i already have really bad vision and spending excessive amounts of time reading through a screen wont be good for my eyesight. to each his own though. as long as people are reading more books, whether book or e-book, i think that's always a good thing.
posted Feb 10, 2011
Morgan G.
TORONTO,
Canada
44 posts
Member since: 01/15/2011
I love book smell! In the Sex and the City movie, when she talks about smelling her books, I laughed cause I always sniff my books lol
posted Feb 11, 2011
Jayk B.
LOS ANGELES,
United States
39 posts
Member since: 08/31/2010
Yes its all about the smell !
I buy used books online. Can find almost anything, and for really cheap.
posted Feb 12, 2011
Bryony B.
ENGLAND,
United Kingdom
90 posts
OG since: 03/15/2010
Books definetly get my vote. You can see them all on the book shelf in their colurful splender, with the promise of stories, I love the smell of books and turning the page and knocking on the back of a hardback. Mabey weird, but I love it.
posted Feb 12, 2011
Sophie R.
LONDON,
United Kingdom
4384 posts
OG since: 01/21/2010
I love E readers, books are always great but I'm running out of storage space and I'm a bit of a geek so most technology excites me! I want :)
posted Feb 12, 2011
Oney T.
PALE BLUE DOT,
United States
134 posts
OG since: 06/24/2010
Books. I like having something tangible and turning pages. Also, you can personalize books to people you care about.
posted Feb 13, 2011
Dana L.
EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE,
Philippines
2363 posts
Member since: 08/27/2010
Real books is something that you can feel, see and smell. An e-book can't replace that kind of feeling.
posted Feb 14, 2011
Melissa T.
NEW JERSEY,
United States
9 posts
Member since: 10/28/2010
Interviewer: What do you think of e-books and Amazon’s Kindle?
Bradbury: Those aren’t books. You can’t hold a computer in your hand like you can a book. A computer does not smell. There are two perfumes to a book. If a book is new, it smells great. If a book is old, it smells even better. It smells like ancient Egypt. A book has got to smell. You have to hold it in your hands and pray to it. You put it in your pocket and you walk with it. And it stays with you forever. But the computer doesn’t do that for you. I’m sorry.
Ray Bradbury in an interview (Paris Review, 2010)
posted Feb 16, 2011
Izzy L.
SAN DIEGO,
United States
113 posts
OG since: 04/05/2010
You can't experience a machine like you can experience an actual book. I don't think I could ever truly enjoy reading off of one of those. I absolutely love the smell and feel of books.
posted Feb 17, 2011
Twiggy T.
NYC,
United States
359 posts
OG since: 08/20/2010
I wish I didn't love paper books so that I could get an e-reader. They're just so much more efficient and I guess you could say they're environmentally friendly.
But there's just something about holding that book in your hand and physically turning the pages that makes the experience so much better. =]
posted Feb 17, 2011
May A.
EUROPE,
Spain
825 posts
OG since: 09/20/2009
E-readers are pretty useful, but I love real books.
posted Feb 18, 2011
ELLE G.
SUFFOLK, ENGLAND,
United Kingdom
177 posts
OG since: 01/10/2009
books > e-readers
end of.
it makes me sad when i think that book shops might close. amazon is going to ruin the high street.
posted Feb 19, 2011
Vero C.
SANTO DOMINGO,
Dominican Republic
202 posts
OG since: 06/08/2009
i completely agree. i would never buy an e-reader. when i read a real book i can connect to the story, i like to feel the pages and to turn them.
posted Feb 20, 2011
Laura A.
PARIS,
France
297 posts
Member since: 02/07/2011
I'm all for real books!
posted Feb 24, 2011
Steph F.
FL,
United States
55 posts
Member since: 12/08/2010
I didn't know so many people felt the same way as I did. I love this forum and it's people like us that will keep books alive.
posted Feb 24, 2011
Colleen R.
BALTIMORE,
United States
14 posts
OG since: 06/11/2010
Unpopular opinion time - both! I have a Kindle Fire and love it but i use it more for children's books (for my son, I have Dr. Suess and a few Roald Dahl books), books I get for free or emailed from my mother, and things like magazines. I do have fiction and a few regular novels on the Fire as well and wouldn't say it 'takes away' from the experience, though, the story remains the same. But I do collect books as well so if a book comes out that I really feel will be special to me, I purchase the paper copy. It depends, I guess. The children's books I even prefer on my Kindle because the pictures and colors are brighter and in amazing definition, but nothing beats that old book smell or the feel of turning a page.
posted Dec 1, 2011
Lucy D.
