The leaves are changing, Christmas music is in the air, and it’s time for our annual e-book poll, which I have held every year since 2007.
Which means this is the FIFTH ANNUAL e-book poll. Wow. Thanks to everyone who has been around for all five.
Let’s get the disclaimers out of the way: Yes, I’m aware this isn’t the most
scientific of polls. Yes, the sample has changed from year to year. Yes,
there are two polls from 2009 because I forgot one at the end of ’08.
Entertainment purposes only!
Here are the past polls:
2007
2008 (technically beginning of ’09)
2009
2010
And here is this year’s poll. Do you think there will come a time when
you buy mostly e-books? Do you already? Click through for the poll if you’re reading via
e-mail or in a feed reader:
Matthew MacNish says
I think I've only taken part in the poll once before, but I'm pretty sure my vote has changed.
MacEvoy DeMarest says
I voted "Absolutely" even though I love physical books and even though I don't yet own an eReader bigger than my iPhone.
Don't know that that's significant, but it's gotta say something…
-Mac
http://www.ShelfActualization.com
Mr. D says
The day will probably come. After all, I finally bought a cell phone!
Cameron Chapman says
For fiction, I already buy more ebooks than paper books. For non-fiction, not yet, but I can easily see that day coming!
Leo Godin says
I mostly read in bed at night. It's just easier for me to read from my phone. It fits in one hand, and has a back light.
sheribomb says
I already do! 🙂
Serenity says
I'm pretty sure I've voted "cold dead hands" in the past, and today I'm an Absolutely. I still love, love, love real pages. But it's the desire to declutter that has gotten me. I love the idea of a magnificent virtual library taking up almost no space in my home. Certain faves will HAVE to be on the shelf, but yea, I've converted.
Barbara Kloss says
Wow.
I'm with Matt, too. I've only participated in this pole one other time, but my vote definitely changed. Looks like I'm not alone, either.
Thanks for doing this – crazy seeing how opinions have changed, even from last year.
Becky Taylor says
The thing is that I buy many books for my many e-readers and I also still buy many physical books. Reading a good book creates a memory for me and leaves an emotional tracer. Seeing those books on my shelf triggers those memories for me, like a song from the past. So for me, I think it comes down to a question of what books will I want to see on my shelf 10 years from now and what books do I just want to use. Yes, I do sometimes engage in a superficial relationship with books–it's all about having my way with them and then kicking them out. After all, there is only so much room on the shelf.
Abra says
I ALREADY buy more e-books than I do print books. I didn't mean to, but I have my Kindle with me more often than I'm in bookstores or even surfing Amazon. Consequently, I haven't read this many books in one year since college.
Jaimie says
@Abra
Same here. E-books means I read more.
Bratty says
I already buy more ebooks than print books. Print books I get from the library. But I often read both tpes at the same time.
Sandra Ulbrich Almazan says
I already do. I actually prefer to read on my Kindle instead of reading paper books. Still not ready to part with the paper books I already have, though.
Serena Casey says
Scientific or not, it's fascinating to watch the "cold-dead-handers," as someone referred to them, decline from year to year.
I certainly don't want print books to become extinct, but I never bought them anyway – I'm a library girl. I have bought a few ebooks, though, and will no doubt continue.
Wendy says
Since I got my IPAD in Oct last year I have downloaded 57 books. I have 8 paid preorders pending. I love it.
Rick Daley says
My wife bought me a Kindle for Valentine's Day, when I had back to back trips to Europe scheduled. Since then I've bought and read a couple print books, but the vast majority of my reading has been on the Kindle and I LOVE it. It's much better than I thought it would be.
WORD VERIFICATION: pronei. A position in favor of neis.
Christina Wible says
Wow. That's a slanted poll. I would have answered "Absolutely" because I already do but the sentence after it implies things that I do not believe. Stuff changes. Ebooks may come or go but I'm embracing them now. I love (and publish my own books) as paper copies but I accomodate the technology as well.
Jacqueline Howett says
Absolutely. I welcome our coming e-book overlords.
Reading is so much easier on the eyes, when you can adjust the magification by clicking the zoom button. I also like the convenience of sampling books before buying. Plus, there are so many wonderful free e-book promos. What's not to like, except the wonderful smell of paper books on shelves, lining the walls.
