Paperback, Hardcover or Digital: the Discussion

[ComicChick]

Which is your favorite version for books? Is it the bendable paperbacks? perhaps the sturdy hardcovers to adorn your shelves? How about the lightweight and portable digital e-book?

Do you have a preference? why do you like or dislike any of them? your opinions on e-books?

 

[Motown Marvel]

i prefer hard cover, but can generally only afford softcover, and see no appeal in digital.

 

[Wesley Dodds]

I'm a paperback kid all the way. I only buy Hardback for collections and complete volumes, stuff like that...

 

[MadVillainy]

I like paperback and I dont see appeal in digital

 

[ComicChick]

i own all three. i usually buy paperbacks because they're cheaper, but if it's something i like a lot or would read again i will buy it in harcover too.

as for e-books, they're very handy for me, but they don't replace the actual bookreading. at work i can't bring books to read but i can read a chapter or 2 a day by reading it on my cell phone. i was able to read about 5-7 books in october/november that way, as well as 60 issues of a comic series.
i can see how handy they'd be for travel too, especially when packing luggage. much lighter than toting actual books

 

[Victarion]

I go for hardcover if I really enjoy a series. Coincidentally, I have all 7 Harry Potter novels in hardcover as I grew up with the series. So of course I was buying them as they were released. The only other book series I have in hardcover is the 13 novels of the Legend of Drizzt series by R.A. Salvatore, plus the three follow-up trilogies, The Hunter's Blades, The Sellswords, and Transitions. Everything else is softcover.

I don't care for digital copies of the book. I prefer to have the actual book in my hands as I am reading. I understand the convenience offered, but I'd likely never buy a Kindle or anything similar. I also like the way the books look on my shelf. The arts on the Dark Elf novels are quite the eye catchers.

 

[Dark Sentinel]

I'm very partial to hardcover, idk it gives the book more physical weight..but I love paperbacks from time to time (Lord of the Rings 1-volume ed. being my favorite.)

ebooks I'm optimistic about, and sort of have to be since that's how I'm publishing MY book. The technology's there where the ebook reader can be slimmer and sleeker, so that it's not a big inconvenience to carry around (and they come as apps too!), especially with wifi being everywhere. So I'm optimistic about ebooks, but hardcover no question any day

 

[ross2287]

Paperback for reading.
Hardcover for displaying.
Digital for mocking.

 

[ComicChick]

you don't have to buy an e-reader to read digital books btw.
for instance, Kindle via Amazon has an app for various phone and computer formats. I have the app on my blackberry as well as on my desktop

 

[The Squirrel]

I like soft covers. Even with comics I buy trade paper backs.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I would think that I'm a cheap paperback guy, but looking at my collection shows me a lot of hardcovers. I dont like the idea of digital books. Why use a mechanical device when a powerless book doesnt need to be plugged in, charged or batteries? Its like we need everything to be electronic these days. Its needless.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Paperback and Hardcover for me. I never saw the appeal in digital books as I've always appreciated having the actual book in my hands.

 

[Crockett]

Agree I always want to read a book with my hands, now whether it's paperback or hardcover it doesn't really matter for me. I'm not against digital though, I could see why some people prefer it but nothing beats owning a book for real.

 

[ComicChick]

the use of a digital book for me is more of convenience in certain situations than anything else. the physical book cannot be beat, but its easier for me to read the e-book on my phone at work then to carry a book around and try to sneak read it.

 

[Morg]

PB and hardcovers, for me. Don't like digital

 

[Ipodman]

I'm not a big reader... so it's anything I saw and liked at the bookstore that day. But mostly paperbacks. I have some uber thick Warhammer books that are too thick to be carrying around. Can't imagine having hardcovers with you when you go out.

 

[ComicChick]

yeah hardcovers are at-home reading for me

 

[Morg]

I noticed getting harder and harder to find any good paperbacks/HC stores around here, most are closed or gone belly-up

 

[SuperFerret]

I would think that I'm a cheap paperback guy, but looking at my collection shows me a lot of hardcovers. I dont like the idea of digital books. Why use a mechanical device when a powerless book doesnt need to be plugged in, charged or batteries? Its like we need everything to be electronic these days. Its needless.

 

[Ipodman]

If I was holding an ipad or something... I'll be watching a video -.-

 

[Dwarf lord]

I think the only hardcover books I have is the Harry Potter series. Otherwise it's all paperbacks. To me, books are for reading and while Hardcovers are nice to display, I'd much rather have two paper backs to read than just be able to afford 1 hardcover.

However, if my band can ever get a short tour in the works, I would strongly consider getting a Kindle or something like that. A lot more efficient than carrying a bunch of books around.

 

[Spider-Who?]

i don't really care one way or the other when it comes to soft or hard back. The only way i have any interest in a kindle is because it's probably much easier to find a comfortable position to read while lying in bed than with a real book. but thats not worth shelling 2-300 bucks for one. that, and i like seeing all my bookshelves full

 

[ComicChick]

you can also read kindle books on your phone with the free app. blackberry, android, apple, etc

 

[Max J Power]

Hardcover, because when I'm done reading it, there isn't much wear. Trade paperbacks are about as good. I don't like mass market paperbacks though; they don't hold up that well and usually don't have as much space between the lines as I'd like.

 

[VampElvis]

Paperback for reading.
Hardcover for displaying.
Digital for mocking.

Seconded