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Original poster

Kindle vs Paperbacks

45 replies

Summerx · 07/12/2023 08:49

Trying to decide whether a swap to a kindle is a good idea. I read a lot and like the thought of never being without a book by being able to download one. I do love the feel of an actual paperback though and don't want to waste money if a kindle is not going to work for me!

What are your pros and cons of switching to a kindle?

OP posts:
WrinklesShminkles · 07/12/2023 12:10

Definitely prefer my Kindle for anything without pictures or designed layouts - so pretty much most fiction.

By the way, there is a setting which displays in the bottom corner how far percentage-wise you are through a book - for people like me and @Trenda and @GoodOldEmmaNess who like to know how close we are to the end of the story Smile

PedantScorner · 07/12/2023 12:11

Paperback

coolmum123 · 07/12/2023 12:11

I have a Kindle Paperwhite and used it for ages, I loved the fact that it was lightweight and could take on holiday etc, however after time I found that my TBR pile just got too unmanageable and I was finding it really difficult to get into reading and finishing a book. Also I found I could just about read a couple of pages before my eyes got tired and I fell asleep. I rarely got into that fantastic space of being unable to put a book down and wanting to read for hours. I switched back to physical books and I am back in the groove of reading. I love being able to see and feel how much I have left to read rather than a percentage at the bottom of the kindle. Also the joy of going into a bookshop and feeling excited about buying a book, browsing through pages is something I missed with Kindle. I wont go back to Kindle now.

coolmum123 · 07/12/2023 12:13

Also the feeling of snuggling on the sofa with a good book when the weather is grim outside isn't the same with a kindle - :)

SoupDragon · 07/12/2023 12:14

I was solidly anti e-reader. Then I got a kindle about 10 years ago and I am a total convert. I love it. It's light, small, can be used with one hand, has a light for reading in the dark, basically has infinite books as I can just buy the next in a series when I want it... I find it just amazing.

DwightDFlysenhower · 07/12/2023 12:24

I use both.

I'm never as excited about buying a new book on a Kindle, but the convenience of having hundreds of books so small and light (and no risk of crumpling pages if you stick it in your bag!) is a definite benefit.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 07/12/2023 12:28

I've got a kindle and it's great, but I hardly use it now, I use the kindle app on my phone.

I read in bed with it set to a black page with white writing.

Perhaps try the free app and see how you get on before shelling out for an actual kindle?

Lollygaggle · 07/12/2023 12:29

I love science fiction , particularly anthologies , and you tend to buy these by the yard/pound and there is not always a good selection at a bookshop.

The kindle is great for these as I have constant access to a good book that will fit in my bag for waiting room , train station , arrived early somewhere reading.

I bought the oasis for
a the buttons to turn pages (makes a real difference if you read fast
b ability to buy books even if not near wifi.

It can be a bit glitchy compared to eg paper white and is certainly a lot more expensive but having had previous generation of kindle that lasted around ten years it was worth it to me.

I agree it makes reading in bed a lot easier and holiday packing is no longer 30% books.

The kindle library has quite a few classics and older books free to borrow , and our local library allows e book borrowing , although it is a faff as you have to download onto a pc then the kindle.

Kobo is a good, simple reader with a smaller selection of books but quite a few that are more serious reading.

LondonPapa · 07/12/2023 12:37

Summerx · 07/12/2023 08:49

Trying to decide whether a swap to a kindle is a good idea. I read a lot and like the thought of never being without a book by being able to download one. I do love the feel of an actual paperback though and don't want to waste money if a kindle is not going to work for me!

What are your pros and cons of switching to a kindle?

Love my kindle. I've so many books to take with me and I can read anywhere. The only downside is that you don't actually own any of the books, merely the licence to read. And you're locked into the Amazon ecosystem.

LaChatte · 07/12/2023 12:41

We own loads of physical books (between DH and I we have over 1000) but I love my kindle for all of the reasons already mentioned. The added bonus being that I can sneakily read cheesy romcoms without DH silently judging me.

