eReader or stick with paper?
Discussion
Probably done to death, but I'm being forced into a decision!
We're renovating the house, and am really going to struggle with book storage. O/h suggested a kindle and say goodbye to the stacks of physical books I have.
Logically it makes sense - I re-read a lot of the stuff I have (especially good sci fi), which would suit a kindle. I'd not lose the space in the new living area that 3/4 double bookcases take up.
But there's just something holding me back, am I being stupid?
Practically, how do they stack up. There's a lot of books I'd want to replace, how much would the complete works of Iain M Banks cost to download?
We're renovating the house, and am really going to struggle with book storage. O/h suggested a kindle and say goodbye to the stacks of physical books I have.
Logically it makes sense - I re-read a lot of the stuff I have (especially good sci fi), which would suit a kindle. I'd not lose the space in the new living area that 3/4 double bookcases take up.
But there's just something holding me back, am I being stupid?
Practically, how do they stack up. There's a lot of books I'd want to replace, how much would the complete works of Iain M Banks cost to download?
Sway said:
But there's just something holding me back, am I being stupid?
Nope.I have tons of dead tree books. In fact I will soon have to buy a bigger house to hold them all
eReaders have many advantages but to me they just don't have the romance of physical books.
To me, books are about more than the text on the page. They're a thread in the tapestry of my life. With most of my books I can remember when and where I read them and that brings back memories. I can write in them. The covers are often works of art. They look nice in the house. And I own them forever and can give them away or re-sell them whenever I want.
There's something cool about the fact that while eReaders will be made obsolete by the next model, a physical book will remain usable for all time. I have books which were printed in the 16th century and which I can read right now by simply taking them off the shelf and opening them, exactly as someone 400 years ago would have done.
And what would you rather give to your grandkids - your original Iain M Banks set as read by you, or a link to download it?
I'm going to stick with dead trees. Maybe get a carpenter in and design some custom shelves to maximise use of the available space?
AmitG said:
To me, books are about more than the text on the page. They're a thread in the tapestry of my life. With most of my books I can remember when and where I read them and that brings back memories. I can write in them. The covers are often works of art. They look nice in the house. And I own them forever and can give them away or re-sell them whenever I want.
There's something cool about the fact that while eReaders will be made obsolete by the next model, a physical book will remain usable for all time. I have books which were printed in the 16th century and which I can read right now by simply taking them off the shelf and opening them, exactly as someone 400 years ago would have done.
And what would you rather give to your grandkids - your original Iain M Banks set as read by you, or a link to download it?
I'm going to stick with dead trees. Maybe get a carpenter in and design some custom shelves to maximise use of the available space?
There's something cool about the fact that while eReaders will be made obsolete by the next model, a physical book will remain usable for all time. I have books which were printed in the 16th century and which I can read right now by simply taking them off the shelf and opening them, exactly as someone 400 years ago would have done.
And what would you rather give to your grandkids - your original Iain M Banks set as read by you, or a link to download it?
I'm going to stick with dead trees. Maybe get a carpenter in and design some custom shelves to maximise use of the available space?
Well said 
The sound of a room with a wall of books is 'full', comforting and warm. I'd love to have the space to keep them, but I'm now a keen kindle devotee. I take mine pretty much everywhere and choose which of the several books I have on the go at any time as my mood dictates.
They both have their place - for the sake of £100 or maybe you could borrow one, it's worth trying out a paperwhite for a week or two. If you're like me you'll end up with many books AND a kindle.
They both have their place - for the sake of £100 or maybe you could borrow one, it's worth trying out a paperwhite for a week or two. If you're like me you'll end up with many books AND a kindle.
We've got somewhere in the region of 6000 books.
I don't think I've turned a page of any of them since I got my kindle, save for a couple of text books and technical ones that haven't been published in ebook format. I prefer reading on e-ink, I can carry all the books I'll ever need when I travel and not waste precious carry-on space.
I don't think I've turned a page of any of them since I got my kindle, save for a couple of text books and technical ones that haven't been published in ebook format. I prefer reading on e-ink, I can carry all the books I'll ever need when I travel and not waste precious carry-on space.
Appreciate the thoughts, think I've come up with a plan...
Small, custom made bookcase, with only those books that really stand out for us both, to appreciate as fine, useful things.
Then ereader for day to day use. If something/someone really stands out then they're worth the space investment in 'proper' format.
Prompted by the replies on here and the loan of my sister's kobo mini. Too small a screen, but I still appreciated what I was reading. Not quite as emotive as holding a chunk of cellulose in my hands, but nothing bad enough to put me off.
So, which ereader? Kobo/Kindle/other - don't know enough to even begin comparing them, all I know is I read a lot I bed so a backlight would be useful...
Small, custom made bookcase, with only those books that really stand out for us both, to appreciate as fine, useful things.
Then ereader for day to day use. If something/someone really stands out then they're worth the space investment in 'proper' format.
