I can’t help but always worry that one day I’ll need paper books. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I should start collecting paper books instead of every single book I have is on my Kobo. Which do you do? If you get paper books, is there a source that sells cheaper books. Books are kind of pricey where I look.
I wish when we bought a book physically we get the ebook version. Then we don’t have to “chose”.
I much prefer digital. However, I don’t have a lot of space, and my local library has a much bigger digital selection that physical. Plus when I go backpacking I can take an obscene amount of books with me on my Kobo vs physical books.
I prefer ePub. Much more convenient for me than a paper book.
- I simply don’t have the space to physically store a lot of paper books
- It’s much easier to bring my Kobo with me when commuting or traveling
- Much easier for me to buy eBooks than physical books
- Even though I’ve been having my device for like 8 years, I’m still fascinated by how cool the e-ink display is
On the other hand, paper books have only one thing to offer that sometimes holds:
- They’re all DRM-free, while some eBooks I’ve been wanting to buy are DRM-enshittified. Still hasitating about those, as I’m not willing to spend money on such books.
I’ve recently bought a Kobo, and had great success removing the DRM from my Kindle library, then loading all my books there onto my Kobo. Just food for thought that such a thing is possible
I don’t know, there are a couple of books that have Adobe DRM on them at every bookstore where I found the book.
Are you saying, it’s possible to get Amazon books onto a non-Kindle device? That’s actually pretty much the only bookstore where I never looked at before.
Unpopular take and I might get beaten up for it, but if you have already paid for the book and you can’t take it with you because it has DRM, then IMHO, it’s ok to pirate it. You paid for it, it’s yours and they’re taking it away from you because you chose not to use their device.
Unfortunately, the easiest way is to have an old kindle on your account with DRM that’s been beaten. Then you can download the files like you’re going to copy them via USB to that device, and use that device’s serial with the de-DRM calibre extension and it’s pretty easy.
I haven’t found an equally effective way without it, though I haven’t looked as much as the first method works for me.
You can rip Audible audiobooks with Libation. It’s not applicable to ebooks, but worth just tacking on since we’re on the subject of Amazon lock-in.
In my use case it doesn’t have any relevance, as my device lasts for months with one charge. During that timespan I have plenty of opportunities to charge.
Which device is that? My Kobo sage needs charge every 3 days or so and that’s the only thing I dislike about it. They messed up big time for not making the battery bigger on it.
Honestly? Digital overall. And I’m talking about reading; there’s benefits to digital outside that, but I wanna do it separate.
A decent tablet with a good app is a better reading experience overall. Yes, it lacks multi sensory experience, and the comfort of curling up and sinking in.
Where it gains is that, regardless of eink vs standard displays, you can change fonts, font size, contrast, and even the colors of text and background. You can choose to scroll instead of turning pages. This all means that no matter what kind of eyesight you have, whether you’re dyslexic or not, you have a high degree of making sure that you can actually read. Done properly, you can do so without eye strain, and usually while holding the device in one hand, in any position.
Assuming a backlight or other built in lighting on eink, you can read without it needing a lamp that might bother someone beside you.
As much as I love paper in hand, the smell, sound and feel of it, I can actually read with full comfort on even a cheap tablet. And, being dyslexic, instead of dealing with the frustration of the publisher picking the font and font size, thus making me work harder; I get to pick what works and just enjoy reading.
And then you get into the stuff that isn’t purely about reading. For one, portability. I can carry thousands of books in my hand digitally. I can take them almost anywhere, and (assuming I pick the right device) even read in pouring rain or the shower if I wanted to, so tub reading ceases to be a problem.
Which is related to storage. With digital, I never have to worry about it. I don’t need an entire room dedicated to books, or have bookshelves in every room just to have access to everything.
So, I could entirely convert to digital and have extra space.
Or! I can freely choose which books to keep physical copies of. That means I can even have hardback editions with less concern over space compared to paperbacks. Just the Wheel of Time books are an entire shelf in hardback. In paperback, there’s still room for more. Yay digital! I can trade or sell off the paperbacks, keep my hardbacks for the sensory delight, and not have to fret about running out of room as much.
Going digital and replacing less read books entirely took me from ten bookcases crammed full, with things stacked in bad ways; to ten that are neatly organized with room for more if/when I want, and better displays of my favorites.
If you want an actual collection of books, as opposed to simply accumulating books, digital is the perfect accompaniment.
Right now, everything on my shelves is either a favorite, out of print, or special in some other way. Some are all three. Before, it included stuff that I might only reread once a decade, but didn’t want the hassle of tracking them down in a library that might not have a copy, and might not have an entire series for those. I even have room to display some of the nicer covers instead of having to have every book in there spine out.
As far as pricey books go, at least with digital as a main format for the collection, it means you can actually afford the more pricey books when you really want them.
As far as sourcing cheaper paper books, you gotta go local to used book dealers. It’s really the only practical way to really save money. You can sometimes do eBay though. Otherwise, you’re paying full price at any store that sells new. You might run into sales, but that’s not reliable.
and (assuming I pick the right device) even read in pouring rain or the shower if I wanted to, so tub reading ceases to be a problem.
With the “wrong device”, you can get a tablet dry bag and still be good. This is the one I got for my Boox go color 7. A waterproof device is nicer, but if you’re not willing to sacrifice whatever else for one, you still have a cheap, reasonably easy option.
Physical for me. I just can’t read for long durations on a screen. I just can’t. I need the tactile feeling of turning pages and having a physical thing to hold and take with me. In that same vein, I have a hard time even reading softcover. One of the biggest reasons I read anyway is to get away from screens/technology anyway. I also like having a physical library in my bedroom that I can look at. I understand that these are all really objectionable, prissy reasons to prefer physical.
For your second question. I’ve had good luck with eBay, at least as a US buyer. It helps that USPS ships books really cheap for sellers and most stores that I see usually have more than 1 item on my wishlist so I can knock out a bunch of books in one order, get them used (better for the environment), and avoid Amazon