Original poster
Summerx · 07/12/2023 13:12

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I'm still a little on the fence so the suggestion of getting a second hand one is definitely a good idea.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 07/12/2023 13:14

i have thousands and thousands of books. And also a Kindle. I have been known to repurchase a book for Kindle when I'm out and about and i want to finish reading it etc.

I use books & Kindle in different ways though. I have a paperwhite now and it is invaluable for the insomnia that attacks many Women of a Certain Age - so i can read and not wake DH

CMOTDibbler · 07/12/2023 13:18

I love to read. A lot. And when Kindles first came out I wanted one for convenience of travel, but thought they would never replace real books for me.
But it has, and I'm on my third kindle now. I keep a private wishlist of books I want to read, and find often they will come up at 99p at some point, and I do the kindofbook daily email which tells you about reductions. Hence I have 200 books in my to read folder!
I set up a Kindle as a child to my account so I could share books with teen ds which works well, and dh and I can see and read each others books

SoupDragon · 07/12/2023 13:42

What I also like about using a kindle is that I can read my book on my phone if I get stuck somewhere without my kindle. The app synchs to where I am in the book. Reading on a phone isn't ideal but it is better than no book! It's saved me on many a long wait for children in the car.

LaviniasBigBloomers · 07/12/2023 13:53

I think I have 400 books on my kindle - I don't have room for 400 books on my shelf! I read all the time. I don't live in a city though so for me the main thing is being able to get hold of a new book instantly - I really do not do well without having something to read.

I try very hard not to read on my phone because I get distracted by other things, but I do love that if for some reason I find myself without the kindle I can sync to my phone. I love that the kindle is small enough to fit in most handbags, which you can't say about a lot of books.

But the real draw for me was a huge deterioration in my eyesight. I just have to look at print in a book to feel tired now. With my kindle I can adjust to my tiredness level/if I've not got the right glasses/the amount of available light. It's meant I'm still a reader even with poor sight, which is absolutely huge for me.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 07/12/2023 19:22

Book management used to be a huge issue before I had a Kindle. I like reading and read fairly quickly and the books just used to build up in huge piles until I could donate them. I still have a lot of physical reference books (cooking, quilting, crochet and gardening) but they don't accumulate as quickly as novels and the Kindle itself stays the same size whether I have 10 books or 4,854.

I also have a subscription to Everand so that I can listen to unlimited audio books, it works on the same model as Spotify, I don't actually buy any books I just listen to them. They also have a lot of reference books and if I'm considering buying a new quilting book I will check whether Everand have it and have a look through to see if it's worth buying.

Purpleavocado · 07/12/2023 19:26

I like both, but,I don't have room for a lot of paperbacks so i get them from the library. I have a paperwhite which is great for holidays as there is no glare. I still enjoy getting library books, especially as they are free!

RaraRachael · 07/12/2023 19:29

OH won't hear of getting a kindle (same as he prefers to use cash than cards). My kids gave me one for my 50th birthday and I can't imagine going back to proper books. It really comes into its own on holidays and I also have poor eyesight so it's great to be able to vary the font size.

Luxell934 · 07/12/2023 19:47

I love books and debated for a long time about getting Kindle Paper white, would I take to it and enjoy it as much as real physical books?

Yes! I love mine, it's easy to travel with, easy to read at night without turning on the light, and books are a lot cheaper to buy on Kindle.

I also read a lot from the library and I find switching from Kindle to physical books no issue.

ExpensiveDecorations · 07/12/2023 20:37

I never carry my paperwhite out and about apart from holidays, even then as long as I’ve got ready access to a charger I tend to read on the app on my phone instead, I find holding it and page turning easier on my phone than the kindle. The paperwhite is too big for most of my bags too. In fact I can’t remember the last time I used it. The phone app is brilliant, I’d recommend trying that before buying an actual kindle.

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