I'm still reading from my laptop.
Claire Dawn says
I think in 2008 pre-my Kindle, I may have sworn no. But I already buy more e-books. That's mostly because I live in Japan and don't have much access to English language books.
Still, I wonder if it will stay that way when I'm back in the West.
Maybe there should be a category "I already by mostly e-books"
Howard S. says
Right now, I am mostly interested in e-reading manuals, reference books and magazines. Manuals and reference books simply suit the format better (much like a website).
As for magazines, I prefer reading them on paper. However, I like to keep them and that creates problems with clutter and. More importantly, I hope e-magazines will allow me to search all of my issues for topics/articles that I want to refer back to. (For example, searching my virtual Writer's Digest library for articles on querying agents.)
Howard S. says
Just another thought….
I view books and magazines much like art. I appreciate a lot of art pieces, however, there are only going to be so many that I can decorate my home with.
E-readers allow me to collect books much like a table book of art allows me to "collect" paintings or sculptures. While it's not the same as satisfying as having the actual paintings, I can view them at my leisure and enjoy them still.
I prefer the paper books and enjoy seeing them on my bookshelf or tables (especially hardcovers). But I have had to leave too many behind when I moved and I want more than I'll ever have room for.
Like art, I will buy my favorite works in print. Right now, I am shopping for a hardcover 1st edition of my favorite book which was published in the mid 70s. I have a paperback version but hardcovers are just more appealing. No e-book will ever truly capture the feeling of a hardcover book.
Anne-Marie says
I moved into Absolutely as well. For travel, it is the lightest option, and I stopped buying a lot of books in recent years to support public libraries and because our house isn't getting any bigger.
Meghan Ward says
I already read mostly e-books and find that when someone gives me a hard copy of a book, it sits unread much longer than my e-books. I'm even tempted to re-buy them in e-book form, so I can read them in the dark in bed.
Doug says
Novels, novellas, and short stories: all e-book for the past year and a half. For entertainment reading, e-books win on just about every practical aspect except ownership rights.
I've bought a couple of tech books in paper since then. For professional, technical, and reference books, e-books currently lose on just about every practical aspect except bulk.
D.G. Hudson says
I prefer reading the physical books. I do have an ereader and
it is convenient for some purposes (travelling, commuting, etc) but ebooks aren't my first choice.
I've just set up two bookcases in my study full of the books hubby and I have collected. Some of these books will never be in ebook form unless libraries download them.
I consider ebooks an option, not the conquerer of the book world. As for the sensual satisfaction of the reading experience – meh.
Adie says
I like the convenience of reading e-books — I make good use of my local library system and it's a lot easier, especially with new releases, to check out E-Pub versions. That said, I concur with Becky Taylor's comment. I find an emotional difference in reading physical books — more than just words on paper. Also, I don't know about all e-books, but the autobiography I checked out this weekend didn't include the collection of photos — so I'll still have to check out the paper version.
P A Wilson says
I voted absolutely but I think you need to add an option. I already do. I haven't bought a paper book in about 3 years.
Bret Wellman says
Wow, look at how drastic the change is over the past few years… 2007 No, 2008 idk, 2009 maybe, 2010 sure I guess, 2011 YES!
CMR Prindle says
I agree with Doug about technical and reference books. I don't do a lot of research, but it's easier and more convenient when using multiple sources to have several physical books out that can be manipulated concurrently than flipping through my Kindle. So I guess until ereaders are as ubiquitous as PADDs, the real answer to this for me and my geeky family will be "depends".
Karen says
I voted absolutely, because I already find myself passing over physical books in favour of the no-clutter e-book version.
But.
I recently upgraded my phone and somehow half my audiobooks were deleted. I then learned that Amazon limits the number of downloads on e and audiobooks. So, if I am to continue to embrace e-books, I want to ensure that once I buy it, it will be mine on whatever device I have. Kindles, phones, laptops – they all get upgraded every couple of years. If I can't transfer my library from one device to another, paper books may well become a bigger draw for me again.
Roland D. Yeomans says
I already buy mostly eBooks with my two Kindles. I can read while waiting for rare blood hand-offs. I'm a rare blood courier.