Prompted by the replies on here and the loan of my sister's kobo mini. Too small a screen, but I still appreciated what I was reading. Not quite as emotive as holding a chunk of cellulose in my hands, but nothing bad enough to put me off.
So, which ereader? Kobo/Kindle/other - don't know enough to even begin comparing them, all I know is I read a lot I bed so a backlight would be useful...
Stu R said:
We've got somewhere in the region of 6000 books.
I don't think I've turned a page of any of them since I got my kindle, save for a couple of text books and technical ones that haven't been published in ebook format. I prefer reading on e-ink, I can carry all the books I'll ever need when I travel and not waste precious carry-on space.
me too I don't think I've turned a page of any of them since I got my kindle, save for a couple of text books and technical ones that haven't been published in ebook format. I prefer reading on e-ink, I can carry all the books I'll ever need when I travel and not waste precious carry-on space.
I had around 2500 books a couple of years ago
both my wife and I now have kindles and we now only have 250 or so books - all hardback and all the ones I love (ie rare hardback of LOTR etc).
For normal every day reading having a kindle is SO much easier. It took me a week or so to get used to the change from paper to e-ink but I now wouldn't go back- I'd spend anoht £130 on a kindle before buying another book.
The ONLY exception for me are reference books- ie cook books when you really need to be able to flick through something.
If you travel a Kindle is simply a necessity. I am and always will be a lifelong devotee of paper. There is no better way of reading. My life now though takes a lot of that ability away so I have to compromise. I use the Kindle (generic term, I think I'm on some google Asus thing as I type) religiously abroad. Its an outstanding device but not just that. Amazon has brought a different book marketplace to life. I download books for 99p I would never have k own about now. That is wonderful for a reading geek. In the UK and especially on my downtime I pick up the paper to read or a magazine. I have a full digital subscription pack to Murdoch and The Times for when I'm in Europe but nothing beats sitting down with the paper and a coffee at the weekends.
I'd go with a Kindle (Paperwhite) over a Kobo, but that's just because I think they look/feel/work better.
I was like you - a great fan of books and I have many hundreds at home. I really was against going for a Kindle but my wife just bought me one with some books from my favourite authors on and told me to try it. After a few weeks, I realised that I couldn't do without it. I use it every day (I commute) and it's also great for holidays and the beach where I think it really comes into its own.
I was like you - a great fan of books and I have many hundreds at home. I really was against going for a Kindle but my wife just bought me one with some books from my favourite authors on and told me to try it. After a few weeks, I realised that I couldn't do without it. I use it every day (I commute) and it's also great for holidays and the beach where I think it really comes into its own.
E-readers won't be made obsolete, after all old leather books are not defunct due to modern printing technology. I love my kindle - it holds every one of my books, lets me read in the dark and goes for weeks on a single charge (and can be topped up again in an hour or two). Whilst I agree books look pretty, it's a very inefficient method of storage. E-reader all the way! (I am trying to find an A3 one for textbooks though)
AmitG said:
Justin Cyder said:
I love the smell, the feel & the heft of a book. I'll never buy an e-reader. However, I'll also never look down on anyone who does, instead I admire anyone who reads for pleasure. That's the real prize.
strudel said:
E-readers won't be made obsolete, after all old leather books are not defunct due to modern printing technology. I love my kindle - it holds every one of my books, lets me read in the dark and goes for weeks on a single charge (and can be topped up again in an hour or two). Whilst I agree books look pretty, it's a very inefficient method of storage. E-reader all the way! (I am trying to find an A3 one for textbooks though)
I didn't buy an e-reader as I love the feel of books and also their appearance.Come Xmas nearly 3 years ago I got one. It took me time to be converted - about two weeks.
I now have hundreds books I carry around with me to most places. When my wife is shopping, I read. When on a train, or bus, I read. When I'm waiting for whoever, I read. I've never read so many books and the ease of carrying my pad around with me is the reason.
I still buy books although I hardly ever a novel which is available on kindle except when I pick one up in a charity shop. Even then, it often stays on the table by the side of my chair as I tend to read mainly on kindle. I've also tried a lot of new novelists as they often have their first books on kindle for a few pence. Some have been absolutely remarkable while some a waste of money, even if only a few coppers. But I'd only infrequently take a risk on a new novelist in the 'old days'.
The money I've saved on novels I've spent on books. I buy non-fiction mainly - just bought one on different kinds of bridges - and particularly ones for reference. I've recently bought two books on Mercedes cars that were about 40% of new price on Amazon.
I'm glad my kids bought me an e-reader. I doubt I would have taken the plunge myself. I can read without glasses as I can increase the font size.
The major downside, and it is a big one, is that I can't pass the book on. I have a couple of friends, and a brother, in a book-lending group. We'd buy novels and then pass them on to one-another. However, we now pass on recommendations of cheap novels, which is fairly similar.
My wife accused me of 'always having my nose stuck in a book [pad]', something that my mother used to say to me 55-odd years ago.
The world is big enough for e-readers and books. Now I don't buy so many novels, so are my bookshelves.
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff