Do you prefer reading e-books or traditional books
By riempie9
@riempie9 (1021)
South Africa
May 20, 2012 5:19am CST
For this writer it is definitely traditional books where you have the smell of fresh paper, and can curl up on the couch without the need of a laptop. There are some things you just cannot improve upon and for me the book you hold in your hand has much more magic as you can take it with you anywhere. Even though book shops are feeling the pinch now as they are selling fewer traditional books, I think this will change.
3 people like this
21 responses
@Kotarei (141)
• United States
21 May 12
I prefer the traditional books. Sometimes I feel we start relying on certain technologies too much. i mean back than most of what we had was our actual books. but with everything advancing we got it all on kindles and stuff now. I think it be safer to sit at a bus stop with an old fashioned book than a kindle reader :P
1 person likes this
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
20 May 12
I don't have an e-book, haven't even experienced touching one. So right now for me, I would rather prefer reading traditional books as you get to experience flipping its pages and going back to it where you stopped when you find time reading again.
But with an e-book reader, you can read and have with you a lot of books. Unlike if it's the traditional book when you'll get to carry few books that you can only bring with you.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
20 May 12
Honestly, I love both because I have both, but I do prefer traditional over e-books because I am so used to the traditional. I have my own library in my house and I love collecting books, and I just like to be able to open up the pages when I need to and find the page I love. Sometimes, e-book can take some time to load, and with a traditional book I just open it up and read.
@riempie9 (1021)
• South Africa
21 May 12
I also have my own library and collect certain books such as those thick books on comparative religion, the three desert religions and also other belief systems such as Hinduism, African Traditions, Buddhism and the Hare Krishnas. I will not be reading as much now with the ebook. Everything for me must be about comfort - yet my own ten books will soon be in ebook for others to read; actually certain titles will will be traditional and ebook both. One must think of the buying public all the time.
@albto_568 (1268)
• Costa Rica
4 Jun 12
I am pretty much like you in this issue, I hate reading in the computer, specially because I do not have a laptop, and I have to be in this rather unconfortable chair, but, either way, the monitor is bold and cold for me, I prefer the paper ones, even if they are not new, I buy second hand books sometimes, and all its scratched pages and foot and side prints, tells a history as well, sometimes, very interesting too
@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
4 Jun 12
I like the second hand books as well. It is good bargain!
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
20 May 12
Traditional books any day because your eyes can get so much strain from staring at an electronic screen that I just really don't enjoy reading off of it. I also get headaches sometimes from staring at screens so I would much rather have a regular book plus it's just a nicer feeling in your hand. Plus when you walk into a used book store it's just so much more exciting than browsing through an ebook store on whatever device you are using. You end up finding so much more interesting books that you wouldn't have found otherwise.
@weye13 (114)
• Philippines
20 May 12
I agree that eyestrain is a problem when it comes to reading on most electronic devices. This is exactly why for ebooks I prefer reading on my Kindle. The e ink screen is kinder on the eyes. But pressing a button to turn a page, while convenient, still doesn't feel quite as right. And yes, browsing in a second-hand bookshop is always an enjoyable experience especially if the selection is very good.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
26 May 12
For me, I prefer to read the traditional books.
It is more economic to read traditional books. Once I pay for a traditional book, I can read whenever and wherever I want too. After reading it, I can keep it in my bookshelf for my collection.
If I have to read an e-book, I need to have a computer, a smart phone, an ipad or any other electronics devices in order for me to read it.
Moreover, all of these devices are consuming electricity. They do have their lifespans which will incur cost for me to maintain.
In my conclusion, I prefer to read traditional books which I can keep for collection forever.
@riempie9 (1021)
• South Africa
27 May 12
I will never buy an e-book. Good for you that you are still reading traditional books. I have the same feelings as you about e-books. Not interested. Not appealing. You can't lie curled up under the blankets reading. And I also have a collection of books.
@dodo19 (47268)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
26 May 12
I prefer reading traditional books. Personally, I find them easier to read. I find that my eyes start hurting and get tired more easily when I read e-books. I also much prefer being able to hold the actual book in my hands, when I'm reading it.
@DarthJustice (2014)
• United States
29 May 12
I honestly don't really have a preference anymore. I always loved reading books. Just recently I bought my first Kindle Touch and I've used it for a few days now. So far I've really enjoyed reading on it. But I don't necessarily prefer one over the other
@nangisha (3496)
• Indonesia
21 May 12
Personally I prefer traditional book than e-book because I don't really enjoying to stare my laptop screen just to reads 500 pages book, its not comfortable to do so.
