What do you prefer...Real books or Electronic books?

Real books for sure!! I love the way they smell also!

I like books better on a computer because it will keep my place in that story.

My husband loves books. One day commuting on the bus he finished his book! Quite a tragedy for a book hound. I bought him a Kindle. He loves it because he will never run out of books. He can load a book while on the bus! He even took the Kindle on the K-LOVE cruise in February. Though he will still by a paper book on occasion, he can now collect even more books!

Peg, Westminster CO

For me it would have to be paper books, after all what if there is a power outage? You wouldn't after a while not be able to read your electronic book. without power all you need is a candle and a paper book you are good to go.

REAL books.  I like to read while soaking in a bubble bath...can't take an  electronic book in the tub.  Might drop it.  I like to feel the book.  

Real books the electronic one don't do it for me

I have an iPad and I LOVE IT and wouldn't go back! I am with you Scott.

I gotta agree with Keli! I just finished the Bible just now! I love reading the Bible with my book! I like the Bible app on iphone, but its so nice to see my highlights on the Bible knowing at the time what I'm going through....

LOVE the feel of the pages....like the tangible component. Like to see where I am headed like an adventure...where I've been...and how much longer to go. Love the smell too Kelli!

Kelli I agree. My eyes hurt after looking at a computer/ electronic screen. I enjoy curling up with a book and seeing how much further I have left to go. The smell is also comforting. Books all the way for me.

REAL books for sure!! I understand the smell, the feel...plus you can highlight and write notes...I could have a floor to ceiling library!!

I myself prefer a real book. I have tried e-books but it bothers my eyes after a while. There's nothing like curling up with a good book. Besides, if you spill your coffee, its much cheaper to replace the book than the Ipad.

I dont think I would ever be able to emerse myself in an e-book. spending hours on end pouring over a book just wouldnt be possible while staring at a computer screen. the strain on my eyes would just be too great

I'm with Kelly all the way, it just wouldn't be the same to curl up near the fireplace with an iPAD. There's something magical about ink on a page.

I prefer a real book.  I like to snuggle up.  I like holding the book. After all technology changes and you have to constantly pay to upgrade where a book is always there.

I have had an iPad for 5 months and I use it to read all my books, will never go back to paper books.  I can have multiple book, easy to take along. Love it !!!!

The KINDLE ROCKS! (And it's not the same as reading on my laptop.) My son with ADHD even took off reading on the kindle. By expanding the font size, he was able to keep focused on just a few lines at a time. And we can ALL find something we want...from Magic Tree House, to sci-fi books for my teenage son, and even books for me (Mom). All at a price reduction over going to the bookstore (and no extra driving either...Perfect for the working Mom!)

uuugggghh why is everything going so techi!!! technology is taking over everything!! ..real books for sure for hobbie reading....but for school books electronic would be cool...bag wouldnt be as heavy!!!

I agree with Kellie.  I'm a big reader too and collect books.  You just can't get the real feel with an eBook, and I'm one pc techie that won't be buy an eBook.  

I would have to go with real books, also. I love having it just the old-fashioned way, paper and all!

Definately "REAL" books!!!!  My husband and I are passing our love for books on to our kids (10 & 3 1/2).  There is something magically suspenseful about a good page turner!!  We can't go to bed without one!!!!

I have an IPhone and there are several different free readers for it.  I love reading and, although physical books are awesome, we have been on a car trip and had to search for book stores because I underestimated how many I would need.  Now I can simply download a new one on the fly!!! How awesome is that??  Also, the electronic book store is NEVER sold out of the book I want.  It is wonderful to have my book(s) with me all the time, don't know what I ever did without my IPhone.

Real book of course!
The e readers and i pad are great but not for long
hours of reading?
bad for eyes lol

Real books only!!! It is the only way to read!!!

Question Scott... What happens when the battery dies??? Real Books no question about it.

i would perfer real books beacause they lower your bill and exersice your fingers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I, until a month ago,a would have voted for the book. But after I got an i-pod touch and down loaded the Kindle ap I love the e-books. I can carry everybook with me wherever I go. However, when it comes to the Bible nothing but the real thing will do.

I'm with Scott...I can do w/o the smell of dust & mildew. I hate turning the pages with dry fingers and end up having to lick my finger (NOT sanitary!). My mom just got the Nook, which she doesn't stop talking about (enough to drive me crazy). I was messing around with it and I'm really wanting one. You can download from the library, buy books, etc. You can also download them to the computer & burn them onto CD's (takes about 16 CD's per book) but it's yours to keep and you can then listen to it the car, while working, etc.

Absolutely real books! A physical book acquires a history that can never be replicated or replaced by an e-book of any kind.

