Physical because its better for reading. But limited space at my home mean I am most buying digital nowadays.
Physical. My ideal invention would look like a blank book. Pages would feel like paper. Insert a ‘disc’ and text downloads onto the pages. Now it looks and reads like a physical book. Perfect for camping/travel. After you finish the story, you can change the text to a new novel. Of course, you could have pictures and other illustrations. Probably wouldn’t be a giant seller, but I’d want one.
Probably the closest thing that actually exists is an e ink display.
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I go about 50/50 these days.
Browsing a bookstore will always beat out a website. Favorite books or authors will always get a physical purchase. Used books are cheap and awesome. And sometimes lengthy books are easier for me to get through if they’re physical.
But I love the convenience of my Kindle. I have a ton of books and can add to that collection any time I want. I can adjust text size, font, etc. Dictionary lookup. Syncs progress with the phone app so I can literally pick up and read anywhere.
I prefer digital with no drm but if that is not possible I will get a physical book.
- The <1% of books I love: physical
- The >99% of everything else: digital
Digital for entertaining books, paper for technical stuff. But most of the time can’t afford one, so just digital.
digital because pirate
Physical except when I need to quickly search for something, in that case digital.
Digital on the Kindle Paperwhite, but only because it’s easier and I don’t accumulate a physical book if I buy it (if the library doesn’t have it). I like book books but don’t like owning many books.
Comics/graphic novels I like on paper. No other format compares.
Can’t do audiobooks, I read faster than I talk or listen so the pace bothers me.
I relate to all of this!
I do however mostly read digital books in bed, so it has huge sleep cues for me. Holding the pages open on some thick space opera sci-fi is too tiresome
Convenience is a hell of a drug
I haven’t investigated, but I’d give digital books a shake if I could find a solution that doesn’t put control of my library in the hands of Amazon or similar, phone home for analytics, etc. I don’t object to the idea in principal. But until I feel safe doing it, I’m still reading physical books.
Other commenter have mentioned Kobo readers. And of course you could pirate the epubs.
I’ll give it a look. Seems that that’s a rakuten product though, which isn’t much more comforting…
I haven’t used it yet, but I hear Libby with a local library card does well. You’re still not owning the books, but they’re free
For the books I love and want to read over and over, physical. For the books I want to read once and maybe reference from time to time, digital all the way. My e-reader makes digital books a breeze to read, and I’m actually at the point where it’s 5GB of storage isn’t enough for my library.
Digital without a doubt.
- More convenient to travel with it
- Awesome how the e-ink looks just like paper and draws little energy
- Your entire library can take much less space
- Save the trees
- If it gets damaged, only your device will be destroyed, but your library (hopefully) remains (if you make backups)
- Instant access to basically any book (no need to wait for delivery or in-person shopping)
To me, my Kobo was one of the best investments I’ve ever made. Before buying it, I didn’t really read many books
Physical. I love the smell of paper.
I do occasionally use a Kobo, which is a very convenient little device. However, I prefer a paper book.
I prefer either physical or audiobooks. I seem to have a hard time concentrating and reading books digitally.