It saves space in my tiny apartment, too. I already have six bookcases jammed fulled!
I am also an eBook author. Have a great Holiday Season.
Eddie says
I have always voted "cold dead hands," and this time around is no different.
I got a Nook in November 2010. In the year since then, I've read 122 books. Only 5 of them were ebooks, and those were all read in the week following my purchase of the Nook.
Since I bought my Nook, I have purchased at least 100 books, and none of them have been ebooks.
eReaders are useful for trips, when I can't lug 4 or 5 big books with me, but otherwise, there is no reason to prefer them to print.
Tere Kirkland says
I already buy mostly ebooks. I only buy real books as gifts. Or if they have pretty pictures. 😉
Dorothy L. Abrams says
Since we purchased a Kindle and a Kobo this year I find I buy 95% of my books in e-format for both of us in the household. We are looking at a Kindle Fire. We are totally hooked on this technology. I am also reading books on my computer when I did not previously. This is working for my book research as well as my pleasure reading. WOW!
Will Entrekin says
At this point, I wonder if "Do you buy mostly e-books" is more relevant. For me, personally, the better question is will I ever buy mostly print books again. The same is true for many of my friends.
And the answer to that is "I doubt it."
Dani G. says
I like the idea of all books (including kidlit) being introduced in e-book format first, and if they become popular, earning a print run as a collector edition. I'm seeing that idea bandied about more and more. Works for me.
Suze Reese says
Fascinating results! This is my first year voting. My vote was 'absolutely' though like many others it wouldn't have been in years past. I had to vote that way since I currently do buy more e-books than bound books these days, and that's despite not having an e-reader. (Santa, are you listening?) I still love books, and own probably thousands, but it's more convenient to read on my phone or laptop. So bring on those techie Kings!
H says
I've been around for the majority of these polls. My vote has gone from never, to maybe to absolutely.
H says
I've been around for most of these polls and my vote has gone from never, to maybe to absolutely.
Carly says
I have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the results thus far. This is the first time I've taken your poll- maybe my vote will change, but I hope not. I love my paper books with a passion that no fancy coding can compare to.
sara says
This is an unfairly worded poll! I buy more e-books because there are so many books I can't get at the bookstore (or, um, cause I'm ashamed of the covers!). But I don't welcome the change. I'd rather buy paperbacks, and there are certain books I will only purchase in that format. Books I plan to re-read a million times, for instance.
Allan Douglas says
I already do. My wife and I both actively look for Kindle versions of book titles that we are interested in.
Susan Kaye Quinn says
The e-readers are multiplying in my house and making baby e-readers. One's even mutating into a tablet. I'm not even joking a little about this.
Rick says
I already do.
Laura C. says
Thanks for sharing the results of past polls with us. It's amazing how much things have changed in just five years. It seems there are a lot of trees being saved! lol
Natalie says
I already buy more e-books than paper. I read a lot (for my own pleasure + two different book clubs) so I generally borrow books from the library. But now that I have a Kindle (and the Kindle app on my laptop and phone), I buy 2-3 books per month at the 99 cents to $5.00 mark and if it's an author I love, I'll spend the $8-$10 for the e-book and have the instant gratification of instant delivery! I've purchased more books since I got my Kindle for Mother's Day this year than I purchased the past two years combined.
Wing Wife says
Last year I took between 60 and 70 boxes of books to the local Friends of the Library. I still have my bookshelves filled with beloved books but the overflow is no longer taking over my house. I only buy e-books for my own reading on my Kindle, yet still purchase picture books for my grandchildren in hardback.
Pam Headrick says
Well, I'm an e-book formatter, so I hope people accept this technology more and more. I know the look of e-books is getting better all the time. I know I'm trying new things with every book I format. The future price of e-books as well as e-readers is the unknown.
Dana-Lynn says
For me, it TOTALLY depends on whether the e-book is cheaper than the actual book. I would rather have the ebook, but if I can get the actual book for less cost than the ebook, I can't justify paying more for the ebook.
Lynda R Young says
Yep, I already buy mostly ebooks and get annoyed when a book I want to read isn't available in that format.