Real books!!  Would you get the same effect of reading your Bible on computer?  I write notes in my Bible & books and when I see them later I reflect on the notes.

I like them both, it just depends on if I'm home curled up in a comfortable chair or waiting for someone in an airport. Real books just feel like home and electronic books remind me that we live a fast pace world, but is sure make life easier at times.

I have found a balance. Nothing can ever replace the aroma of aging parchment, however I have found that having the accessibility to e-books, e-journals, etc. is splendid.

I like real books. For the overall experience but also because computer screens give me headaches when I read  something on them for too long.

Dude if you drop a book from the shelf you pick it up dust it off and start reading.  Do that with you Ipad and it is goodbye libarary.  By the way you can email folks verse if your Bible program is not working.  It is called hiding the word of God in your heart.

As an online bookstore owner, hoping to open a Christian bookstore in the near future, I hope that most people still enjoy the feel of a real book. There is just something cold and lifeless about an electronic book. Real books are different because you can feel each page that the author spent days, weeks or months writing.

I like them both, it just depends on if I'm home curled up in a comfortable chair or waiting for someone in an airport. Real books just feel like home and electronic books remind me that we live a fast pace world, but is sure make life easier at times.

Real books all the way!!! I like the touch of the paper and the smell of the older papers. Reading with the book in my hands helps me relax and imagine what the author writes. reading on the computer is more distracting because of all the different options that can distract you.

Definately books, I would not be able to enjoy holding a "peice of technology" at night!!

As an online bookstore owner, hoping to open a Christian bookstore in the near future, I hope that most people still enjoy the feel of a real book. There is just something cold and lifeless about an electronic book. Real books are different because you can feel each page that the author spent days, weeks or months writing.

Real books definitely! I always forget to charge everything. You don't have to worry about your batteries dying with a real book

A bit of both, I like my E-reader for portability for sure, but sometimes I just need to feel a nice sized book in my hands, the smell, feel of the binding, and physically turning a page really helps to engross me in the book.  

I totally agree with Kelli---there's nothing like getting comfortable with a book and its distinct smell (new or old).  There is a warmth emanating from the cover as your hands hold it, the anticipation of picking up where you left off, turning the pages, etc.  Kelli is right--its a whole experience that you lose when reading from a electronic apparatus.  I like to look at the bookcase filled with my favorite books, selecting one, and finding a comfortable chair to read.  God bless you.

I bought a Kindle for my mother who has MS.  She had to read large print books due to her disease & then she donated these to her public library (lives in a small town in IA).  This is the ONLY down side to the Kindle is that she doesn't have the actual book to donate & get that gratification.  I bought this for her prior to all the other E options on the market now (& at the higher price at the time).  The wonderful thing is that it is light & she can hold it where the actual books were to heavy for her to hold for an extended period of time.  The font can be enlarged bigger that even the large hard copy print was, giving her less eye strain. Now that her disease is so much more progressive, she can have the book read to her on the Kindle by the narrator when her eyes are to bad with a disease exacerbation.  I wish that I would spend the money on myself to get a form (perhaps not the Kindle) of an E reader.  It is the better thing that I have bought for my mother since she so loves to read & can now enjoy novels & she has purchased a bible & had that on there as well & can mark she favorite scriptures & use it in bible study as well.

I agree with both of you. I'm an English major and love books. I love the smell of books and turning a page! At the same time I love my nook. It's light weight and I can have more then one book with me at the same time!  

I have to say printed books are much better and much easier to pass along to a friend.

I definitely think real books are better. And even new  books have a smell, but it's a good smell. Sometimes even for papers I find myself printing out research articles because I like reading them in front of me in my hands instead of on a screen.

I love all my books on my  shelves AND  in my hands when I hunker down to read, but I must admit, I enjoy hanging on my husband's shoulder on Sunday mornings, as we gander together at the bible app for the iphone during the service.
However, it was an iconic day, when, during one sermon, the church lost the wi-fi connection, and more than a third of the congregation looked up with a "deer in the headlights" gaze on their faces.

I like real books.  I love the smell of books, especially old books.  I love the smell of book stores and libaries.

books - definately.  It is much cozier curling up with a book.  Plus if you fall asleep you aren't zapping energy!

I do like real books as I have lots. but I am hinting for one of those electronic ones for christmas (SMILE) A good book can be enjoyed just as well espically the BIBLE.

I love reading an actual book.  Kelly I am with you!!

I LOVE the REAL books better.  I like being able to pick one up, throwing it in my purse or backpack and leaving the house.  What happens if the ipad broke, didn't get charged, power outage?  I think sometimes technology takes away an intimate downtime.  Besides I would rather curl up with a soft paperback than a hard impersonal machine.

