Real Books Vs Kindle

Hi all, just thought I'd start a random thread on the differences between buying actual books, or using a Kindle. What does everyone prefer? ( I know my h2b would prefer me to have a kindle with the amount of books I have).

Real books every time!! I've got the kindle app for iPhone but find it too impersonal trying to read a book on it. My h2b is keen on a book ban at the moment - I must have hundreds I haven't read!!!

I am an avid reader (about 4-6 books a week, more if I am not working!) and am a regular library go-er and book buyer.

I had a sony e-reader which I got when they first came out- about 3-4 years ago. Suffice to say, despite thinking I would use it all the time I only ended up using it on holidays! In the end I used it on three holidays before it internally shattered- so not that much of a bargain! I have gone back to normal books for now but could be persuaded by a kindle/i-pad in the future.

Some pros and cons of kindle type books in my experience-

Pros

Light-weight and easy to fit in a small bag (fab for new books only available in hard back!)

Great for mass storage of books! Especially if you buy a lot!

Naturally interactive, easy to link to reviews of books, your Facebook and to communicate with other readers.

Convinient, you can download instantaneously without leaving the house!

Stylish and getting slicker!

Many books, especially classical ones, are available for free.

Easy to change font size!

Cons

It doesn't feel/smell like a real book!

The choice of books available can be limiting as not all books are available to buy (including Harry Potter!)

Sometimes the e-book more expensive than the actual book- especially if you can buy the actual book at the supermarket!

The library is free

You don't get the front cover and joy of 'judging a book by it's cover'! Although this is improving from when I had mine and the i-pad certainly can do this now!

Could make you vulnerable to muggings- especially if you have an i-pad type device

My Sony e-reader broke really easily! So pretty delicate in my opinion! Also, no in built light but know this has changed on more recent models!

Real books every time. H2b and I are avid old book collectors and buy mainly books of our interests rather than novels, so they're not available on kindle. We are actually moving house to accomodate our library (we own over 2,000 books and books feature heavily at our wedding). I also think, what happens if you lose the kindle?

If you lose your kindle, all the books you have bought are stored in your kindle account so you can just put them on your new one if you get one. I love my kindle, as I read alot and very quickly so its ideal for me as I don't have to keep buying books all the time as I have downloaded hundreds of free ones.

I prefer real books.. they look pretty on my bookcases too, and it makes me feel intellectual when I pull a book out in front of people lol. I'm glad there are other people out there that prefer books! I love being able to go on Amazon and spend a little bit on second hand books ( especially if you can see they've been well enjoyed - makes me more likely to make sure i read it all!)
I don't like the fact that some books are only available on the Kindle - There's a Stephen King book based on the kindle that I want to read, but I can't justify buying a kindle just for one book!!

real books all the time, nothing beats the new book smell, plus its easier to remember where you last where

Oct_Bride11- I didn't think of that one! That's a good reason!

An extension of that is having to be careful with sand/sea/suntan lotion/the sun when on holiday with a kindle type device!

I think mine shattered as it went from the heat of the Caribbean to Estonia in winter!

I guess they are just much more vulnerable to damage!

I LOVE THE KINDLE!

Its cheaper in the long run, you have access to everything, we get free books from a naughty place - pretty much whatever we like, takes up less space and if you dont get into a certain book its not cost anything and you start another!

I hate books (Living abroad) because they just get soggy and are bulky and you lose pages

Real book, I find it difficult to read a large amount of text on a screen, I'd never bother with a kindle