Comments on: E-books vs Real Books: What’s the verdict?

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:02:50 +0000

It seems like you’re confusing real books that are formatted to be sold as pdf files (such as “The girl who played with fire”, “Romeo and Juliet” or “Interview with a Vampire”) with cheap “books” specifically written for ebook sale. Since ebooks are cheaper to produce, more people have been getting in on being “authors”, so much so that Amazon has created a platform for ANYONE to upload ANYTHING and put it for sale in their ebook market. There is a huge difference between a book that has jumped through all the hoops to get published, then gets released as an ebook alongside the paper book, and one that Joe Blow internet user decides to upload.

Still, I don’t care for ereaders. I like to hold a book in my hand.

By: dougie

dougie — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:33:34 +0000

i’am 18 and i like to read a book but i was thinking about gettin a ereader to make it easy to carry around a book but i like the feel and look of a real book were the ebooks are more text on white screen and u need to charge them and buy ebooks using cards

By: Baker

Baker — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:41:24 +0000

I still like the actual physical book. The only really long material I read is from Steve Pavlina.

By: Tonia

Tonia — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:35:23 +0000

There is no substitute for pages in binding as the world attempts to transform to ebooks. I suppose they are cheaper to produce but there is something about reading a “file” of a book compared to that of actually feeling the pages.

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:20:57 +0000

Hi Ross – I like the way I can skim though an ebook quickly – but I don’t want to read anything too meaty on my computer screen – for that I prefer to sit in a comfy chair under a window, i.e. well away from my computer. I’ve bought one ebook, and it was a waste of money.

By: Ross

Ross — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:21:19 +0000

@Carla – I find myself in a similar position – I read e-books when I first get them, though rarely return to them… This is why I advocate printing them out, but I also think this is counter-productive to their original purpose!

@Duff – There are already so many cheapy trashy e-books around and I’m certain that this situation will get worse… The ‘write your own e-book’ phenomena does not help it’s name either… I’ve heard pretty good things about kindle but haven’t tried it as it’s not supported in Australia yet. Cheers for your comments.

@Barbara – I’ve also read some e-books that are pretty good, and certainly several that I recommend, but nothing quite beats a real book, right?

By: Barbara Swafford

Barbara Swafford — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:39:47 +0000

Hi Ross,

I still prefer the real books. I like the feel of the paper, the sound of turning the pages and dog eared corners. If I want to highlight, I do, and sometimes I write in the margins too. (I realize I can do all of that with an ebook (if I print it), but for some reason, it’s just not the same.)

One ebook I read recently that I think is well worth the price is written by Lori Hoeck titled, “Think Like A Black Belt”. (She has a blog by the same name.) Her ebook is self defense tips that can save our life as well as the lives of others. I found it to be a no fluff, filled with great content find.

Although I’ve been disappointed with some ebooks, if I know the author or those who are making a recommendation, I’m more apt to buy it.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Looking Into The Future

By: Duff

Duff — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:52:18 +0000

I consider the word “eBook” to describe trashy, overpriced and overhyped PDFs. The word is dead to me now, and will soon be for millions of customers due to the get-rich-quick model which promotes writing an ebook in 1 to 7 days max with no editing.

Kindle versions of books that have gone through legit publishers or rigorous processes of self-publishing, editing, and typesetting are of course quite different, and perhaps the future of electronic book publishing.
Duff´s last blog ..Good News: You Can’t Have it All

By: Carla

Carla — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:48:31 +0000

Though I like the idea of e-books, I cant seem to really make use of them. I download and save them, but unless its a technical book, I rarely open them. I prefer to read when I’m curled up on my chase lounge, sitting in my back yard, or in bed – I’m not taking my laptop to bed. I stare at the screen enough to work, blog, pay bills, write letters, buy and sell, conduct research and so on. Its more relaxing for me (and my eyes) to read for pleasure the old fashioned way.
Carla´s last blog ..Two Great Green Living Blogs