Paper, every time. I prefer reading the newspaper and magazines and doing sudoku by hand. I browse on the laptop obviously and come here, but for reading, I like holding the item in my hand.

Plus when someone is reading a book, it makes it easy to strike up a conversation. Not at all "friendly", if someone is using their kindle, ipad, smartphone etc.

I have an iPad, an iPhone and obviously I am computer savvy, but I won't give up reading an actual book.

I order books from the library but will purchase a book for vacation. I often buy the book at the airport.

There really isn't the pressure to get a Kindle. I did want to feel current so I am happy with my iPhone. My daughters gave me the iPad one Christmas and my DH and I both use it when we travel.

I have a Sony ereader and borrow ebooks for it and I also borrow paper books, all from the library. I am not a book buyer, except for crafting/sewing/quilting books, those I buy in paper. I might be getting an iPad soon, though, one that can work off my Verizon share-everything plan.

As Donna mentions, Kindle books can be "loaned" in 14 day intervals. It's better than loaning a hardcopy, because you get it back automatically.

Donna, there's no need for ripped audio books to take up a lot of room. Change the MP3 setting in the ripping software you're using to a lower bit rate. All are adjustable. You'll get much small files and you'll never notice the difference (re the sound quality) when the audio track is only someone speaking. Music, different story.

We do a combination of paper and electronic. Some authors we follow went to electronic only so those are read that way. Paper (hardback) are purchased for our collection. We rarely buy both versions.

We read paper at home, electronic away from home.

I really can't imagine curling up with any electronic gadget to read a book or anything for that matter. Browsing on the computer is ok, but for really reading a book or magazine or newspaper, give me paper.

Thanks, Snidely. I think I tried that before, but iTunes is not my friend, LOL. I'll give it another look.

Totally use my tablets now for reading. So much easier for me to hold than a book, my hands don't hurt holding the tablet. Plus for my eyesight being able to adjust the font size, and brightness, etc is so important. I couldn't read some books due to font size. The ease of use and carrying one device with thousands of books at my fingertips is just awesome. I would never go back. I do still have a lot of paper books in my home library and I will keep some but I have been thinning the numbers. There is still something about the smell of a real book though. I have plenty to sniff if I can't resist. LOL. We rarely leave the house without our tablets if there will be an opportunity to spend time reading. We read a lot.

I have a couple of reading devices and a small tablet. I take a combination of things on trips, mostly on my Kindle which has holds a charge for days. It sure beats carrying several books on vacation. Nothing will replace curling up in my chair with a cup of tea and a good book but for trips, long or to the drs. office, the e-reader is my choice.

Donna, I too have mixed feelings about itunes. i personally don't use it for ripping - I'm a bit of a music hound and I use something a bit more flexible and customizable. But itunes is good for some things, and suitable for users who like the Apple approach to life. It's essential if you have any i-goodies in the household.

To change the bit rate, do this:

Go to (usually under Edit) - preferences- general preferences- "when a cd is inserted" import settings

Try 64 bits per second. I think you'll find it suitable for an audiobook and you'll get very small files.

I prefer my kindle to paper books for many reasons - convenience, portability, expense, space (I have walls of books and prefer not to collect more) and one really lazy reason. I like to read in bed, on my side. With a paper book, I have to turn over on every page change, not so with the tablet.

I prefer real books. I bought a look book over 3 yrs ago, I wanted it to use on the airplane but when I went to use it the battery was too low and I could never find a plug in. Paper won't do that.

I'm still in reading hard copies. I go to yard sales and church bazaars and get all kinds of books from 10 cents up to 50 cents a book. One school bazaar I go to every year has great hard copy books for 10 cents. I love mysteries. Not to crazy about the corny romance novels. I usually avoid them. I'm good on books to read until the next sale coming up soon.

I have stacks of books in every room of my house, including a large room lined with shelves which is devoted to being a library. Electronics take the pressure off. If it's an important book, one I want to savor and really dig into, nothing beats a beautifully printed book on lovely paper. The crappy paper and sneezy ink they use for mass market, not so much.

I have a bunch of books in my phone to read while waiting wherever I am, and I no longer have to pack around books and newspapers and other such detritus. The sneeze factor, sprinklers and front stairs in this house did in any desire to bring in the morning paper. It's not as complete (no ads, limited pictures, no cartoons, no box scores and stock tables), but I get the paper delivered to a Kindle now, and actually read it, instead of waiting to bring it in and falling behind. It's not as nice reading the paper on an iPad, but I can, so don't have to travel with the Kindle. And I can read the same book I'm on in my phone on the iPad on the sofa, or my old phone in bed.

That's actually the best part. I can read in bed with no lights and no glasses on the old phone. :) I find it much easier to read non-fiction, business type books that way. If I read them on paper my mind wanders more. :)

I have a Kindle and appreciate it for very large books (like the Outlander series) and for reading in small bites (such as the Best American series . . . Short Stories, Poetry, Science and Nature Writing, etc.), which is great for reading in waiting rooms and the like. But most of the time I prefer hardcover books. I buy used copies online or at my library's ongoing book sale.

One of the CDs in my car stereo is always an audio book, although I don't go through these nearly as quickly as I did when I was commuting to work.