Thinking of the mountain of books in my daughters rooms and my basement, ebooks are looking better and better

I am in the tech business.  I have a huge electronic theological library on my laptop.  I have a huge electronic library on my smartphone the Droid X.  You cannot beat this for research.

But when it comes to reading for pleasure, I prefer a good paper based book!  

It is hard to use a laptop when I am in my "reading room."  I even prefer reading the newspaper in print over electronically.

No way... I absolutely love my E-reader... I was never a big reader but as soon as I got my E-reader I finished my first book in three days. It is totally different than reading your phone... Now I carry it where ever I go and the pages on the nook look just like the pages of a real book...

I have never read an electronic book....I would like to though! I really want a kindle, I think it would make me read more. I don't read much now but I would like to.

Ebooks for sure!  I read more than ever since I got an ereader....it's quicker, easier, and dosen't require a trip to the store for a book!

I recently bought the Kindle, latest version, and I have to say I love it!  I'm a book addict, and the three full bookshelves attest to that!  With the Kindle, I can download 3,500 books, and keep them on one handy place, not all over the house, shelves and living areas.  Yes, I start one book, then I have a compulsion to start another!  Another advantage is that I get to download some free books as well.  Classics are awesome.  So, I say electronic devices

Real Books...there is nothing better than the feel and smell of a real book. I have some old books with leather covers and yellowed pages -- how can you get that from a computer?!

Real books! I have so many and don't know what i'd do without them. Reading on a screen just isn't the same as when i'm holding a book. The battery on it would die so fast cuz i read for hours

I think both are good. Real books are the better of the two though. The way you can just get lost in the story. As though you have been cut off by technology, and the world. The e-books put you in the technology.

I like books on the IPhone but the bible in a real book

I NEED my real books.  Like so many others it is the tactile sensation of paper, ink, and glue all rolled into that wonderful story that make reading one of the few luxuries I can still afford.  Knowing that I don't have to fight off the kids for the reader, or charge it up is a blessing.  

My Bible holds a lifetime of study notes and growth that could never be captured in an electronic gadget.  

As I look at other books I have I see a history of stories read to my kids (and my dh).  I remember the class I took that struck me so strongly I didn't sell back all the texts.  

More important to me, I see my kids pick up books I have loved and find the same love now.  No way will I ever convert to a strict e-book library.

I love books, the feel, the smell, the words.... no electronic devices can compare.... one of my childhood memories is reading in the classroom when I was suppose to be listening to the teacher, I didn't hear her until she took my book away... books have always been a part of who I am.

I agree with Scott on this one. In my opinion ebooks are better for a few reasons, they are space savers so I don't have books cluttering my house, they keep my page so I can start right where I left off, they can be read in any lighting since they have adjustable brightness settings, when I want to buy a new ebook they won't be sold out at the store, and so much more.

Absolutely paper books. I am completely with Kelly, there is nothing more relaxing that curling up with a book and a blanket!

There is nothing like a real physical book! Everything that has been said about them, I agree with. I mean the smell, holding it, turning the pages. It promotes relaxation and peace. I was not a reader in school. I'm dyslexic so I simply couldn't keep up with the assignments. But since I graduated, I found I LOVE to read and am an avid reader now. I only have enough books to fill 3 bookshelves so far but am working to correct this deficiency. A house looks more homey when there are shelves full of books.

I like to have a real book. I am not opposed to Kindles or the like, but without trying one for free, I'm gonna stick with the library. Also, studying online texts stinks!! Esp studying pharmacy law. BORING. Need a real book to highlight.

I was just at a book signing yesterday for Jim (former Bills QB) & Jill Kelly for her book about their so Hunter, who had a terminal disease and how he saved their marriage and brought them to  Jesus and I have to day, how do you sign an eBook? Not the same. I vote with Kelli...

I like to read books on the iPhone but the bible I would rather read in real book

id have to say real books. while e-reading may have its perks, i say real books are a must. reading without paper would be like 4th of july without fireworks, thanksgiving without turkey, christmas without presents- its just not right.

Both.  Each format has its place.

Personally, for pleasure reading I love hard copy. Reading online is just not the same. Paper is simply more intimate. However...

I write technical manuals for a living and everything I produce is published in electronic form out there on the Internet.  Online is also the best way to research topics. I use online Bible resources to augment my personal study.  If I had to choose between the two, I'd go with the electronic forms, assuming that I could always print the pages out.

Finally, proofreading is always easier with hard copy. Every other writer I work with acknowledges that it is easier to spot bad text when it is printed out on paper.

