What is better , a hard copy book or a digital one? Why?
What is better , a hard copy book or a digital one? Why?
Related
97 answers
16 answers
69 answers
23 answers
29 answers
8 answers
52 answers
40 answers
73 answers
143 answers
Loading Please wait
Personally, I like all types … be that a physical book, an e-book or an audio book. They all have their merits. There is something in the tactile handling of a physical book and the pleasant smell of an old book that almost insists that one takes the time to be still and enjoy. E-books have a definite advantage in the lack of space they take up (I’d need a full blown library to accommodate all the books on my Kindle!). They are more portable. They are also more beneficial for people that struggle to hold a physical copy, ie someone with arthritis in their hands might find it easier to hold an e-reader. Audio books are brilliant for when time is short, as it enables people to listen even when they are busy doing other things (ie working, exercising, doing chores etc). Audio books are also brilliant for the partially sighted or blind. Audio books enabled my Mother to listen to stories once she lost her sight (we also used to read to her ourselves).
Neither.
Why
@Houcine because I like both
Digital please. My eyes aren’t as good as they once were ?
I can actually bring a library around with me wherever I go when I’ve gone digital. Not so with the hard books.
I will always choose physical books over e-books because I love my library, and seeing them all, smelling them, turning the pages. E-books also have their perks. There is no right or wrong, It just really depends on the person.
I agree ?
Agreed! I feel the same.
Personally I prefer audiobooks & ebooks. Audiobooks bc I can listen while I do things around the house or while I’m driving. Ebooks bc I can have them on my phone and my kindle paperwhite. Plus I read a lot at night and with the backlight on the paperwhite or the night version on my phone it doesn’t hurt my eyes or require me to have a light to read. I have checked out a few physical books from my library but struggled to read them (not bc of the content) bc of how inconvenient it was for me when I have the time to read.
Will always take a hard cover book over any other type.
Hard copy! Always better!
The tactile experience just isn’t there with a digital read – no thanks.
I have a small but growing library! Love looking at my bookshelves with rows of books. They feel nice and smell nice! I carry one everywhere! A kindle is just another device. I do have one but dont read on it xx
Hard copy. I love golfing a book in my hand. And the battery never dies in a hard copyb
@Kristen the only bad thing about a physical copy of a book is that if you want to read at night and there’s a power outage, then you gotta wait or be doomed to not be able to see it.
I prefer hard copy not digital; but it’s a personal choice. To each his own. I’m “old school” I like the feel, smell and like to turn the pages of an actual book.
HArdcopy. When i read hard copy books i feel more connected and remember more, In school we have found that there is deeper comprehension with hard copy books.
Hard copy….coming from a retired librarian???
I like hard copy it gets me away from being distracted by phone or tablet
I will always like hard copy best – love looking at my beautiful book selves and holding books in my hands.. But digital is a blessing for travel – so lightweight, so easy. So they both have their place.
I prefer a “real” book though either one is a good read. A book is not as likely to break if dropped or get stolen, or have a dead battery. (plus side for e-reading/ipad? lit screen. that’s it)
My Paperwhite has an incredible warranty, so I don’t worry about damage. All I have to do is take it to a Best But (anywhere) and they’ll give me a new one – no questions asked. They will transfer books if it’s possible…
The paperback
I don’t don’t about how the story is delivered as much as I care about the story itself. ?
The eBook. I can no longer hold books in my hands. Too painful.
A real book. 🙂
What is so funny?
@JoAnne sorry pushed the wrong motion:)
E-book. And audio.
I loathe physical books and only read them if I can’t get something on Kindle.
They give me insane migraines.
is that helps too when your goal is to improve your academic writing?
Huh?
I love both types of books. I’ve been reading more ebooks than physical books, only because its easier to read in bed.
Do you use a phone or a kindle ?
@Houcine I use my phone
@Lawona My husband reads on his phone, and his phone is small. It’s beyond my imagination!
A real book….nothing replaces it.
Hard copy-the touch, feel, smell, cover, typeface, ect?????
A book is a book. No matter the format. I read books.
It’s the words that count not the format…
I love them all. I thought buying digital books would tame down my physical book buying. It has not. I have enough physical books to open a library branch, yet I have thousands and thousands on the Kindle. My brain is “in a book” of some format all the time when I am not at work. I even let Alexa read to me when I am cleaning house.
