Am I the only one who prefers an actual book to an e-book? (softcover, hard cover)

[AuburnAL]

So apparently Amazon is selling more e-books than hard covers. No doubt they're giddy as it moves them a step closer to getting rid of the shame they feel for originally being a bookstore website. Anyways I'm about half and half hardcover and softcover. I can't see myself continuing to read if it goes to all e-books, or even only e-book on the books I want to read. Am I the only one?

[North Beach Person]

No, you're not. I find I can't concentrate on the screen.

[Wandering_Spirit]

Nope, you are in the midst of good company. I know a lot of people who are not ready to embrace this new technology just yet, and not in any time soon. I can see some good for this though such as if one does a lot of traveling then having the electronic gizmo would seem like a godsend compared to lugging books in the suitcases or travel bags. However, as much as I can see the good, I still prefer the old fashioned style of buying a book and holding the covers as I flip through the pages reading. I may be wrong but I don't see this technology replacing our beloved books as fast as CDs replaced the vinyl records and cassette tapes or as the DVDs replaced the VHS tapes. At least I hope it doesn't. Besides, for me, there is a certain pride in having a book library that a Kindle or E-Reader will just never capture.

[Creek Hollow]

Originally Posted by AuburnAL

So apparently Amazon is selling more e-books than hard covers. No doubt they're giddy as it moves them a step closer to getting rid of the shame they feel for originally being a bookstore website. Anyways I'm about half and half hardcover and softcover. I can't see myself continuing to read if it goes to all e-books, or even only e-book on the books I want to read. Am I the only one?

No, you most certainly are not. I can't stand reading even long articles on any screen, and absolutely not on something as small as an electronic book reader.

My "library" is constrained by the size of my family room, but if on the slim chance all books were to be available electronically only, I'd start reading my own collection all over again!

[Halo_in_reverse]

Originally Posted by AuburnAL

So apparently Amazon is selling more e-books than hard covers. No doubt they're giddy as it moves them a step closer to getting rid of the shame they feel for originally being a bookstore website. Anyways I'm about half and half hardcover and softcover. I can't see myself continuing to read if it goes to all e-books, or even only e-book on the books I want to read. Am I the only one?

No, you're definitely not alone
Book Forum Chatter Box

[Yzette]

I prefer real books. In fact, I've never read an e-book. I do enough research on-line that when I'm reading for pleasure, I want to give my eyes a break. Plus, paper doesn't simulate sunlight, so reading it isn't going to give you insomnia.

Well, unless it's really good and you just can't put it down.

[artemis agrotera]

anti e-book here.

I love gadgets and all that, however you can not compare to a real book.
I am on a computer all day so reading a book is for me, easier on my eyes.

Plus, I couldn't imagine my home without a bookcase full of books.

Recently I was in a rare bookstore where they had a copy of Wuthering Heights from a 1902 print (or sometime around then).... now, I might be a geek but holding that book and feeling the pages is something that the e-book will never be able to compete with.

[canibeyou]

For the time being, I prefer real books to e-books.

I smiled inside while recently on a flight and the lady across the isle from me had to put her e-reader away during take-off and landing. I, on the other hand read the entire time. I don't like flying, so reading helps take my mind off the fact that I'm 30,000 feet in the air eating pretzels.

I also read a LOT each night in the bathtub. I can't imagine doing that with an e-reader.

[DawnMTL]

Not at all. My husband threatens -- yes, THREATENS is the right word -- to buy me a Kindle. In response, I throw a temper tantrum: "But I need to touch the pages. But I need to SMELL the pages. I don't want a Kindle and you can't make me like it!!!!"

It's like I'm a kid who doesn't want to eat her broccoli.

PS. And, besides, I make almost all my money back by selling the books after I've bought them. I wouldn't be able to do any of that with the Kindle. Pfffft.

[katzenfreund]

Nothing will ever take the place of a real in the "flesh" book for me. I have never tried the e-books and don't plan on doing it.