Do people nowadays prefer to read in the Internet rather than actual books?

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  1. telltale profile image60
    telltaleposted 14 years ago

    Do people nowadays prefer to read in the Internet rather than actual books?

    Do people read books at all nowadays?  I noticed that not many people prefer to go to the library for books, what do you think?

  2. amazing.erin profile image59
    amazing.erinposted 14 years ago

    Speaking for myself, definitely not! I prefer to read news and brief articles online, but I prefer actual books to e-books. I like to be able to leaf through the pages of a book rather than scroll up and down a screen. Also, I like to collect books...it wouldn't look too nice to have a stack of laptops, Kindles, or iPads sitting about on my bookshelves! ...well, ok, the stack of iPads might not be so bad! lol

  3. MMMoney profile image59
    MMMoneyposted 14 years ago

    yes the trend is changing everybody loves online for all things

  4. Marisa OConnor profile image64
    Marisa OConnorposted 14 years ago

    I still read actual books, but I love to read ebooks on my iPhone.  It's so convenient for reading in bed next to a sleeping husband (it is self-lit, so I don't need a lamp) or for waiting in lines when I'm running errands.

    1. shon1121 profile image68
      shon1121posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      That is a great point, devices mean you are much less likely to disturb who you are sleeping next to.

  5. Sterling Carter profile image60
    Sterling Carterposted 14 years ago

    The increase in Internet usage would suggest that people prefer to read online.

    However even with this increase more people are actually reading real paper magazines and books.

    The increase in offline readership is at about 13% the last time I checked. That means that if you only advertise online you are missing a large market.

  6. petiteletters profile image59
    petitelettersposted 14 years ago

    I don't think that it's that people prefer the internet over actual books, but that people see the two mediums as fulfilling different roles. I think there's a difference between those who read on the internet vs. those who read books. For those who just want to find an answer to question or research something quickly, most people would probably much prefer using the internet. And even if their reading in the internet, it's still a different kind of reading, more like skimming, like the way you would skim through a textbook in order to fill an answer for your homework.

    On the other hand, those who want to read for entertainment would probably prefer actual books. That's why most books are in the hundred pages length while online articles or stories are mostly meant to be read for a few minutes.

  7. profile image0
    ahorsebackposted 14 years ago

    Studies have shown that we are far less concentrative today, we have , in my belief , about a thirty second "hook factor" if it doesn't grab our interest right away we tend to move on to new subjects......?

  8. Miranda Fox profile image59
    Miranda Foxposted 14 years ago

    I like both, I'm still one of the few that still goes to an actual library.  There's something about walking among so much literature that's actually fun.  Although, I like reading from my iTouch.

  9. profile image57
    dawnyalynnposted 13 years ago

    I love to read an actual book. I don't really like to read a book online. I use the internet for research, social network sites, etc...
    I am the type to pick up a book and read it from beginning to end in one sitting. That amount of time reading a book on a computer would make for a very bad headache.

  10. thielgrad04 profile image70
    thielgrad04posted 13 years ago

    The idea of the Kindle and Nook is interesting. Part of me wants one. But the other part of me still wants an old fashioned physical book in my hand. It feels good. I'll read online if I have to, but I'd prefer the real thing.

  11. krisingreen profile image59
    krisingreenposted 13 years ago

    My addiction to the smell of a new book fresh from the bookstore shelf will never be overcame by online reading. Although I do read online, I can only get the rush and excitement from reading novels I can hold in my hands. smile

  12. FloraBreenRobison profile image61
    FloraBreenRobisonposted 13 years ago

    I love the feel of a book in my hands and seeing a bookshelf full of books.  I don't own a kindle-insert any other company name that  is introduced in the future or exists already  besides this-and I will hold out as long as possible.  I sincerely hope there will always be printed books in existance and use, even if it ends up that more people read ebooks eventually; hopefully there is room for both.  As far as reading a book on the internet in general--html, I have on occasion had no choice because of time constraints in trying to find  a printed book of a title I had to read for a book club, but only after I'd exhausted all other options.  And if it turns out that while the copyright has lapsed in the US for a particular book  but not in Canada, I will not download that book from sites that offer it.  Usually copyright agrees between the two countries, but not always.

  13. bingogunter profile image61
    bingogunterposted 13 years ago

    I just love paper, I think.  I bought a Kindle last year, tried it and couldn't love it.  I sold it quickly and am back to my bibliophile ways.

  14. Exotic_Kitten profile image39
    Exotic_Kittenposted 13 years ago

    I prefer to read the books, Its much more convenient for the way I read, not to mention I JUST LOVE THE SMELL OF A BRAND NEW BOOK or a Very Old One Too Would Work ^_^ hehe

  15. rikabothra profile image60
    rikabothraposted 13 years ago

    I am an avid reader and love books. Everytime I read a book, I smell the pages - somehow reading on the internet is not the same having a book in your hands. Even when you buy books, it is far more fun to browse books in a book store. As far as I think people still prefer reading actual books than reading on the internet, however, a lot of them might prefer reading on the internet as it is more convenient at times.

    1. shon1121 profile image68
      shon1121posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I am the same, I tend to read the news opposed to watching it now.  Esp just now as the stories are horrifying.

  16. jessramblings profile image60
    jessramblingsposted 12 years ago

    I love holding books! There's no feeling like buying a new book and just holding it in your hands for the first reading. My eyes get tired quickly if I read too much on the internet. I actually tend to print out stuff rather than sit and read it on the screen, but that's me. I see the appeal to e-readers and internet publishing, but I don't plan on ever owning one. I love my books too much to give them up.

    1. Roohi Bhatnagar profile image68
      Roohi Bhatnagarposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Same here. I love the smell of books. Love to hold them in my hands. My eyes get tired easily over Internet. And it bothers me to keep moving cursor to browse pages. Nothing like turning a page in actual book. I once had a dream of making my own Library.

  17. Beata Stasak profile image77
    Beata Stasakposted 12 years ago

    Reading books is for me the 'whole sensory experience for my special leisure time'...I need to smell it and feel its beautifully crafted pages in my hand listening to its rustling noise when I turn the page...I work on computer every day just like everyone today...reading on internet just doesn't do it for me....

  18. wonderingwoolley profile image59
    wonderingwoolleyposted 12 years ago

    I read mostly real books, and the occasionally an e-book because I do have a Nook (it was a gift!). I love turning pages, the accomplishment of finishing a book. However, I think people use the internet because it is a  great resource and so readily available. I chalk it up to this generation's inability to delay gratification and cannot wait to get to the punchline of the book.

  19. Nationette profile image69
    Nationetteposted 9 years ago

    I feel as though, with the creation of tablets, most down-time readers would prefer to utilize an internet source to purchase and download a book from. With that said however, I like to hold a physical book while I read it, and I am an avid reader. As opposed to the library though, which I do utilize for school and research books if I need them, I would go to a second hand book store to buy my personal reading material. Most times this ends up being the cheapest way to read my book either way, even cheaper than reading it from my iPad, because Kindle and other book services online do still charge a considerable amount for the material.
    Hope this helps!

  20. Perleen k profile image62
    Perleen kposted 7 years ago

    We have more e-books than before nowadays. Even online classes uses e-books instead of hard copies. People are being formatted to read more from their tablets, kindle or laptop.
    Yes people still read books, but do not go to the library as much because they have books already available on the devices.

  21. Debangee Mandal profile image66
    Debangee Mandalposted 7 years ago

    The first thing I do when I get hold of a new book is that ..I smell the new pages of the book .. which give a typical feeling of possessiveness and closeness to the book...and then I keep reading and reading several times until my heart entirely fulfilled with its aroma and essense. I'm saying all this to make my readers feel my intense obsession to read actual books rather than straining my eyes to read e-books.  On reading e- books my eyes get tired and eventually I'm forced to stop reading. So I truly vote for Actual Books. Thanks for the question.

  22. shon1121 profile image68
    shon1121posted 7 years ago

    I am really old fashioned, I love old books, classic covers, smell of books, act of just holding it and indeed visit the library (gradually building my own at home!). 

    There is comfort in it, an escapism and a means to just switch off.  The advancements in technology are wonderful, sometimes feel it is all moving too quickly to cope with.  I need to get a new device to read on, when I commute or whatever.

    Books will always be a first choice of course.  Especially as I am constantly infront of screens at work, my own home when on laptop writing etc.  I got bought a television as an Xmas present by my dad and it is wonderful especially for the sport but it is switched off at the wall of late due to time of year it is and life/work limiting time.  When the dark nights come in, am more reclusive and enjoy watching more TV and by default read more- now and again whole books in one sitting.

  23. GoodnewsBassey profile image61
    GoodnewsBasseyposted 7 years ago

    I love reading both the cover book and online book, sometime there are some book  i need to read but i don't have it at that moment so i will so online to read.

  24. escole61 profile image60
    escole61posted 6 years ago

    I like the feel of a paperback, but the computer is much more convenient if travelling to work etc. I find I'm reading more online, but I don't look at adverts as much. If I choose a book to download, I've often seen it advertised at stations or in bookshops. I don't wade through online books searching for something.

    1. B98 Bookclub profile image61
      B98 Bookclubposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Agree, you cannot quite beat the physical copy of a book; however, sometimes it is just too inexpensive and convenient to pass up the kindle.

  25. Hanah De Laurell profile image61
    Hanah De Laurellposted 6 years ago

    Personally, I am someone who will never stop buying physical copies of books. An example, recently a couple people in my family decided that they were going to read the Outlander series. I happen to own paper copies of the books and offered to loan them the books and they said they prefer e-copies of books. It is mostly just a personal preference and some people like having everything digital, it doesn't take up physical space and you have it all in one place. I would rather overcrowd my space with books than have them all on an e-reader. I love the feeling of turning the pages and the excitement of going to a bookstore to pick up a new book that I have been waiting to get for weeks.

  26. Stacie L profile image87
    Stacie Lposted 6 years ago

    Even Though I enjoy owning the physical books I find myself reading much more online.

  27. lovetherain profile image76
    lovetherainposted 6 years ago

    I prefer real books

  28. Dean Traylor profile image97
    Dean Traylorposted 6 years ago

    Still prefer books. I've read several stories on tablet or computer. I've even tried to read it off my phone. Surprisingly, books feel more accessible than reading on the Internet (that and I also like the feel of the book in my hand).

 
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