LONDON,
United Kingdom
446 posts
Member since: 08/04/2011
I'll join your unpopular opinion. I have a kindle and I never go anywhere without it. It's so small and light I don't have to worry about what size bag I bring anywhere with me because it fits into even my smallest handbag. I love that I don't have to limit myself to what books I read based on whether or not I can physically carry it around. I recently finished the Millennium Trilogy which I don't think I would have if I'd read a paperback version because I'm put off by the size of it. I've also started reading Game of Thrones which I'm really enjoying. I took it away on holiday with me and only needed to carry a very small carry on bag with me because all my books were on one device. I did bring a paperback with me as well for reading on the beach so I wouldn't worry about theft.
I do love the feel of a good book and if I'm reading something at home then I'll normally pick up a paperback and I was slightly sceptical that I'd find the technology of a kindle too distracting to read, but honestly when you're holding it in your hand, you don't even notice anything else. It's also great for when you're reading and only have one free hand like when I'm eating my lunch or on a bus and have to stand to my older hand is being used to hang on.
Books will never go out of business I'm confident of that, but my kindle is probably the best gift I've been given in years.
posted Dec 1, 2011
Ceci L.
DORSET,
United Kingdom
234 posts
OG since: 07/01/2010
I agree with all your reasons!
Whilst reading an actual book is great and a far better experience, you can't dispute the convenience of an e-reader. You can also get your daily paper downloaded every day. I'm thinking about getting one for my dad for Christmas for this reason, and also so he doesn't have to worry about luggage limits when he goes on holiday.
posted Dec 1, 2011
Lucy D.
LONDON,
United Kingdom
446 posts
Member since: 08/04/2011
I've bought one for my mum for Christmas. She was a bit on the fence before but after she saw mine, she really wanted one as well. I have thought about getting a newspaper subscription to mine as well :-)
posted Dec 2, 2011
Max. G.
France
120 posts
Member since: 09/25/2011
E-readers : how can you?? It sounds terrible to me... but as you can see the feedbacks up above, real books are not going to be given up soon. But I agree, technology is going crazy; Now an Iphone is a fireplace, you know :)
posted Dec 2, 2011
Chris F.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS,
United States
6820 posts
OG since: 06/21/2009
I revise my previous opinion here with the fine words of author John Green.
"I don't care how you read; I care whether you read."
posted Dec 2, 2011
Carolyn M.
JOISEY,
United States
944 posts
OG since: 09/25/2009
I like books. I have nothing against e-readers, my dad has a kindle and loves it, and it's certainly convenient, but just not for me. I like building a collection of books, and putting them on my shelves. Also as many others have said, I love smelling books. : ] And they won't run out of battery on long flights! Plus, I love reading older campy books that probably aren't even available on things like Kindles, so there's that too.
posted Dec 3, 2011
John G.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK,
United States
104 posts
Member since: 08/17/2011
Books are better. Just the sensation of holding one in your hands and turning the pages makes reading more enjoyable.
posted Dec 3, 2011
Morgan J.
AUSTRALIA,
Australia
37 posts
Member since: 05/12/2011
Oh man, when I want to read a book it's to ESCAPE a screen!! Being a blogger full time and graphic designer - all I wanna do is get away to the pages of a good book :)
posted Dec 5, 2011
Shayna N.
TORONTO ,
Canada
1 posts
Member since: 03/14/2011
I guess it makes me sound bad when I say I don't care for the feel of the book lol, all I care about is if the book is good or not. I like my e-reader because as other people say you can store alot of books on it and my house is already cluttered with books and I'm always losing the ones I borrow from the library lol.
posted Dec 5, 2011
Zahira O.
JAKARTA,
Indonesia
420 posts
OG since: 01/30/2010
e-books are convenient but i get tired after reading half of it so i really do prefer the real books than electronics.
posted Dec 6, 2011
Lucy D.
LONDON,
United Kingdom
446 posts
Member since: 08/04/2011
One of the misgivings a lot of people have about e-readers is the think you're just staring at a screen. I was a bit worried about this and my eyes as well but they're not lit up and they use e-ink which is really easy on the eyes. It looks exactly the same as the page of a book.
posted Dec 6, 2011
Koko M.
Hong Kong
1 posts
Member since: 03/18/2011
I like decorating my room with lovely real books! It's what ebooks can't do.
posted Dec 6, 2011
Val P.
Trinidad and Tobago
28 posts
Member since: 08/27/2010
In a perfect world, real books would have the 'Ctrl F' function.
posted Dec 8, 2011
Beneaththeglass ..
THE INTERNET,
United States
141 posts
OG since: 03/05/2010
nothing can replace the feeling of curling up with a blanket and a good book..or relaxing in the tub with a book, etc. not too sound cheesy, but there's just something about a new book, or old one too, that you don't get from an electronic device. books remind me of simpler times :)
posted Dec 9, 2011
Christina A.
