QOTW: Do you read digital books?

[philehidiot]

Never tried audiobooks, do you get the same immersion? I suppose the speaker is also an important factor too.

The actual quality of the speaker doesn't matter so much as long as it reproduces the right frequencies with enough oomph (if you have quite a deep voiced speaker on a tiny phone, you can end up with it being all mushy and requiring more attention). The immersion really comes from the human speaker which can vary dramatically and ideally I like to have the author. I used to listen to audiobooks whilst walking to the pub (man I used to spend a lot of time at that pub) but when I got there and sat in the corner with my pint like the old man I pretend to be, I switched to reading Private Eye magazine. As you can tell, I therefore use audiobooks whilst I'm doing something else and so there's not really the opportunity for immersion. There is something that I think is called immersive reading where you hae both the audio and the text at the same time. I've never tried this and I think it's limited to certain e-readers.

I agree that OLED screens are damned good for reading on compared to most LCDs but if you get a high res quantum dot LCD screen it seems to be pretty good also. I have this on my Kindle HDX which is showing its age but is still damned fine.

I have tried listening to audio books in a dark room to try and get the same immersion and concentration you get from a really decent book, but... I fall asleep. This is likely a result of the quantity of painkilling medications I take and so your mileage may vary.

What I'd do is give it a go - find something cheap on Amazon (or if you're cheap like me, download the audio track of one posted on youtube and play it using VLC on your phone, ahem.) and give it a go. The ones that really stand out for me are "Lying" by Sam Harris (more because of the content than the quality of the reading) and the one I'm listening to now which is the Gulag Archipelago which was recorded decades ago and the guy reading it has clearly read it several times in order to put the passion and dark humour of the author into it.

[Spreadie]

Yes. Only on a non-backlit kindle though. Just as easy as reading any book with the added advantage that, if I fall asleep whilst reading (which happens often enough to matter), it remembers the last page I was on.

I would not recommend ebooks on a tablet, phone or backlit device.

[Lord Midas]

Neither, though paper would be first. I exclusively listen to audio books (or GraphicAudio productions) on my commute drive, and lunchtime walks.

Other than that it paper graphic novels that I physically read.

[big_hairy_rob]

No. I'm not interested in them.

[Rad77]

I don't read novels nearly as often as I used to (just don't seem to have the time now, plus my favourite author is now dead, so that removes the compulsion to read "the new one" ) but whenever I do it is on my tablet.

Personally don't have any problem with eye fatigue, I just set the brightness appropriately low. I have read using my phone when unexpectedly stuck at a place for an hour or so, but that's really a last ditch option.

I currently have a Magzter subscription and most magazine content works very well on a 10" tablet although I can't seem to deal with "how to" stuff (eg "learn this riff" in a guitar mag) unless it is printed and the same applies to reference manuals and coding/technical stuff. I think it's more a problem with the page handling rather than the optical side of it. I think that as soon as you need to be able to flick back and forwards, then the physical book wins - although as someone said earlier, the "find" option in a ebook can be invaluable.

Graphic novels are fabulous on a large tablet.

I do have a collection of audiobooks too (courtesy of Humble) but never get around to transferring them to my phone so that I can actually listen to them in the car. Years ago I did once manage to burn a full set of CD's containing a crime thriller (a Minette Walters I think, my ex liked her) and we listened to that in the car while driving down to Cornwall (and finished it on the return journey). It was immersive enough to keep us hooked.

[Spud1]

I only really read books on my Kindle now. Just back from 2 weeks on holiday, read 4 books on my kindle - much more compact, much more water resistant when you read after a dip in the pool, no need to spend luggage allowance on books..and its just so convenient.

I am actually re-reading books I already own on paper by repurchasing them (for pennies in most cases) on my Kindle.

Nothing wrong with "real" books, but my preference is to use my Kindle.

[Queelis]

Since getting a convenient e-book reading app, I just love to read on my phone - I've read some 40 books over a period of a year, all because I read every time I have a couple free minutes. It's great.

[jm101]

Digital for sure - Samsung Tab S2 and Aldiko Book app make a darn good pair. E-ink is a decent alternative but i like the the features available in the full tablet. OH and if you like e-books then check out Callibre - to store, convert and more to your e-books.

[zygzakmcqeen]

Actually I find reading on my iPad (2018) quite comfortable. I think it's partly because of Retina display, which has gorgeous resolution and colours. I thought Kindle was the only way to go about ebooks, but I actually done all the reading for my dissertation on iPad!

[azrael-]

Had the misfortune to be forced to read part of a novel as an "e-book", because my good oldfashioned "p-book" missed about a 100 pages (had the equal amount of duplicate pages, though) and was out of print. Very unpleasant experience. That has turned me off digital books for good. You just can't duplicate the feel of a real book digitally.

[Smudger]

I do both. I do find myself looking for the 'time to end of chapter' or dictionary in a real book...

[Darkedge]

Use a kindle and it's great. The whole vat debacle on e-books was stupid though and should've been settle years ago.
Wish physical books came with a unique ebook code so I could still have lovely paper for home and e for on the move without rebuying my whole library.

[fail_quail]

Yes, have pretty much completely switched over to ebooks and usually read 1-2 books per week at least.

I have a kindle for at home and holidays, but also read a lot on my phone (The fact they sync the location you've read to across the two devices is very handy) So no matter where i am i have books to read.

Tip for the kindle android app: set the screen to white text on a black background instead of black text on white, it's much easier on the eyes, especially if you're somewhere dark. Theres an option to set the phones volume rocker buttons to page forwards/back, which is very handy too.

[spacein_vader]

Wish physical books came with a unique ebook code so I could still have lovely paper for home and e for on the move without rebuying my whole library.

We could call it an International Standard Book Number.

[fynxer]

Well, just saying one thing to all papperback lovers. Why flock up the environment when there is alternatives.

Then you hear all papperback lovers say this and that to defend them self.

Well there is nothing you can say that motivates polluting the one earth we have just because you want to read papperback.

We are putting children in to this world and then leve them with an unsustainable future.

Within 20 years we will se sh!t starting to go side ways for real and in 50 year you will be happy your not alive.

There won't be a third world war, next war is the final world war this earth will ever have, we will kill each other over food and clean water.

[Ttaskmaster]

Get a case for it! Mine cost about £10. There's no way my Kindle could get broken when in my bag. The case auto turns the Kindle off when you close it and turns it on when you open it.

If you think that will protect a delicate piece of tech from me, feel free to buy me one and I'll accept the challenge.

Amazing how expensive ebooks are.

Tax, tax and more tax.

We could call it an International Standard Book Number.

He means like a software key.