I love to wander through the bookstore for hours on end.  But, I would like to try an electronic book to "save the trees"

This is definitly a dilema in my house.  I much prefer sitting down with a real book, as does my 11 year old son. THis year with many life threatning health issues I have found comfort in audio books when Ive been too sick to hold a book in my hand. The ability to listen to a book while fighting to live has been a blessing to me this year.

The down side of real books is We also just made a big move and 3/4 of the boxes were books. Theres a major problem when you need a 24 foot uhaul because of books.I have a 11 year old son who loves reading a book and does not even go anywhere without at least 3 books in his possession.  He has a bunkbed with steps and every step has books.

So while a real book is preferred I have been blessed through some life threatning health issues to have the ability to push a button and listen to a book.

I enjoy reading when I can find time these days.  I enjoy the collection of hardback books I have around my house; however, I have also fallen for the electronic books.  I do not leave the house with a paper book; not even my bible. I have slowly began to ween myself from paper books at home.  I have approximately 140 books on my iPad and Sony eReader.  Sorry Kelli, I'm leaning toward the electronic books these days.  I did once upon a time have books under my bed as well.

I have to agree with Scott on this one. I am an avid reader{couldn't you tell by my email addy}.

I have lots of real books but since buying my Kindle a year ago all I buy now is electronic. It makes traveling with all of my favorite books easier. I no longer have to decided which books I am going to take(the Kindle holds approx. 1500 books) I can take them all. So Kelli you should really try an ebook reader the iPhone just doesn't compare.

Fay (Michigan)

I can't imagine not holding a REAL book. I get a silly little thrill when a crack the spine on a new read. But then, I'm still mourning the end  of writing and reading a beautiful heartfelt letter. ~~~sigh~~~~

I'm all for the e-books!  I bought a NOOK for a vacation back in March and I haven't picked up a paper book since.  It's just so convenient to have all of your books in one place and you can carry them all with you!

I love books. They are like good friends who are always there for you. I admit that at times they seem to be just about everywhere ( not under the bed yet though). Scott, FYI I just had a garage sale trying to sell for next to nothing some of the ancient, out dated books. I still have most of them in the garage much to my husbands dismay. I got rid of  most by letting my grandson go through some of the ones his dad used to read. He was so excited. Don't know about his parents but Oh well.

I love my Kindle!  I have always loved books and still do - but it is so nice to be able to purchase a new book when I run out of something to read at odd times.  I spend several hours a week waiting for a ferry and when I finish my current book I can just go online and purchase another one and keep reading!

Real books! But I am sure there is enough room in the world for both.

I LOVE reading, and I think real books are much better than electronic ones, for one reason, electronic books arn't relaxing, and they make me eyes hurt.

I'm with Kelli - I LOVE books (the real ones). There is nothing I love more than to walk into a book store and BREATHE. I could spend hours browsing any book store but Half Price Books and a rainy day - the best! Ispend hours there looking for bargains. Also I tend to highlight and write notes in the margins of books I read and you can't do that with those geeky electronic gadgets. My daughter has a Nook and keeps trying to talk me into buying one - no way! I love the feel and the smell of REAL books!

I am with Kelli. Real books. I spend all day at work on a computer so the last thing I want to do is read a book on a screen.

I like real books because you can look like you have a library in your home! I love that! But, I would like to have an Ipad so it would be easier to get the books But being able to have a display of books is more fun!

I completely agree with you Kelli-real books all the way! Although I have been wanting to get one of the electronic books, there just isn't the same feel as smelling, holding, and reading the book. Even though Scott has a good point with nighttime reading, books are just so much more fun to read, plus you don't have to worry about batteries dying while you're reading them.

I would rather read a REAL book than a screen. It goes beyond "keeping with the times" and "making life easier". For me, reading a kendle is like settling for a picture of a beautiful fall morning than actually being there.

Sorry, Scott.  Kelli is so right!!  There is nothing like curling up with a good book...a real book.   E-books are too cold and impersonal.  It's hard to imaging getting comfy with a piece of plastic.  

I'm one who looks for ways to get rid of clutter from the house.  This idea of an E-book is awesome!  Sorry Kelli but I have to go with Scott on this one.  Do you know how much space I'd save by getting rid of all the books I have collecting dust on the shelves?!!  I think I'll put it on my Christmas list!  

Nancy

Definitely real books! I love the sense of accomplishment when you finish reading a really thick book. You just don't have that when you read an e-book.

But sorry Kelli... I can't stand the smell of old books!

I love the smell of real books.  I enjoy curling up in front of the fireplace with a cup of coffee or tea (depending on what I'm reading) and a book.  I enjoy walking around libraries or bookstores. It is my way of relaxing!