I'm sad that a lot of my friends have gone to the Kindle. We use to pass around books quite frequently. No more. I prefer a book to hold.

I love my tablet for downloading books from the library. I still have two large and one medium bookcases filled with books, though I have gone through and donated many to cut down on clutter. The tablet is much easier for my hands to hold than an actual book. I also downloaded Kindle to the tablet and have too many free electronic books downloaded to Kindle. Those are for backups only in case I run out of downloaded library books. I did make myself quit downloading those free books for Kindle. I have absolutely no plans to return to paper books ever.

I'm with this group: At home, real book; Away, tablet.

I'm OK reading a light novel on a tablet, but like to be able to 'thumb back' when reading something with more depth. (Some of the historical novels have me tracing back just to verify who's who!)

I don't find my tablet easier to hold. My Samsung Galaxy 8" is heavier than any paperback and many hardbound books. My pointer finger is arthritic, and it complains when I must constantly use it to 'turn the page'. There is the dust-free plus though.

To be honest, I collect books that I don't read. I do intend to read them at some point, but at the moment, I do most of my reading before bed and it's much more comfortable to prop up my Kindle than it is to have to adjust every 20 pages or so.

I love all the interesting comments here. Donna and Alisande - thank you for bringing up the topic of audiobooks. I love this format for a long walk or when sewing.

Our library also has a continuing book sale, and our local Children's Hospital has a gigantic fundraising book sale a couple of times a year. I donate many books to the fundraiser and browse and shop to replenish my supply. It's great fun and I'm planning to volunteer at the sale when my current position ends!

Stacey, one of my local libraries does a continuous book sale, but it's a bit too out of the way for me. However, another library does a huge 3 day sale in June and I go hog wild. I think last year they had something like 80,000 books for sale and I easily spent 4-5 hours looking around and spent something like $70. Which, for books that run between .50 and $2 meant a TON of books.

I did kind of embarrass myself last year. I had been on the library waiting list for Rob Lowe's new book and ended up finding in at the sale and cheered/squealed loudly enough to attract some attention.

Paper for me, as least for now.

I like books, don't think I'll ever read a book any other way.

I read a lot and I love reading on my tablet. It's so nice to be able to adjust the font and to have the backlight. I wish I could have had E-books my whole life. They would have saved me a ton of boxes during all of my cross-country moves. I do miss being able to share books easily with friends. I agree, I don't really like reading E-magazines since I mostly read shelter magazines and they just don't translate well to the tablet format.

I own two Kindles and DH has one. Before the Kindles DH stopped reading much due to the his older eyes. He used to read a lot. Now he enjoys reading again. I still read both paper and Ebooks but now prefer the Ebooks also. At some point eyes tire easily as we age even with reading glasses. Not so with the Kindle. Love my Paperwhite, even in a dark room. I've decided to stop buying books as long as I can get them as Ebooks. Been getting rid of all the old paperbacks around here. Giving a few to friends, donating a few to the library but most are going directly into the recycling bin. The only books I really want to keep are those out of print, those with illustrations and children's books.

I read books! The real kind, that have been around for decades. :) But I love my computer too, just I prefer paper for real reading.

Moni

This bibliophile loves her Kindle! Not only do I read more than ever, but the reading experience is much richer. I haven't even been tempted to buy a paper book in several years.

Lol, Moni....reading from an e-reader is real reading, too! Honest.

I do both, but Kindle is great for bigger books. I work in the library's used bookstores, so I hope people continue buying real books, because those donations are what keep us going.

My Kindle is older, seems clonky compared to the ipad. I occasionally read on the ipad but it's heavy compared to the K. I've even read on the iPhone.

iTunes is always difficult for me. I avoid it.

I love my Kindle. I still have many paperbacks but it is easier for me to use my Kindle while I am at lunch. I don't get the pages all icky trying to turn them

I had a Kindle but when I got my IPad I gave it to my DGD. I now read using the Kindle app on the IPad. The last 2 paper books I bought I just found I didn't want to read them in that format. Lesson learned. No more "real" books for me. I get lots of the free or low price books and I'm enjoyed almost all of them. If I want the latest book out there I will buy it but that doesn't happen often.

Kindles are consistently rated as the specific device e-readers most prefer, with outstanding legibility and long battery life. There are a number of cheap alternatives, none are viewed as serious competitors (like the one mentioned with a short battery life). The use of an i-Pad with the Kindle or other e-reader apps is often suggested to be a reasonable second choice.

It's funny how people who say they prefer reading books in the classical format, don't have Kindles. Maybe funny isn't the right word, it's curious to me how and why people can think they prefer something when they haven't tried the alternative.

I have a combination. A tablet we got off of QVC which is nice but it hurts my wrist when I hold it for a long time. Since we don't get a newspaper I get most of my news from the television or online. I usually don't read the local papers but if I want to stay in the know on what is going on in my hometown I will look online. Books I have ordered for my tablet but I have yet to finish a book. I love the cost of the books but I think I would rather he buy it outright or go to the library. I would probably like to use it for a trip. I have about 5 magazine subscriptions. those I enjoy holding and looking through.

Mary