TEXAS,
United States
613 posts
OG since: 06/06/2010
buh this makes me so sad, I know that books are getting really expensive which is why I've been buying all of mine on Alibris lately (although the shipping costs more than the books, but. still better). books are so pretty and it is not the same at all to read on a nook or whatever. icky icky icky. and looking at them for a long time makes me nauseous anyways.
posted Dec 11, 2011
Becky B.
2005,
United Kingdom
593 posts
Member since: 08/28/2010
I despise e-readers.
I love books so much. I never throw a book out. I've just moved and my fiance is dismayed at how many books we have. He keeps asking me to get rid of some but I can't do it. He doesn't understand why I'm so picky about keeping them pristine either. He stored them wrong and one of them has got all bent up and creased. I wasn't happy!
Nothing can ever replace the feeling of a book.
posted Dec 11, 2011
Steph B.
YORK,
United Kingdom
230 posts
Member since: 06/13/2011
hate e-readers! and not mention they're a computer, so all that time you are reading with one you are damaging your eyes!
posted Jan 14, 2012
Kat C.
United States
297 posts
Member since: 10/09/2010
Real books are 10 times better. I can understand the appeal of e-readers, but they just don't appeal to me. I'm looking for a book I can physically hold and flip the pages of. Otherwise the reading experience feels completely different.
posted Jan 29, 2012
MaryAlice M.
WONDERLAND,
United States
811 posts
Member since: 09/14/2011
Books for sure. I love the smell of OLD books especially. That adds such an atmosphere that E-readers could never touch.
posted Jan 30, 2012
Emma ..
GERMANY,
Germany
52 posts
Member since: 11/24/2010
I prefer books because I love filling up bookshelves with them. I wanna have an entire wall full of books one day. Plus I love turning the pages and putting cute bookmarks in them. And of course the smell of books just makes me calm down instantly.
My boyfriend has a kindle and even though its cool that you can have thousands of books with you and its not even heavy but its just not the same. I'm not so fond of it actually.
So I'm all for books, book and BOOKS!!!
posted Feb 1, 2012
Kirstin P.
NOWHERE,
Canada
20 posts
Member since: 03/07/2011
I absolutely adore books, I love going around flea markets and old bookshops and finding beautiful old copies of my favorite books. My room at home in my parents house is literally FILLED with books. But because I travel around so much, I can also see the benefit of an e-reader. I was pretty against them at first, but then my mum got me one for christmas (because after being away for two months, I had bought so many books i could hardly lift my carry-on on the plane home aha) and i have to say, they are really good. The screen is designed so that it is like reading an actual book, so its not hard on your eyes or anything, and this way i can have my entire library at home with me when i travel.
I will never stop buying books, even now with an e-reader i have to physically restrain myself whenever i see a pile of old dusty books at a market aha, but this way i can still read as much as i like without having to sacrifice bringing any of my shoes along in my suitcase ahaha
posted Feb 2, 2012
Monica D.
Bulgaria
241 posts
Member since: 01/25/2012
I've never had an e-book and I don't think I'll have. Real books are what I love and read. (of course, Ctrl+F is a great feature of the e-books, but that's another story)
posted Feb 3, 2012
Kat B.
THE SUNSHINE STATE,
United States
46 posts
Member since: 12/31/2011
I totally agree! I don't have anything against e-books, but I don't think I would ever buy one. It just wouldn't feel right to me.
posted Feb 4, 2012
Jana T.
Philippines
458 posts
Member since: 03/06/2011
my dad bought me a sony reader a while back. i've only used it less than 10 times. real books, please! :)
posted Feb 5, 2012
Alexandra L.
GIURGIU,
Romania
55 posts
Member since: 11/07/2010
As much as technology and reading are coming more and mre together, I simply can't stand ereaders. They make the eyes sore (as if it weren't enough the amount of time we spend online), plus they ruin the magic of reading!
posted Feb 7, 2012
Delphine R.
EVERYWHERE,
France
24 posts
Member since: 03/11/2011
Well I have an e-book, a christmas gift, and now I'm really using it.
It will NEVER replace books, their smell and their touch, but when you travel, go away, it is really great to have only a small e-book to carry instead of tones of big and heavy books ! Plus the technology is going better than at the beginnings : battery for weeks, a screen that doesn't hurt your eyes, you can take notes, underline words or sentences, etc ...
And ... all the "classical litterature" being old enough to be royalty/copy free (at least in France), you can download all of them for free. This means thousands books !
But this is an electronic device : no way to read when your at the beach, and once "new books" are published in pocket editions the paper version become cheaper than the numeric one. So I think there is no worry to have for paper books. :-)
posted Feb 8, 2012
Alexandra V.
EQUESTRIA,
Belgium
12 posts
Member since: 12/22/2011
Keep it real, read a book.
posted Feb 8, 2012