Paperback, Hardcover or Digital: the Discussion

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Between paperback and hardcover, I don't care. Digital? Screw that.

 

[Dark Sentinel]

Digital is going to be the next big thing for self-publishers and new authors as a way to attract publishers. It's a very smart move to publish what readers like, so ebooks could be useful in that way.

 

[Sgt.Pepper]

Most of my books are paperback so yeah I prefer paperback. I only buy hardcover when it's like a complete edition. Don't care for digital.

 

[StorminNorman]

I will likely never read a paper book again, the Kindle is the best investment I have made in years.

 

[Paradoxium]

Mostly hardcover, cause of my wear and tear with paper backs.

 

[Bruce Banner]

I will always have a love for hardcovers. I seem to be buying more paperbacks just so I can tuck them in my backpack.

I honestly hate ebooks or whatever other digital stuff there is. I love flipping the pages.

 

[DACrowe]

For fiction I prefer paperback. I like a story that encourages me to turn the page and is hard to put down. Despite them being a larger number of pages, something about being able to fly through a paperback and its pages makes the experience more immediate and entertaining.

I only buy hardcover if it is an author I really love (for example, Dennis Lehane) or a book I loved years ago and want to read again with a more permanent edition (The Great Gatsby, Dracula, Far From the Madding Crowd, etc.).

For non-fiction I prefer hardcover. Probably because it gives the reader more a sense of authority or something like that. Also, as shallow as it is, if you want to keep the important books displayed on a shelf to showcase you've read them, this is the preferable mode.

**** Digital. Yeah, I said it.

 

[enterthemadness]

I hate digital as well.

I have two hard cover books. One I like, one I couldn't finish. Josh Hamilton's book I finished (Beyond fiction or whatever it's called, yes, the MLB player).

The other...David Hasselhoff's. Got it for X-mas, really wanted him. I like some of his cover songs, seems like a cool dude when not drinking...but omg, the ego in that book. I'll read it one day, but I'm sure I'll give Hamilton's another go or two.

I have a few Jason X paerbacks (sequels to the movie, actually good in a b movie way), um, resident evil books based on the games, AVP based on movie, except better, FF2, etc.

 

[Marx]

Hardcovers

 

[Swordmaster]

I prefer hardcovers for authors I really love, i.e. Matthew Woodring Stover or Jim Butcher, because their new books tend to come out in that format and I don't want to wait for paperback. However, if a book I'm interested in comes out in hardcover, but it's less than 300 pages, I'll wait for paperback (Stover and Butcher excluded).

That said, my now favorite book is out of print, so I was able to get it on Kindle and don't regret it at all, even though I've since found it used.

 

[enterthemadness]

Hardcovers

you have taste.

 

[AndThePickles]

Hardcovers are my favorites, but I'll take a paperback, too. I can't get into the digital thing...I love having the book to put on my shelf and turning the pages, and the smell of real books

 

[Prison Mike]

I love my new Kindle. I just wish they would add Harry Potter in ebook form.

 

[katie_girl09]

Paperback books. Hardcover is so overpriced. Especially here in Canada.

I didn't see the appeal of ereaders until I got one for Christmas a couple of days ago. I've read 3 books since then! It's very convenient.

 

[ComicChick]

I love my new Kindle. I just wish they would add Harry Potter in ebook form.

i have them i'm on goblet of fire now

 

[Kelly]

As much as I love my hardcover books, and will continue to buy them for my collection.....I have to admit I'm headed toward the digital age as far as personal reading time.

All of my English/Literature teacher friends have gone digital......and they love it. I will probably do the same...

 

[Hush]

Hardcover. Game Set and Match.

 

[Lord Valumart]

I don't understand why everything has to be digital now. Books are supposed to be held, the pages turned, the smell inhaled, etc. I go paperback most of the time. I only go hardback if it's something impressive or it's a present I'm getting. Like I bought some Douglas Adams books in paperback, bought the IDW Sherlock Holmes collections in hardback and got given Simon Pegg's book in hardback for christmas.

I am thinking of hunting down hardovers of books I really enjoy but I'm not sure how easy it would be to get some of them. Either way screw digital.

 

[ComicChick]

try thrift stores or ebay LV, much cheaper route these days

 

[danoyse]

Hardcovers for books I really like (Harry Potter, etc), since I like to have those as a collection.

I love paperbacks because I commute and I can just toss those in my bag and still have plenty of room.

I have the Kindle app on my ipad, and I like it. I'm reading The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo on there right now. It's good for books you're on the fence about, since they're a little cheaper and it won't take up shelf space if you don't want to keep it.

 

[Kelly]

I don't understand why everything has to be digital now. Books are supposed to be held, the pages turned, the smell inhaled, etc. I go paperback most of the time. I only go hardback if it's something impressive or it's a present I'm getting. Like I bought some Douglas Adams books in paperback, bought the IDW Sherlock Holmes collections in hardback and got given Simon Pegg's book in hardback for christmas.

I am thinking of hunting down hardovers of books I really enjoy but I'm not sure how easy it would be to get some of them. Either way screw digital.

I do the same....I am very proud of my collection of hardcovers....BUT, I have been using a borrowed Kindle over the last few days....and I am sold. I will be getting one of my own, or something similar after I take a look at all available...I will always look for my favorite books in hardcover...but I am really enjoying the Kindle.

 

[danoyse]

I do the same....I am very proud of my collection of hardcovers....BUT, I have been using a borrowed Kindle over the last few days....and I am sold. I will be getting one of my own, or something similar after I take a look at all available...I will always look for my favorite books in hardcover...but I am really enjoying the Kindle.

I was totally anti-Kindle when it first came out...but now that I've used it, I love it.

 

[ComicChick]

Hardcovers for books I really like (Harry Potter, etc), since I like to have those as a collection.

I love paperbacks because I commute and I can just toss those in my bag and still have plenty of room.

I have the Kindle app on my ipad, and I like it. I'm reading The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo on there right now. It's good for books you're on the fence about, since they're a little cheaper and it won't take up shelf space if you don't want to keep it.

that's how digital appeals to me too. i have the app on my blackberry. if it's a book or series i really like, i usually end up buying the hardcover anyways.

 

[Kelly]

If it is part of a collection of books I'm putting together I will always buy the hardcover.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I can go either way with paperback or hardcover. Hardcovers, I'm sure, last longer, but I generally keep very good care of my books, so I don't think the wear and tear is all that bad. I usually get paperback because of price difference.

Can't speak on digital. I tried reading a book on my computer through pdf, and it just didn't work, but I hear good things about the current ereaders. I'm thinking of picking up a Kindle or Nook soon, and seeing how I like.