Great habit ?
For me hard cover the feel of the pages, the smell you just don’t get the full experience with digital
I agree, but I’ve also realized that I read faster with the kindle- or maybe I just like the story 🙂 I also have both kinds of books.
@LaVonne
I like hardcopy but reading on the phone is quite easy because you can read anywhere anytime I want ?
I agree digital is easier to read when your out and about
Thank you ladies and gentlemen for sharing your experiences:)
Digital for travel. Hardcover or paperback is nice when luggage isn’t a concern.
I’ve actually had to send a box home because I bought books while on vacation and they would put me over my luggage limit!
I have never tried digital
Hard copy every time!!!
Depends. On the train to work or traveling, audio/ebooks for sure. At home, a physical book. But can we PLEASE stop this debate? Reading is reading, no matter what you read or what medium you use.
I usually only buy digital ones now and if I like them enough I’ll get the hard copy of it ? that way I only have favorites in hard copies.
I read books & kindle books?
Paper. I can’t read anything on my phone or laptop for very long
Hardcopy
Depends on the situation. I can find a lot of good paperbacks/hardbacks in garage sales/thrift stores for cheap. But if I have to conserve space like if I’m packing a suitcase or if I’m moving, then e-books are a lot better! LOL. Honestly, as long as it has words in it, I don’t really care what format it is. 🙂
I read quite a bit and go through novels fast. Traveling was tough with that, particularly abroad where it can be tough to find bookstores that carry books in English. It was tough when I went to Italy. I was elated when I found Feltrinelli’s which has books in many languages. If I go abroad again, I’ll have my iPad and iPhone which has kindle app on it. Weighs a lot less than a bajillion books!!!
I agree a real book. I enjoy turning the textured pages and the sheer joy of holding the book!
Depends on which is cheaper …… With that said not every book is available online
Hard cover. Smell
For me, “dead tree” books are easier to share with others, but eBooks are easier to read, and they take up zero shelf space (my shelves have been overflowing for years).so both formats have their advantages.
I love my library, but when I travel, my kindle or audio-books are great! That way I can read, and not have to pay extra weight for luggage.
For me – hard copy
Hard copy. I love the smell of a good book
I love both. E-readers are hard to beat for travel, and books are lovely the rest of the time. Also, I love picking up books on my travels, and love using my Kindle in any situation with dim lighting. ?
Hard copy. Reading is tactile, the feel of a book in your hands, the sound of paper as you move your hands along the pages and covers, the book’s weight in your hands, all contibute to make reading the pleasure it is.
I love a good old fashioned book but with the tablet I can read in bed at night and with my eyesight I can enlarge the font so it’s much easier for me to read than the text in a traditional book.
A hard cover book for me nothing beats the feeling of a book turning the pages and the new smell.
Home – digital
Library – hard copy
But I never buy books
Hard copy. The weight and feel of books is comforting to me. I have digital books and they get passed over every time
I went and got me a tablet so I can easily do both , hard copy and digital:)
Hard copy, you can really see your progress. And de ide to just read a littlemore.
.Best place to buy books is the Goodwill. Or ebay.
I like ebooks ?
Has to be hard copy for me. I did really love the concept of ebooks…until I purchased one and for some odd reason find it often triggers an “aura” which tells me a migraine is not far from coming. I’m sure it didn’t help my situation to be reading on one for 4-6 hours ! :-/
Digital because of arthritis problems, can’t hold books anymore
Like them both for different reasons.
Books…
Books because my technology is not good.
book
Hardback cuz I can stroke it, smell it, stare at it longingly on my shelf after I read it remembering the amazing adventures we had.
The only time I could see myself preferring a digital book is if I was taking a long flight.
What about if your pocketbook was small?
I read so quickly that I’d have to pack a heavy bag of books just to get me through a long flight.
I’m a real hard cover snob, but I’m trying to give my new Kindle a chance…Audiobooks are just a no.
It will never replace hard covers i agree but Kindles carry thousands of books and are not heavy. Try carrying a hardcover version of War and Peace in your handbag.
For me it’s not a matter of what’s better, but about what’s more accessible. I Can’t hold a book and read it anymore. I haven’t been able to for years. So digital suits my needs.
I like both. The e-reader is better for travelling rather than taking a hardback with you.