Physical Books vs. Ebooks

[Grasshopper]

I'm sorry, I don't understand you here.  You don't use a Kindle when you are "just wanting to read"?

You know, pick up a random book lying around and read it until one finds something else to do.

I read a lot and I am not sure how common this random reading is.

I do this a lot (what you call random reading), but I consider it a bad habit and generally a waste of time.           I have even confessed it (not random reading specifically, but wasting time in general). I wish I could get back all the time I've spent in random reading (and other time-wasting activities) and redirect it to something more productive.

[Rosarium]

I do this a lot (what you call random reading), but I consider it a bad habit and generally a waste of time.           I have even confessed it (not random reading specifically, but wasting time in general). I wish I could get back all the time I've spent in random reading (and other time-wasting activities) and redirect it to something more productive.

I don't do it when I have other things to do. I do it before and after going to sleep, waiting for things, or when I am curious about something.

[DesperatelySeeking]

Real books, only and forever.

God will bless you.   ;)

[DesperatelySeeking]

I don't have a nook or Kindle, so I'm basing my understanding of their fragility on the (literally) hundreds of negative reviews on amazon about the various Kindle models.  It seems to me to be a persistent problem regardless of model and release date.  If that's overstated, then I am happy to stand corrected.  I suppose I am considering a device like that to be similar to a smartphone; I tend to be pretty careful with mine.

No animosity......just that the fetishistic insistence that ebooks are the greatest thing since Genesis and that all who fail to bow before them are Neanderthals gets a little tiresome.  Honestly, one of these days, I'll probably get one.

It's about simplicity.  Books, as objects per se, are simple.  Ebooks require an infrastructure in order to be accessed and read.  Sure, physical books need plants to print them and trucks to deliver them...but once created, they persist and can be utilized independently of that infrastructure.  A ebook just seems to me to be a really comolex way to do something that can very readily be done much more simply.  As opposed to, say, a forum like this where the internet and its accompanying hardware is the only thing that makes it possible.

[Rosarium]

I don't have a nook or Kindle, so I'm basing my understanding of their fragility on the (literally) hundreds of negative reviews on amazon about the various Kindle models.  It seems to me to be a persistent problem regardless of model and release date.  If that's overstated, then I am happy to stand corrected.  I suppose I am considering a device like that to be similar to a smartphone; I tend to be pretty careful with mine.

Is it overstated? Look at the sampling and total numbers. Not everyone leaves a review (I didn't I think), and people with negative experiences will usually give them.

I have owned three Kindles. None ever had any problem.

No animosity......just that the fetishistic insistence that ebooks are the greatest thing since Genesis and that all who fail to bow before them are Neanderthals gets a little tiresome.  Honestly, one of these days, I'll probably get one.

I have not seen that. I have seen people with no experience with them have strong opinions against them. It is tiresome.

It's about simplicity.  Books, as objects per se, are simple. 

The old ladies at my church have no problem with Kindles.

[Bakuryokuso]

Any appreciable difference between Kindle and Kobo?

Yes. The Kindle device is only one aspect of the Kindle. The rest is in the Amazon apps and services. By the way, you can get those apps for free to use.

The Kindle also has better electronic ink than others. Better contrast and speed.

I have a work colleague who has a Kindle and two friends with Kobo and everyone seems happy. In Canada the Kobo is supported by Chapters-Indigo but I've always bought most of my books thru Amazon - I presume their ecosystem is more extensive.

Yes. If you have any inkling to get one, it will probably be well worth it.

Make sure you get the Kindle apps as well. You can use them now to test it out.

Thanks. Def gonna look into the Kindle! I had put the Kindle app on my iPhone and MacBook but will take a closer look.

[tmw89]

Physical books vs. eBooks, eh?  Now there's a toughie  ;D

Well, a picture's worth a thousand words:

[Bakuryokuso]

Physical books vs. eBooks, eh?  Now there's a toughie  ;D

Well, a picture's worth a thousand words:

The irony of course is that this is a digital image, right. So the Gameboy started off black and white and now we have the Nintendo DS... so not long hence we'll have some pretty kick-ass digital full-colour e-books.

[tmw89]

Physical books vs. eBooks, eh?  Now there's a toughie  ;D

Well, a picture's worth a thousand words:

The irony of course is that this is a digital image, right. So the Gameboy started off black and white and now we have the Nintendo DS... so not long hence we'll have some pretty kick-ass digital full-colour e-books.

But will it have... the clasps???
(not to mention the awesome feel of vellum paper)

[Revixit]

One of the things I like about paper books is that I can loan them out to people.

Another thing is that they make me look smarter than I really am.  If I buy a book and never read it, then it still has aesthetic value as a thing on a shelf.

Kindle books can be lent to other people and they don't have to have Kindles!  Kindle books can be downloaded to laptops, droids, etc.

Eventually, you'll have way too many physical books for your house.  Trust me on this.