I like either one. I love to turn pages but I live in a tiny apartment with minimal storage. I can hold 1000s of books in the palm of my hand with ebooks and not have to find space for any of them, or wonder where I put "that book" when I finished it and now I can't find it. Its right there in my Kindell!!!

Both! I love to read and  will read whichever is available or easier. I guess I prefer the paper ones, but I'm running out of room on my bookshelves, and trips to the library are harder now that school has started.  I may just end up buying a kindle after all.

Just bought one today.  What book does your friend recommend?

There is absolutely NOTHING like snuggling into bed with a book that you have read a dozen times before; that your grandmother, and her grandmother have read hundreds of times. I have several books that were passed down from generation to generation, and it is like they are right there next to you reading along. When you fold down the page on the yellowed crease that they folded decades before because they thought it was the perfect stopping point just like you do, it's really special. You can't get that with no Kindle! Real books shall always be superior.

I agree with Kelli theres just something about curling up with cocoa or cider and a good book! as for the toenail polish colour...Roll Tide

I love my Kindle. I can now rock my grandchildren to sleep and read, I can exercise and read. And the bestus is I can carry at least two Bibles and a host of other books and carry them everywhere on my Kindle.  Amazing technology that I am very greatful to have.

Sorry, Scott.  Kelli is so right!  There's nothing like curling up with a good book...a REAL book.   It's just hard to imagine getting comfy with a piece of plastic.

I gotta go for real books! i just love displaying all the books I have read on my shelves and see people's jaw drop as they stare at my little library   

Sorry, Scott.  Kelli is so right!  There's nothing like curling up with a good book...a REAL book.   It's just hard to imagine getting comfy with a piece of plastic.

i might try the kindle.... <o_0>

As an over-the-phone customer service associate for the Kindle, I've heard amazing stories of what I've been able to offer people. Last week there was a woman hospitalized whose condition was so severe she could not hold up real books anymore. For her the Kindle was a godsend. Some people who travel a lot and still love reading - they can't carry a bag of books everywhere they go. I love getting calls like that, because I realize that what I'm doing is offering something that's so much more than a box with wires.

Just FYI, for those who mentioned before, you can bookmark and highlight on the Kindle... and it's not backlit, precisely so it doesn't hurt your eyes. For those with bad vision, the text can be expanded... most books even have Text-To-Speech, which is like an audiobook built right in! I've talked to several legally blind people and my heart melts every time. And the warranty covers drops under shoulder height =)

No way would I be paid to say this... with all the calls I get day after day, I've really seen what a great effect electronic books can have.

Real books all the way!  I love the smell, I love my bookmark.  I love to browse a book store and touch the books!!!  But if an electronic device got Scott to read.  I'm all for it.  Anything to get someone to love reading.  The only time I might consider one is for space saving while travelling.

I prefer holding a book, and reading from an e-book makes your eyes worse. It's like reading on a computer screen, or being to close to a tv. I really don't want my eyes to be worse, I don't want to end up wearing thick glasses. Kelli, I absolutely positively concur with you. An actual book is definitely better than an e-book.

Oh, I just love reading! Reading has always been one of my favorite things to, especially at night or on rainy days.

I do prefer real books, however I am visually impaired, so reading for too long puts a strain on my eyes, leaving me with eBooks. They can be very convenient when I can no longer bare to look at the pages.

I LOVE my Kindle! As popularity grows, the price is going down - both for the unit and for the books! I can't read on my computer or iPhone - I am on a computer all day and the backlight hurts my eyes, but the Kindle's paper-like display is perfect.

I recently moved from a house to an apartment. 3 rooms in our house had book-shelves full of books - many shelves were double stacked! I sold or donated all my books except my most favorite hard-cover books, and am building a new library on my Kindle. Due to financial issues, I looked up free books and got over 50 classics at no cost! I live on my Kindle for day-to-day reading. I do have the Bible loaded as well, but for in-depth studying, I do like opening my Bible, and seeing notes and highlights entered from past readings - that really can't be beat. But my Kindle is perfect for everything else!

I am all for the new electronic books, We need progress,But what happends when you run out of batteries,or the power goes out. With Paper books you can still curel up on the couch,grab a romantic candel and read. I hope paper stays centuries longer.Five years from now you still have the paper book,But the electronic book will be changed, you have to store it all over again.

I have to say that real books are still the thing at our house.  We have five kids and hand-me-downs applies to books as well.  If we put them on something electronic ~ it limits the sharing.  

I prefer a real book. the whole metality of holding a book and turning the pages is way different than just hitting the 'next' button for the next page. Also with an electronic book you don't get that smell of a brand new or really old book. thanks for all you do. Jennifer

I think Kelli should read one book on the electronic book to see what its like.  I haven't tried it but I agree I like a REAL book!  I love having my library and books everywhere!!!  Is every book electronic now?  I am doing my student teaching and I think electronic books would be so great in a classroom because you could have a classroom set and just pick different books!  

