Would you read an e-book?

Question

There is an ongoing debate on whether e-books will ever replace traditional book format. But what do you think? If a book you wanted was only available as an e-book would you buy it?

Answer 1

Ebooks are good for reference. When you want quick search options in such a case ebooks are good. But for fiction reading, or for the fun of reading a book. paper and hard backs are really the best. I cant take an ebook and go to sleep as I read along. Also not convenient to read while travelling and in many other situations.
Perhaps in time as technology advances,we might have electronic gadgets the size of a paper back novell in which u can copy the book, now that might be a different scenario and also would save lots of paper. But as far as present times are concerned paper books are better than reading an ebook on the laptop or computer.

Answer 2

At the moment I am reading an e-book. Although I have the paper version somewhere in the house, I can't find it... And it seems a bit silly to buy another copy, although I know I have it. (somewhere). What's annoying about it though is trying to put a bookmark in...

What is useful about e-books is that you can use the browser to scan them easily. When I'm writing an essay and looking for a quote, you can jump to it straight away and see if there are any other similar quotes on the same theme, in a few moments. If I forget my book, and leave it at home, but need it for college, I can open it up on the internet and make annotations elsewhere, but having a copy to look at is useful. I think, it is also handy for people who have poor eyesight to read e-books because they can enlarge the font in their browser.

However with e-books it is very difficult to fully replace the traditional book format, because not everybody owns a computer or is able to use one. Books are much easier to hold and to have -people like to collect them, they like the smell and the feel and the beauty of the words. It is not possible to curl up in an armchair and read an e-book by the fire, (oh unless you had a laptop, but it'd get hot). and you can't take it on the train or down to the beach.

If a book was only available as an e-book, and it had been hailed magnificent! a great, great book, one that we should all read, the greatest product of our generation, I would consider buying it. However, if it was so great, publishers would realise that although more expensive to produce, this very good book would sell on paper or it would not have created as much hype or interest for the story, anyway.

Answer 3

Just adding my NO WAY vote.
If it was only available as an e-book, well hell, I've got enough books to last a lifetime and don't mind re-reading.
Staring at the screen for too long ain't good for your eyes and as so many others have said, how can you curl up with an e-book? Also if it's portable you can bet your bottom dollar the battery would give out ten pages from the end!
Plus it wouldn't let you find the page you wanted which you know has the first reference to an incident but which is safely stored in your subconscious as to where it is. You just can't flick through an e-book in the same way, can you?
Plus I like the look and feel of books and they're comforting to have around the house.

Reference books are different I suppose. But still relies on power and access rather than looking at the bookcase. although handy if you can search it on-line but is that the same? If you need to use a computer to read it then it would depend on everyone in the house having their own computer.

So on balance, still no way would I want books to become e-books. And I still love going to bookshops!

Answer 4

I would buy an e-book if it was something I really wanted to read and was only available in that format, but not otherwise. The Book of Counted Sorrows, by Dean Koontz, was only available as an e-book, and I HAD to have it for my collection. Likewise, if someone were to offer an e-book edition of Roger Zelazny's poetry, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. (*sigh* Can't even find a print edition of that for under $100 anymore...) But I'd never buy an e-book if a printed edition were available. As a man once said, there's something obscene about being able to hold the entirety of War and Peace in the palm of your hand.

Answer 5

I would and have when the content is only found online or in that form. The thing about it is there are a lot of books on there you might not be able to get in real life.

But I own maybe 1000 books and an ebook cannot replace them. Is there nothing more enjoyable than goin outside under a tree, or taking a book soemwhere to read?

Answer 6

I have done, Stephen King released one of his books only as an ebook and being a fan I obtained a copy. But I found it to uncomfortable reading it on my computer so have never finished it. Gives me food for thought though because now I own a labtop I might find it more comfortable to read.....you know lounging on the sofa. Ok waffling now - in summary no I don't think they will replace the traditional book in their current format.

Answer 7

No. Books are physical for me - it's part of their experience to look at the cover and read the back and turn the pages. Remove all that and they're charmless. Also you don't have to re-charge the batteries or plug in and boot up or virus check or go online or find files and scroll through to open a real book on any page instantly. And you can fall asleep with it on your pillow. If you did that with a palm pilot the drool would probably short circuit the thing.

Answer 8

I would definately read an ebook. I don't think ebooks will ever replace the written word. Reading a book is more than jsut the words, there's just something about the feel of holding a book in your hands, the smell of the pages. I would read an ebook, but if I really enjoyed it, I would probably buy the hard copy for my shelf.

Answer 9

I think the answer to this question depends on what kind of reading you're doing. Some people only read for school assignments, and at those times e-books come in handy and save the time it would take to go out and hunt down the material you need. But for those who enjoy reading in their free time, e-books will never take the place of the experience of holding a freshly printed, beautifully designed book in your hands. For people who love to read, books awaken all 5 of their senses and it's not just about the words on a page. E-books have been around for several years and it hasn't put a dent in book sales at all.

Answer 10

I would.
I've actually read quite a number of E-Books.
As far as replacing the traditional book format, I'd hope not, I like the feel, the texture of a book, it's difficult to read laying in bed with a desktop or laptop on your chest, or taken it with you at the beach.