Paper or Plastic?

• Do you read e-Books?
• If so, how? On your computer, or a PDA?
• Or are you a paper purist? Why?

My answer's pretty simple, really. I do not read e-books. Not as a rule. (I won't say never, but, well, maybe once out of every 1000 books? Every four or five years or so?) I have nothing against them, but I like being able to curl up with a book--something that's hard to do with a computer. Even the e-readers that are out, they're not the same--and also harder on the eyes. You don't get the nifty little "flick" whisper of the turning pages. You don't get the satisfaction of closing a book after the last page. It's just not the SAME. And not nearly so portable.

Of course, this isn't to say that I'd never change my mind about this . . . or at least, that I wouldn't start adding some e-books into my life at some point. But will it ever replace the paper variety? The volumes I have on my shelves? The loved volumes with tattered corners and tape marking the multitude of times I've read them? Inscriptions from loved ones in books I was given as gifts? I don't see how anything electronic could possibly replace that.

Hey, I still buy CDs for my music, too, even with my MP3 player . . . and I even still have my vinyl LP collection down in the basement. Electronic can be nice and convenient and all, but sometimes you need something you can hold in your hand.

And--entirely off-topic, but check out this car video . . .

The 10 Second guy was kind of funny, too.

Comments

[Kat]

I so agree! There's nothing quite like being able to carry the book in your hands and read wherever you want to :D

[Laura]

E-books have their place. But they don't feel or smell right.

[Literary Feline]

The satisfaction of closing a book after that last page . . . Yes, that is a great feeling isn't it? After reading all these responses I'm appreciating my paper books a lot more. LOL

[Debby]

I completely agree. I enjoy the cover art of a book, using a bookmark, tucking books into my luggage if we're going away. I ask people who give me books as gifts to inscribe a message, so I know what occasion the book was given for...I don't think I could ever be sentimental for something that's downloaded or on audiotape. Reference books seem to be the only sort of book I'd rather have digitally.

[Marianne]

I had to LOL at your vinyl collection -- I still have 300+ records and a turntable to listen to them on. If I could find them on CD, I would, but many of them just aren't available.

And that had nothing to do with BTT, but you can read my answers at my blog instead!

[chris]

I used to read everything, in every way!! I do have an ebook reader - but haven't used it in a few years. As a matter of fact, my life long habit of reading all the time, seriously took a nose dive when I was diagnosed with fibro - my concentration is just not what it was, but I miss it, so I'm trying to fill the gaps with less intensive reading. No audible books or books on tape though - I've never done that and really haven't wanted to.

[Carole]

I have, on occasion, listened to books on either the laptop of ipod. But I still prefer the printed word.

[Paula]

Our library e-books are .pdf. No fun on dialup at home.
I don't think students like them either.

[Cathy]

I absolutely LOVE books! I look forward to the summer because I have so much more time to read and I can read all day and well into the night. I have tried e-books on my pda (sitting at my computer reading doesn't do it for me), but I find it is not as easy to see (the eyes are getting older) and like you, I very much enjoy the feel of a book in my hands. I have, however, been known to load audio books onto my mp3 player so that I can sit at the beach/in the yard and knit while listening.

[Risa]

I love books in all forms, well except audio. I can't concentrate on them and wind up tuning them out as background noise. The train commute combined with a rather flighty attitude towards genres, (I have to be in the mood to read a particular type of book) necessitated schlepping several books around with me. That scenario lends itself perfectly towards ebooks. Combined with a multitasking e-platform (Treo especially that I'm carrying anyway) rather than a single tasker like a dedicated ebook reader, and I'm rather happy. that's not to say i don't like to curl up on the couch with good old paper.

[Kim]

If it ain't paper, to me it ain't a book.

[CindyCindy]

No argument here. I love paper books. I have not read an ebook, but that's because middle age is not kind to vision. hehe.

[pixiepurls]

I love paper books, I love holding them and sometimes folding the pages, or if it's a book I love NOT folding the pages and keeping it all new looking. I think e-books would hurt my eyes, I look at monitors enough as it is so I consider reading a book a good break for my eyes. Plus I like to read in the bathtub and I can't imagine thats a good place for anything electronic.

[Carol]

I actually do both. I have my ebooks on my PDA which is also my dayplanner, my addressbook..in short my prosthetic memory. I also have paper books. I like the fact that wherever I am, I can pull out my dayplanner and read, especially if I have an unexpected delay somwhere. I don't like that the battery runs out! I do like the fact that when I move the ebooks are all on a cd or 2 or 3 and light. Paper books are heavy and take up space. My PDA lights up, so I don't need to worry about reading in the dark, too!

[Kristi in CO]

I tried to get into reading on my PDA when I used it regularly and spent a lot of time in waiting rooms (prior to knitting), but I don't think I ever even finished reading a book that way. I still prefer to have the physical CD or DVD as opposed to just the file, but I wish I could get over that.

[meowminx]

Ive yet to discover the joys of reading e-books, but it would still be paper books for me :)

[Beth S.]

I read online books (Project Gutenberg, etc) when I'm at work. Don't tell my boss. ;-) Right now I'm working my way through _A Room with a View_.

[becky]

I don't read e-books either. It is too uncomfortable on my eyes trying to read that much on a computer screen.

[Danielle]

I agree with you on the e-books!!! I thought that car/cake commercial was a treat! Not sure about the ten seconds....I couldn't pay attention past the teacup part...ah well, this is why I can't read e-books.

[Chris]

I like to read regular old books. But I also love to listen to audio books (preferably mp3) when I'm on a driving trip.

[Kim]

I like to read paper books in bed and listen to audio books in the car. Reading books on my palm just isn't attractive to me.

[Laurie]

I saw an ebook at the iPod store this week. Not particularly tempted. Are we old school?

Really liked the car cake. AMAZING.