I'm with Kelly all the way!!! Nothing like holding a REAL book Scott! You can't turn the pages as easily in a e-book, the angle you have to read a e-book at is always for me the most uncomfortable thing. A REAL book can be held at any angle, any position, somehow comforting to just sit down with a real book and relax. I like the hot coffee Kelly, maybe not the fluffy blanket, but somehow I'm never comfortable holding what is essentially a BIG calculator in my hands to read! LOL!

I say books are better than e-books because what happens if  the e-book your reading gets deleted. What are you going to do then??...But with a real book it will never get deleted. So books are way much better than e-book..

How about "The Book", the Bible.  Would you prefer that on your IPAD too?  If so what happens to all the notes we scribble and passages we highlight?  Real is always better than fake.

"REAL" books...I am anti electronics. My cell phone is the most advanced piece of technology. My television is a 27" Magnavox from 1989..it still works great so why get rid of it. I prefer the simple things and feel like the electronics complicate everything. I too like the feel of the paper pages and it's not very cozy to curl up w/an electronic book...they don't have that smell that "real" books have.

REAL books!!!  The fireplace is the "old fashioned" way of warming your home - who doesn't love to curl up in front of the fireplace ....  with a good - ebook???  NO!!! A good REAL book.  Nothing is better than the real thing!!!

I totally agree with Kelly!! I am for technology bt there is nothing better than a real paper book. It can't die, it can't be fried, and it can't relax u before bed. An electronic before u go to bed actually keeps your brain working a lot longer and prevents u from gettting a restfull and full sleep. I might  b called old fashioned bt I prefere REAL books over anything!!!  

Why is Scott so insecure about his new found love of ebooks? 95% of what I read is via some electronic device. I am interested only in the information. If someone finds serenity in the experience of a paper book, cool. I find serenity in meditating on what I've read. God has made us quite differently. Let's enjoy the creativity of God and not get caught up in the latest shiny thing. I'm sure the same debate went on over the printing press over the manuscript.

Personally I'm for the real thing, but there are pros & cons to ebooks.
Pros: People with arthritis have a very hard time holding books. Ebook devices are generally small & light weight.
Reference books & REALLY big, thick books would be easier to carry on a ipad.
Cons: My real book is less likely to "grow legs & walk away" than your cute little device, and if I drop my book its pages don't get wiped clean. OOPS! Also if I lend my book to someone my whole library doesn't walk out the door with it.

I agree with Kelli.  I like having a real book to
read rather than electronic reading. I try to carry
a book with me wherever I go, just in case to have
to read if the need arises.

                                      

For the e-readers: Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.  That is all I have to say.

As for me, personally: I will hold on to every brittle and yellowed page until they all go up in smoke.

For the e-readers: Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.  That is all I have to say.

As for me, personally: I will hold on to every brittle and yellowed page until they all go up in smoke.

i guess it can be debatable, u got real books, which use paper, that take down real trees, which hurt our environment. & yea trees can continue to grow, but with so many books i'm sure there's a high demand on trees.
& with electronic books, well, majority of the power comes from power plants, which also hurt our environment, but there's also recent studies on producing power from plants, but not in a way of cutting down trees.
so idk, but i think the real thought here is, it doesn't really matter if its paper or electronic, as long as ppl will use either source to read & use God's Word!!!

EBook LOVE:Traveling without the bulk or weight of multiple. books, reading in the dark, reading material options on demand.

EBook UNLOVE: Not being able to share a favorite read with friends and the whole power thing.

I will never be a complete convert but ebooks do have their advantages. I am a Hybrid reader!

I work with computers all day, the last thing I want to do to relax before going to bed is look at another screen.  Besides I love the smell of books.  I especially love my 5 year olds foot print in paint and laminated as my book mark.  I can take a small book anywhere and not have to worry about it being charged.

I love real books because if you drop it it does not break. A electronic book can have its harddrive reset if it falls on the floor and with three cats it is not a risk I am willing to take!!!

BTW Shirley, you CAN highlight and make notes in iBooks with an iPad- not too sure about the Kindle or Nook. You're right about the smell thing though. The day my iPad has a smell could only mean bad news! ; )

I really like E-Readers.  Don't get me wrong I love real books too.  I just think it depends on the person and how much/often you read.  I read a ton of books.  Most of them I don't like to give away or trade out because I love them so much I want to read them again.  In that sense, an E-Reader makes more sense because I think it is more earth friendly.  All the books I get now are stored online and I can just download them whenever I want to read one.  Rather than so much space being taken up by book shelves full of books as I get new ones.

