Which do you think is better? eBooks or printed books?

There are pros and cons to both. Printed books can be taken anywhere and read anytime without the inconvenience's of technology. While eBooks save on paper it causes one to either have to sit at a desk and read or rely on a charged battery.

Personally, I prefer printed books--I don't think they're "better," but I like the idea of curling up with a good book and that's hard to do with a desktop computer. (Plus staring at a computer for a long period of time hurts my eyes.) Now, as for the issue of the last Harry Potter book, I think it's a little irresponsible for the people behind these books not to make sure they meet the needs of the customers, and if there are a number of eBook readers, then that's just unfair. Not to mention that if there is a large market of eBook readers, they're cheating themselves out of money.

I've only ever tried to read one e-book, and I couldn't get past about a page of it. It just didn't feel like a book to me. I read short things on the net, and bounce around from site to site. Books are something meant to be held, and pages turned, and delving deeply into. I treasure that, and am glad that they'll always be around. Now, I wouldn't have a problem with other people reading e-books; that's up to them. I don't think it's a big deal for HP to stay in print form though.

I love to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. To me there is something about holding a book in my hands that is satisfying. I've never read an e-book so I can't truely compare them, but I know that too much time at a computer makes my head hurt. It is too bad that they aren't going to release it as an e-book for those of you who prefer this method. I think that if you can get a child (young adult) to read - use any means available.

I definatley prefer printed over ebooks.I love curling up with a good book but you can't do when you are sitting in front of a computer. You can't get comfortable.

ebooks are fine and convienient to download, I tend to print some of mine as well as thay way I can read them in bed.

I prefer printed books only, as reading tooo much on computer is not good for vision.

I prefer to read my fiction the old fashioned way, but for non-fiction I prefer ebooks. I actually love ebooks and have way too many on my computer but the majority are non-fiction. As others have stated that ebooks are not mobile, I have to say that there are handheld devices for ebooks and you can find millions of ebooks that work on the handhelds so you can have mobility. As far as Harry Potter, I can understand it. eBooks can be shared much easier than regular books. One person could easily set up a download online and let millions of people have it, so in the end the publisher and author lose money.

I want printed books because I don't have my own computer yet. Besides, I love reading books and I'm used to it. It also helps my brain to work while thinking and analyzing a story.

I liek printed books..so I can read them wherever I want to take them =)

I personally will personally thank J.K. for maintaining that control. Obviously the advent of the WWW gave us a global sense, and more info than any one person can ever ingest, and it may be as much a curse as a blessing? With all due respect I pray there will always be BOOKS. I used to inhale books, and sadly that has become more of a shallow breathing situation lately, but I ask you to consider this, and I mean no offense at all. In a very literal sense, unless one has a laptop, perhaps especially a wireless, and too if they can download a BOOK and save it to a DOC, they usually have to sit in an office type chair, at a desk/work station, and might be less comfy than if they could take a beverage and a snack with their Book and lay on a couch or curl up in a fave chair to really get involved in the BOOK. Then certainly might be the issue of a CRASH, power failure, distraction that causes one to be able to put a book mark in a specific page location? Now,,, with no offense to ANY others, reading a book is more than just the context; it's like part of our "sanctuary" time. I dislike this term, but it's a "my space" time, and the Comp can be a "mutilpley" distracting medium when wanting to focus on "reading" is the plan. Just one old writers opinion. Steven Wolf

I think that reading from the screen is absolutely BAD FOR YOUR EYES, and all of us have enough of it anyway( otherwise you won't be here on mylot) So let's read "normal" books ones in a while. Especially kids books! kids spend all their time playing computer games, what is going to happened if they will read everything of the screen too...It makes sense to me.

For me, printed books is much better than e books.

I'd prefer eBooks. Books can be easily torned into pieces, eBooks don't. You can loose it, burn it or rip it but with ebooks, you can open it anytime you want. You can carry lots of eBooks without killing your back... books are too heavy to carry...

For me, I prefer the printed copy. But some people buy e-books because it's cheaper then they print them. You might be interested in these. I have been publishing at lulu.com - e-book, paperback, and hardcover. I am a translator of the Word of God from Greek to English. I have already published GENESIS, EXODUS, LEVITICUS (Greek-English), THE WILL New Testament (Greek to English), ELEMENTS of SALVATION, The Right Way, GOD, ORIGIN, TRANSFER into PERFECTION, GREEK-ENGLISH (Grammar & Vocabulary), WORDS in THE WILL New Testament, and others shown at http://www.lulu.com/arseniajoaquin GENESIS, EXODUS, LEVITICUS (Greek-English) is not only about history. It is the source of wisdom and knowledge. Our basic knowledge in everything comes from these first three books of the Holy Bible. I hope you would include at least this one in your reading.

I think printed books are better than ebooks. E-books are good only if there are only 10-20 pages. If more than 20 pages, it is better to have printed books. Reading on the computer for hours is not comfortable, anyway.

in a similar note this is another ebook site http://www.myebooks.tk/

In my point of view its alwas that printed books are better.since an auther writes his/her books not only from the knowledge sharing point of view but also he/she wants money as reward of the work done.so if the work is in printed form its got due respect and his copyright is also preserved.but if the book is in the form of ebook there is not much benifit for the labour indulged in preparing the book.also one can read the printed books whichever position he or she is and wherever one is,since portability is very much.but with ebook it is not the case.