I don't care if other people prefer eReaders, that's their business. But I will always prefer paper books. I like the look and feel a lot better, but my biggest concern with the eReaders is that if the thing breaks or you can't charge it or whatever, every book on there will be inaccessible. Sure, maybe you'll have an account or something where it's all saved on, but until you can get it fixed or replaced, you're without a lot. With a physical book, if I ruin it, that's the only thing to suffer, and I can get it replaced for for fifteen bucks TOPS at Half Price Books. Plus, you will never have to get a book updated in five years because the cover is outdated or it's no longer compatible with your current eyeballs.

It's only inevitable if people have that mindset. It's people with this idea that everything should be digital and invisible that are ruining it. I'm perfectly fine with copies of books being available digitally, but this either/or thought process has to stop or we'll be left with absolutely nothing.

Digital data doesn't survive. IN a hundred years, nothing that exists now will still exist. Yeah, you won't either, but what about the legacy of your generation for the future? There will be no documentation, no artifacts, nothing. If people continue thinking that the absence of actual, physical properties is an "inevitable" end, then this part of history will not exist for posterity in the future.

The problem is, people just don't think about the future. They don't think about what will happen when this technology becomes obsolete, and you find yourself without software updates or support and the proud owner of what is essentially a useless slab of plastic and silicon.

Yeah, make digital copies of books - but just because one exists, why do the real books have to cease to exist? It's not logical to replace something with nothing.

I love my nook, don't get me wrong, but I still can't help but find myself wandering over to the book section at any store, either. ~shrug~ My only issue is lack of space, really.

I also like that I can read it on my computer, my nook, or my iPphone. So even if my nook /does/ break, until I can get it fixed, I /do/ have alternative methods of getting access to my books. Not to mention the pure convenience of being able to get library books. Er... some library books. I do hope they'll add more eBooks to the stocks soon. =P

I agree with johnny, it shouldn't be an "either/or" thing. Both physical copies and digital copies have pros and cons, and which is the better lies solely on personal preference.

I never said that the actual books had to cease to exist. I've never been one to preach about what someone else should do. In my opinion and for myself, I happen to like the e-reader better for my own reasons. As for tangible books lasting, that's just not reality. Do you think time and weather or natural disasters or even man with vengeance doesn't destroy these things? Nothing material lasts just like nothing electronic lasts and you know, it really doesn't even matter in the grand scheme of things.

I think e-readers are pretty nice. I dont have one but I have an iPad which is similar when it comes to the ibooks store.

If I'm going to drop money on an ereader, I would probably end up buying an iPad for multitasking.

~cough~ nookcolor ~coughcoughcough~

yeah i like the traditional books better than ereaders so i probably wont ever buy one

eReaders are lame, is about Ipads baby! <3

iPad = eReader in a sense.
It has book apps on it... =/

I got and kindle 3g/wifi and I love it. I got it because my professor wanted us to read Frankenstein on the computer and that was going to hurt very badly. So after many years of " I'm not going to get one of those stupid things" I finally got one and so glad I did. I still love traditional books more but I rarely can get to brick and mortar bookstore to get more books. This way it's a lot more convenient to get new books and and to actually transport the darn things. And it doesn't hurt my eyes after an 1/2hour (been good up to 12 hours straight =D) and has great battery life. The only problem i realy have with it is the tha keyboard is clunky and that it lacks.

Noook >_>
Anyway, I had a pandigital one at first and ended up sending it back and getting a nook. I much prefer my nook cause of the screen. The battery life as well. Some books I still have to get in paper but mostly it's just so much more convenient to have the book in such a small object.

I have a Sony eReader though I haven't used it extensively yet. There isn't a backlight, I have a case for it that includes a booklight which is apparently highly recommended by other people who have them. It was a Christmas gift last years. I do like the screen so far. I wear glasses (near sighted) and the computer and I do not get along when it comes to online reading. I haven't noticed any eye issues with the reader so far but I'll need to give if a thorough go before makeing any definite judgement calls.

I have been enjoying the cheaper books though. For the most part I find they really are only a couple dollars off the bookstore price and a bookstore sale can still be cheaper, but some of the harder to find classes like the Knut Hamsen collection I picked up are much cheaper than in book form. The collection I bought was $4, while the one book I saw in the store was around $14. I find I use the reader to explore new authors and if I like them, I look more into getting actual books. It's also handy for classics that I likely wont reference enough to really want on my shelf.