Paperback or E-Reader? Join the great debate to win £100 of books or e-books

[RachelMumsnet]

Are paper books old news? These days there are more e-readers and literary apps than you can shake a USB stick at. We want to know if you've eschewed paper for digital, or if you reckon a well-thumbed paperback beats technology hands down. Join the discussion to let us know which medium you prefer and why, and you'll be entered into a draw to win £100 bundle of books OR £100 e-book bestsellers courtesy of Bloomsbury.

I read both, but probably buy more e-reader books. They are usually cheaper, and some are free, like the 'classics'. However when you read a really good book on your e-reader, you can't give it to someone else to read.

i love all books but i mainly have ebooks on my kindle now,this due to my having rhemtoid arthritis and i found hardbacks/paperbacks to hard or heavy for me to hold.

I love buying actual books (especially from charity shops), but when it comes to storage space issues I tend to get a lot of books in e-format!

When I got a kindle as a birthday gift a couple of years ago, I assumed that would be the way I would buy all my books from then on. So much content available at just the touch of a button; a wealth of literary classics completely free!

I soon reverted back to paper books though. Whilst it is great having the Kindle to read Dickens, the Sherlock Holmes books and other classics for free, more recent releases can be picked up on Amazon or on the High Street for far less than the cost of digital copies. In this age of online bargains it seemed it was always cheaper to buy physically than digitally; when I wanted to read the Ian Fleming James Bond books, I could pay 12 pounds to get the complete 14-book set online, or 5 pounds per book digitally. They may take up a lot more space, but there is a lot to be said for the feel of a paper book too. A paper book also doesn't suddenly run of battery half-way through a long train or coach journey when you're desperate for something to read!

Digital books are a great resource to have and I like having the option for both, but generally I go for paper over digital.

I have a kindle, but I prefer a real book in my hand. The kindle is obviously easier as you can have loads of books loaded on to it, but nothing beats a real book

There is a time and a place for both. For travelling or when it's cold and you don't want to move an inch when under the covers the e-reader is king. But just sitting down reading in any other circumstance a good old fashioned paper book is bliss.

I prefer physical books. There's just something about the feel and smell of them.

I really enjoy both mediums but have to say an E-reader for the ease of taking on outings or on holiday.

I love both but ebooks are great for holidays because I always take a dozen or so books and I now have so much more room in my case.

Digital books - you can carry thousands around without getting back ache!

I prefer a real book. The smell, the feel in your hands, the touch of a real page all make it a more satisfying experience than an e-reader.

Paperback every time - physical feel, different types and fonts, knowing where I am just be looking (and how far to go!), never needs recharging!

I prefer real books. It's the feel and smell of it and seeing them all lined up in a bookcase. Will bookcase manufacturers lose out big time?

I do agree that when travelling ebooks are easier and I download them to my iPad.

I prefer e-book format as I am struggling for space to store printed books.

e-books very handy when you go away as doesn't add loads to your baggage weight allowance however you can't beat the feeling of holding a proper book in your hands and turning proper pages!

Physical, as my tablet always needs recharging

Get a Kindle. You only ever need to charge it once every couple of weeks.

As a librarian, I love books - the font, the cover design, the page layout - it's all part of the book for me, and how the author intended it.

However, I have a Kindle, and having just got back from holiday, it was perfect, as I read three books in a week, and could choose what to read from my library. With weight restrictions on luggage, you simply can't afford to pack three books these days!

I love proper books :) The feel and smell of a good paperback, can't compare that to reading a screen

i love my kindle for free books but i also like buying books in charity shops. i wish sharing books digitally was easier though.

Paperback! It's great to have a break from a screen, they don't need charging, and they feel and smell nice

X-post freefan

Real books are for me, I use my local library a lot and buy books too because to me there is nothing nicer than snuggling down whether in bed or on the settee to a good read with a real Paper Book.
I don't have nor do I want a Kindle, I do have a few small reads on my PC but find it boring sitting there reading them.
You can't beat a good paper book.

I have a kindle - was an early adopter. but definitely prefer paperbacks.
Nowt better than cuddled up on the sofa by the fire in the winter, in bed, or in the garden in the summer with a paperback. (I hate hardbacks, and always resent it if I accidentally buy one by not paying attention eg on Amazon, or am forced to because desperate to get a new book before it is in paperback.)
Kindle strength is that you always have access to something to read - never caught short without a book! And when I was doing a postgrad course, in an essay crisis I could just lazily get the book instantly without schlepping to the useless Roehampton uni library. Also, masses of classics instantly downloadable free of charge - incredible luxury!
But... a paperback is definitely my preference.