At the age of 13 in 8th grade, I am at least in a 12th grade reading level. I did not get here by reading an electronic books. I just love being able to dive into a new world and experience new things! Sorry Scott, but you must have forgotten that a few years ago studies showed that the more time you spend watching and electronic screen, the harder it is to remember things. Were as REAL books actually improve your vocabulary and imagination.

Real books are what i prefer because with them you can hand them down to your loved ones. Plus I love to make little notes on certain ones. Putting my thoughts down or underlining what I like. Just because its 2010 doesn't mean real books are out of date. lol

Although e-books are convenient and easy, they will never be able to replace the tangible written word.  As a society we have fallen victim to our own desire for convenience, and have lost the values that come with not having convenience in everything we do.  Throughout history our past was recorded in books and without the written word we would have no knowledge of our own history.  Anything that is convenient is also easily lost, without power and e-book is useless, but with a simple candle you can still read a real book.  Imagine what would happen if everything that is written was kept on computers instead of on paper, and the y2k bug was actually real, where would we be then.  My wife uses an e-book, and it is invaluable for her as she is deployed to Afganistan, so there is a place for the e-book, but it will never be as important as the written word.

I'm a book-aholic all the way, and have purposely avoided the electronic books. Nothing can replace the comfort of a good old-fashioned book in my hands!  But my husband is a techie, and got me a Barnes & Noble Nook for my birthday this month. While I'll never totally switch to ebooks, I have to say that I've enjoyed the Nook more than I thought possible. We're going on vacation next week & it's nice to know i can pack one little device instead of a big stack of books! I will (grudgingly) admit that electronic books can be enjoyable & I'm glad my husband dragged me into the 21st century!

I agree with Scott, I do like electronics,( after all im 10 years old ) but I like sitting down and reading a "real" book every night before bed. In Romans 12:2, it says, "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. That by testing you may discern what is good, acceptable and perfect."

It's so funny... I thought I was the only one who had a love affair with books I not only love to read, I love the whole experience of turning the pages and the smell of the book, etc. I love curling up with the book and snuggling down and when I'm really into a book I find myself holding the corner of the page ready to turn it any minute.. Nice to know I'm not alone

Real Books.I guess the fact of holding a book makes reading feel like reading.

I'm with Scott...I bought a Sony reader edition and I love it.  I love to read and if I go on vacation one E Book is far eaiser and more convenient to carry.  Besides that I have all the books that I can possible read for free through the library.  I also have my study bible on there and a few Max Lacado books. Yet my husband can enjoy the wall street journal or other news papers.
I still have my library at home for those real page turning moments.  My vote goes for the E book.

I personally like both! I am a reader, have been since I was just a tyke...I love books and nothing would ever get me to give them up but I have to admit that the ability to have the electronic books available comes in very handy when traveling or at a Dr. office while waiting, etc. I have lost so many books by leaving them behind! I also enjoy the audio books - my husband and I go to bed about an hour early every night and listen to our audio books together, it's great together time! So who says you can't like both?
Love you guys!

I love my kindle. I can take 3 or 4 books with me when I have to go to the doctor. So if I am almost done with one book I don't have to take another book and try to juggle medicine books purse.
But I do have to say I don't want the Bible on my kindle I love having it in my hands.

For me, it definitely has to be a paper book for sure. How can you highlight your favorite verses on computer? Just can't do it! How do you leave your favorite bookmarks? How do you quickly open up to the very page you need?
No electronic books for me.

TOTALLY REAL BOOKS!!!!!!!! i LOVE books!!! the way thay look and smell lolol im 18yrs old and iv already started on my own library. 1 hv over 150 books so far!!!!! love yall!!!!!

I was driving while I heard you talking about this Friday.  I am real books all the way!  I like the way they feel, and I am always concerned about glare from any electronic screen.  I know it is a lot better than it used to be, but still....

Totally agree with Kelli.  The smell, the feel, the curling up with a good book not a digital computer screen.  

I agree with Kelli!  Real books are way better.  I especially like the smell.  The smell of the pages of my bible are the best.

Real Books!!!! I enjoy the feel of the pages in a book. You can't get that with an Ipad.

I love my kindle I don't have to carry 2 books at once so if I finish one. I don't have to carry a second book. I can take plenty of books with me on my kindle and if I don't want to read one I can pick out the next book, without wishing I had it with me. But I still want my Bible in my hands not on my kindle

i really like the feel of books and pages. But when i think about storing all the books ive read or toting around all the books ive began to read at the same time i would rather carry one electronic rather than carry 4 books!