If reading printed book I can read is where ever and ever I feel to. Even when the book really interested and I can not put it down until it finish I can reads it while lay down.
@fitriadi21 (386)
• Indonesia
21 May 12
For comfort and concentration, of course i prefer tradisional books.... but the more expensive considerations, e-books had to be an option!
@pennywise25 (321)
• Mexico
23 May 12
I really prefer traditional books over all, but it's always a pain in the pocket to pay for them, so I have recently turned to free public-domain books online :P
@tatsumaki (189)
• Indonesia
21 May 12
I prefer reading from traditional book...
Because it took a lot of concentration when i read from e book...
@aritahime (221)
• Indonesia
21 May 12
For me, it depends. If it is about reading novels in my spare time, I prefer the traditional one. But, if it is something like tutorials that need internet to practice, then I prefer to eBooks, so that I can practice it directly.
@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
28 May 12
I much prefer reading traditional books. I enjoy the smell of the book, the feel of the pages, different textures of papers, different fonts of each book, and the ability to quickly scan back and forward in the book, as well as making notes in the book if it's mine and if I feel like it.
I thought I would never get an ereader, but I finally did. I got a Kindle Touch. The eink that it uses (electronic ink) is fantastic and causes no eye strain at all. It does have the convenience of being light weight for carrying with me. I used to always carry a book with me where ever I went, but now I find the convenience of the Kindle handy. I currently have about 170 books on the Kindle, and it's nice to have such a variety at hand, no matter where I am.
I have been surprised by how much I enjoy my Kindle, but I still prefer traditional books.
@davidkwan95 (185)
• Indonesia
20 May 12
I prefer reading e-books. While you're saying you can take traditional books everywhere, you also can actually bring e-books everywhere, for example using Ipad. You can also bring a lot of books using your Ipad anywhere, but the only disadvantages is when you're running out of battery XD. Besides, using traditional books are wasting a lot of energy (paper, ink)
@innocents_lost (1026)
• Canada
20 May 12
I can't stand ebooks they just seem so impersonal and like you said there is nothing like curling up with a good book in your hands I love to read all the time and I have to own the book I love my bookshelves they are my pride and joy all my books are in great condition and I read them again and again don't think I could ever trade in the paper book for anything else
@else22 (4317)
• India
20 May 12
Even in this age when everything is computerized,I love keeping and reading traditional books.Buying a new book,feeling it in your hand,enjoying the sweet smell of papers and the reading it is a pleasure that can only be felt,not described.I have been a book lover since my childhood and have a home library of my own.In my opinion,e-books can never replace the relevance of traditional books.
@ladyhemingway (965)
• Philippines
20 May 12
Hello riempis, while I appreciate e-books since I got myself a Kindle, I must say that I still prefer the traditional book if given a choice. It is true that the functional of e-book is noteworthy but for me, nothing beats the feeling of having the real paper leaves on your skin. I love the smell of paper too, especially if the book has already aged. People find that weird, but I get really nostalgic about it, so I like it.
Also, I love how book can be use and carried everywhere I go without worrying about the battery and the power that usually bothers me when I have my Kindle or my laptop with me. But then again, like what I have mentioned, I appreciate e-book, but it never replaced my love for the printed books.
@carleejane82487 (2)
• United States
20 May 12
I'm torn between the two. Both traditional books and e-books have their pros and cons. I love the way a brand new book smells and the way the paper feels even if it isn't new. That's something an e-book will never duplicate. The main reason I go for more e-books now than traditional books is price. Unfortunately they make e-books almost half the price of buying the actual book and sometimes they even tack on extra chapters or interviews with the author. The other thing about e-books is where you're reading them. I don't like having to read off of my laptop but do have a Kindle which makes travelling with a book much easier sometimes. A book that is 500 pages doesn't take up anymore space than a 200 page book when you're reading it on an e-reader like the Kindle, but when you have the actual book in hand those extra pages can make a difference. When given the option between the two though, I always go for the traditional book just because nothing can compare to it no matter how hard technology tries.
@tajara2008 (81)
• Australia
21 May 12
Yes definitely the traditional books are the way to go... there is nothing like holding a new book in your hands and smelling the pages... Reminds me of the worksheets we used to get in school...
But ebooks have there place in being useful too, but to me, it is definitely the traditional book.
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