Anyone read hardcopy books anymore?

[photostein]

As the question says...please vote in the poll.

Why would I ask (you may be pondering)? Well, I would argue that the trend of technology has permitted man's tendency to control and manipulate his surroundings for his benefit to grow exponentially to the point where the patience needed to read a 300 page printed book will be gone by the year 2020.

At least philosophical discussions are not against the rules (yet).

[photonewb]

there is no poll

but yes, I do. I still collect and read Hardcover books from some of my favorite authors. I understand that "digital readers" are becoming more and more popular, but I still believe that the written word has to be saved and cherished.

[venchka]

Dumb question. What other kind of books are there?

[donlfaulkner]

Hard Copy are easier to read.

[photostein]

Originally Posted by venchka

Dumb question. What other kind of books are there?

Sorry, I should have defined book.

book
—bookless, adj. —booklike, adj.
/book/, n.
1. a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
2. a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.
3. a division of a literary work, esp. one of the larger divisions.
4. the Book, the Bible.
5. Music. the text or libretto of an opera, operetta, or musical.
6. books. See book of account.
7. Jazz. the total repertoire of a band.
8. a script or story for a play.
9. a record of bets, as on a horse race.
10. Cards. the number of basic tricks or cards that must be taken before any trick or card counts in the score.
11. a set or packet of tickets, checks, stamps, matches, etc., bound together like a book.
12. anything that serves for the recording of facts or events: The petrified tree was a book of Nature.
13. Sports. a collection of facts and information about the usual playing habits, weaknesses, methods, etc., of an opposing team or player, esp. in baseball: The White Sox book on Mickey Mantle cautioned pitchers to keep the ball fast and high.
14. Stock Exchange.
a. the customers served by each registered representative in a brokerage house.
b. a loose-leaf binder kept by a specialist to record orders to buy and sell stock at specified prices.
15. a pile or package of leaves, as of tobacco.
16. Mineral. a thick block or crystal of mica.
17. a magazine: used esp. in magazine publishing.
18. See book value.
19. Slang. bookmaker (def. 1).
20. bring to book, to call to account; bring to justice: Someday he will be brought to book for his misdeeds.
21. by the book, according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner: an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book.
22. close the books, to balance accounts at the end of an accounting period; settle accounts.
23. cook the books, Informal. See cook (def. 10).
24. in one's bad books, out of favor; disliked by someone: He's in the boss's bad books.
25. in one's book, in one's personal judgment or opinion: In my book, he's not to be trusted.
26. in one's good books, in favor; liked by someone.
27. like a book, completely; thoroughly: She knew the area like a book.
28. make book,
a. to accept or place the bets of others, as on horse races, esp. as a business.
b. to wager; bet: You can make book on it that he won't arrive in time.
29. off the books, done or performed for cash or without keeping full business records: esp. as a way to avoid paying income tax, employment benefits, etc.: Much of his work as a night watchman is done off the books.
30. one for the book or books, a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary: The daring rescue was one for the book.
31. on the books, entered in a list or record: He claims to have graduated from Harvard, but his name is not on the books.
32. the book,
a. a set of rules, conventions, or standards: The solution was not according to the book but it served the purpose.
b. the telephone book: I've looked him up, but he's not in the book.
33. throw the book at, Informal.
a. to sentence (an offender, lawbreaker, etc.) to the maximum penalties for all charges against that person.
b. to punish or chide severely.
34. without book,
a. from memory.
b. without authority: to punish without book.
35. write the book, to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc., of: So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book.
v.t.
36. to enter in a book or list; record; register.
37. to reserve or make a reservation for (a hotel room, passage on a ship, etc.): We booked a table at our favorite restaurant.
38. to register or list (a person) for a place, transportation, appointment, etc.: The travel agent booked us for next week's cruise.
39. to engage for one or more performances.
40. to enter an official charge against (an arrested suspect) on a police register.
41. to act as a bookmaker for (a bettor, bet, or sum of money): The Philadelphia syndicate books 25 million dollars a year on horse racing.
v.i.
42. to register one's name.
43. to engage a place, services, etc.
44. Slang.
a. to study hard, as a student before an exam: He left the party early to book.
b. to leave; depart: I'm bored with this party, let's book.
c. to work as a bookmaker: He started a restaurant with money he got from booking.
45. book in, to sign in, as at a job.
46. book out, to sign out, as at a job.
47. book up, to sell out in advance: The hotel is booked up for the Christmas holidays.
adj.
48. of or pertaining to a book or books: the book department; a book salesman.
49. derived or learned from or based on books: a book knowledge of sailing.
50. shown by a book of account: The firm's book profit was $53,680.
[bef. 900; ME, OE boc; c. D boek, ON bok, G Buch; akin to Goth boka letter (of the alphabet) and not of known relation to BEECH, as is often assumed]

[mathia]

I didn't see an option for those who still choose to read hardcopy books. I can imagine reading any other way. It's an important part of the experience for me. AND...in spite of the popularity of e-readers, I don't really see the hard copies going away anytime soon.

[Jake]

1.I spend more time reading than on the computer/smart phone
2.I used to, but now Facebook is my life
3.No need to read hardcopy books, all on computer now
4.Don't see the need to read hardcopy books

Uh.....you know there is an in-between somewhere right?
You know, someone who spends a lot of time on the computer AND reads books?

[mathia]

I guess I've never seen the need to switch and the cost is prohibitive in my case. I just keep on shooting my Canon gear and work around the limitations (real or perceived). Of course, I'm not much of one for buying the newest body that comes out either. Had my 300D for a few years, upgraded to a 5D for 3 years, and have been shooting my 5D Mark II for about a year and a half. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[jeffkohn]

I think computers and backlit screens in general suck for reading books. E-ink is a different matter though, and for primarily text books I love the Kindle. It's not really suited for books with photographs, color illustrations, or complex layout/formatting, hard-copy still rules for those. But for novels and other text-only books, once you try the Kindle you won't want to go back.

[JohnT]

You left out "Yes, still read hard-copy." :-) Yes, I read printed books all the time. Love 'em. They aren't hard on my eyes, I can take them anywhere, mark in them, loan them to friends, etc. I simply enjoy the organic experience of a hard-copy book compared to the clinical feel of digital.

Edit: Jeff made some valid points with which I agree.

[mathia]

Why would I buy a device to read a book on, and then buy a book to put on the device so I can read it? Hard copies are ready to read right off the shelf, nothing else to buy. Hell, if I want, I can read it right there in the store. LOL!!!
I know there are lots of free title available, but I figure most free books are worth exactly what ya paid for em.

[janetg]

i've been reading on my ipad, my daughter on her nook. i'm liking it more and more. i also dont' have a problem with the backlighting on the ipad, i just turn the brightness down. for me, it's freedom from reading glasses!

[Jake]

Originally Posted by mathia

Why would I buy a device to read a book on, and then buy a book to put on the device so I can read it? .....
I know there are lots of free title available, but I figure most free books are worth exactly what ya paid for em.

The same could be said for a MP3 player. Once you try it, it's pretty convenient really.

There are a lot of classics that are free and are worth much more than that price!

[JohnT]

My situation is that I stare at a computer screen all day. The last thing I want to do in my leisurely reading time is stare at yet another screen. If it works for some, great. Not me.

[ka5txl]

Yes I still read hard copy and use a computer for work and pleasure yet that is not an option for this poll so my vote is disenfranchised!