Real books.  You can highlight sections you want to find quickly.  I look at a computer all day, why would I want to do that to relax.  The computer is cold and impersonal.  And hard on the eyes.  

I love to read but it is hard to take books with me and when I do they get bent and such.  I also do not like reading books on a computer as it is hard to curl up with a computer monitor or laptop.  so I decided to try the Ipad and I love it!!  I can curl up with the Ipad and read and it is so easy to take with me.  Plus it is lit for dark rooms, cars, etc.  I also love it for the calendar and note pad, it has replaced my daytimer.  In fact I am typing this on my Ipad right now.  If you could print from it, it would be perfect.  
I just finished an awesome free book on my kindle app called "Light of Eidon".  It is Christian fiction.

I LOVE reading, I've been an avid reader as long as I can remember. However; as I've gotten older, my eyes aren't working as well as they used to, so I enjoy reading books on my iPod Touch. I can change the print to a larger size and it's already well lit...I can even read in a dark room. I still love my print books, but it's nice to be able to see without an extra light and a magnifyiing glass.  

I use both I love my ebook, I can take so many different books with me whereever I go, I never run out of things to read, When I read my bible it has to be the real thing,

hmmmm i love them both real books r awsome i love flipping through the pages but i also love the computer (electron book)......

I agree with Kelli all the way - it has to be real books. There can be no substitute! I imagine a Kindle would be convenient but reading just wouldn't be the same.

My family is very much in favor of REAL BOOKS!  My 11 year old daughter is especially passionate about real books over electronic books.  Her slogan for an advanced reading challenge at her school is, "Who needs a Nook when you can get a book?!"  She believes that we should be saving the earth and not using more electricty as well.  We love the feel, the smell, the whole experience of a book.  There is no comparison!

The real thing--BOOKS. They are very portable and you don't have to worry so much about the cost when they get lost, stolen, or forgotten somewhere. Plus, kids will be kids.....There is just NO substitute for the real thing. I is just so cool to relax with a ice cold drink (summer) or hot chocolate (winter)and your favorite blankey and a good book.

i prefer the electronic readres I love them i have the nook and it's great.I love it because ytou can carry all your books in one small device.

I love to read. When I read it's something I can do without being caught up in today's technology. Reading on an electronic book takes away from the complete experience of reading a book. Looking at a screen for too long gives me headaches. I love turning the page to find out what happens next. And yes I love the smell too! Electronic books will just never compare to the real thing.

real books.  you can pass themon to a friend easier.  and if you get books used or at a library they are same price if not cheaper.

I love to read real books. I love the sound of the turning pages and the smell of the books. I dont understand the "electronic books." ? Are people to lazy to hold a book and turn the pages? hm. Three cheers for Kelli! Whats better than sitting down somewhere quiet and reading a good (real) book? Nada! Suppose something happened to your "electronic book"? I'd have to say though it is handy...you can carry all your favorite books in one thing! Just use the real thing when it comes to the bible people!

My husband and I collect first editions, signed editions, and antique books, so only real ones will do for us. We both have palms with our Bibles on them, but that is for carrying with us, not for sit down reading. The sound, feel and smell of the pages, the design of the covers, the weight, even the feeling of drifting off to sleep and having it rest on your lap are all part of the experience! Yes, it is more expensive, and there are other disadvantages, but some things are just worth it!

At our house, we still split on who prefers paperbacks over hard covers. Electronic books haven't even entered the picture yet.

I've had my Sony eBook Reader going on 2 years! I absolutely love it! I have my whole library- over one hundred books loaded on it (several versions of the Bible, daily devotionals and prayer guides, Christian fiction and the well-known classics) and they are all with me in my purse wherever I go! I can adjust the font size to accomodate my aging eyes! With a nice cover you don't have to give up the feel of holding a printed book. But I really think holding an eBook reader is easier on my aging hands as well. When I get distracted, it is much easier to find my place again, since I'm looking at a smaller section of the page I'm on. I could go on and on! I plan on upgrading my Sony to the newest version, because it has an even better looking touchscreen, it's even lighter and has dictionaries built into it in English and foreign languages for looking up unknown words with a touch or tap of the screen! eInk screens are so easy on the eyes! I don't get the eye strain I get from looking at a computer screen and I can read easily in the bright sun. The availability of Christian content continues to increase. CBD now sells eBooks at prices better than printed books and I can read free books from my local library, as well! I was a skeptic at first, but after packing & lugging around my heavy totebag with all of the books & magazines I thought I might want to read on vacation a couple years ago, I had second thoughts and have never looked back! I can curl up in a cozy chair with a blanket and read just as easily with my Reader as with any printed book! Now if I could just get an iPad or similar color reader to read magazines on, my home would be clutter-free!  

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Definitely real books