Paper books versus ebooks?

I love the feel of holding a book in my hands--so, far I have resisted the idea of reading an ebook.

It depends where/when I'm reading my books...  If I don't know where I'm going to be sitting and reading, the print books are most convenient.  Reading by the pool or bath, again print books are best because you don't want the laptop falling in water! 

I like reading ebooks though at night, it saves me having to get lots of reading lights turned on.  I just can read right off the screen in my bedroom and when I'm ready to fall asleep, just minimize the screen and shut it off. 

Heheh...  glad you like my reasons.  :p 

About travelling...  I just went on a long bus ride to visit someone out of town...  and I brought with me a bunch of ebooks and paperbooks because i wasn't sure where/when I'd have time to read.  AND a great argument for ebooks while travelling... is that if you're travelling and it gets dark, you can always read an ebook!  You can't read paper books without light in a car. 

Anyway... i ended up reading Blaze ebooks on the bus, which I think was probably a good choice.  Would have been a little embarrassing to have the naughty/suggestive Blaze covers open on my lap in the bus.  (My other choices were a Presents ebook, and some Paranormal romance paper books)

but I like ebooks, too. Which I wouldn't have said a couple of years ago. Actually, a couple of years ago, I didn't even know that there are ebooks. If you want the details of how I came to ebooks, you can read my blog entries from January: ebooks 1 and ebooks 2.

One obvious drawback to ebooks is what happens if the technology changes? Will you be able to "update" your books so that you can read them? Also, what happens if you get someplace without your device's charger and your book "dies" in the middle?

But there are several pros about electronic books (as noted in prior posts and in what I'm about to add). 

Bottom line is, nothing beats a day being curled up with a good book in a good chair and no chores or tasks hanging over your head. But I've read eBooks standing in the dark waiting for my caucus (sp?) to start (we had to wait outside til certain things happen), I've read in bed and not disturbed the dh b/c of the backlight, I've read at the symphony while waiting for the performance to begin . . . I've taken both print and ebooks on vacation and it's really nice and comforting to know that

1. I shouldn't run out of books while on vaccy and
2. If I do, I can always get to a computer and buy more.

I have a friend whose sister reads erotica and commutes on public transport and likes that no one knows what she's reading. I have another friend who works in a day care and sometimes has books that she doesn't want others to see even the cover of.

My mom's family lives in the middle of nowhere (really -- you can't imagine it unless you also have family that live an hour from the closest grocery store and who keep gas pumps on their property), so ebooks and downloadable audio would be nice if you're stuck with nothing that you feel like reading between trips to town.

And while I'd rather Harlequin Enterprises reprint some old favorites (in the print format), we're more likely to get them only in electronic format and that's better than nothing (there's actually a thread in the Digital Media Forum where they ask what backlist books we want).

I'll repeat what MasterPuppeteer said a couple of years ago and add on to it: Publishers are in the business of selling stories, no matter what format. And those of us addicted to stories yes have our preferred format but will take a good story in whatever manner we can get it . . .

So let's sum up what we've all said so far:

• The backlight feature on many devices is nice in bed, in cars, in a big living room when the whole extended family is around (e.g. holidays) etc (you don't disturb others with a need for a certain level of lighting)
• The ability to have books with you wherever -- vacation, standing in line somewhere -- is a nice convenience (memory cards allow some devices to hold 100-200 full-length books)
• You can buy ebooks when you can't buy other books as long as you have a computer online (e.g., in middle of the night, at times when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere)
• Some books are only available electronically
• So that others can't tell what you're reading (esp. the "red lines")

I know someone who puts her device (not a laptop, a dedicated reader or PDA) in a ziplock bag when she's at the beach, the pool or reading in the tub. I haven't been brave enough to try that yet . . .

Penn

ROTFLMAO about your "devotions" Sheandeen.

I've taken to eBooks for the steamy cover books I don't want others to know I'm reading, but I may have to just get myself a nice leather cover now...

There will always be printed books as long as there are bibliophiles in the world.

I admit that I am relatively new to ebooks.  As in, I have read one on my computer and today got a Palm to read them on while on trips with my hubby.  I gave it much thought before the purchase.  Here are some of the things I considered and why I came to the conclusion that I did.

 I dislike some of the corny covers on books and really dislike having nosey people giving me "that look".  You all know the one I am talking about so I am not even gonna describe it.

 I'm so uptight about the condition of my books.  I get upset whenever I travel and my covers get bent/creased.  This usually results in me packing a seperate bag for books (yes, I usually have to take at least four or five with me on a trip) to ensure their safety.  Now that I have my Palm I plan on just dumping everything I want on to a card and packing one paperback book in my purse.  The paperback will be my backup book, just in case I damage the Palm or have battery issues.  LOL  I can NOT be without my books.

There are many books now available only in e form that I want to read.  And I do not want to sit in front of my computer all evening/morning and read.  I've done this once, thus the purchase of the Palm.  Plus, I don't have a laptop and packing the pc isn't are viable option.

The downside to ebooks in my opinion.  I love my books.  I get warm tinglies when I go to a bookstore.  And it's wonderful to search out that perfect book by touch.  I want to stroke the spines and smell the pages.  I take joy in looking at all of my books on my shelves.  And while having them on an SD card will save me tons of space and I will no longer feel guilt for books that I am unsure as to whether I will re-read again I know if I buy something in e format and love it I will also end up buying it in paperback when/if it is available.  So it's not really gonna save me any money.  I also fear not being able to find something when I want it.  I've downloaded a reader program to help with my ebook files and also plan on backing up on disk/sd card, but still, the fear remains.