Do you prefer reading print or digital publications?

[MichaelCorfman]

Online publications and ebooks are everywhere. But print publications have not gone away, and it does not appear they will anytime soon.

With the announcement of our new iGaming Pocket Directory today (see the thread: New iGaming Directory FREE to GPWA members!) that is available in both print and online formats, I thought it would be interesting to ask about the preferences folks have between digital and print publication formats.

Besides answering the poll question, share your experiences with both types of publications, and your view of their strengths and weaknesses.

Michael

[TheGooner]

I buy/read books - I have many printed almanacs of sporting stats. And would buy around 25 books each year.

I download PDFs and browse them with my tablet. Acceptable for short term reference.

I have bought a kindle for my partner, and she has bought 2-3 books. However, the downside of buying an e-book is that due to licensing restrictions it is not easy to share, swap these books with friends. If she likes an e-book - she cannot give it to me to read and continue to use the kindle herself.

When reading a book, it is still easier to handle a physical book, refer to different chapters and sections quickly, and basically to enjoy the experience. e-books that update should be where almanacs and technical books are at - but it's still not a convenient experience.

So while I can logically agree that e-books should be better - the reality is that they are not YET.

[Doolally]

I'm with The Gooner. Print all the way for me. I nearly always print anything of any length I want to read online too.

The Kindle is good and almost there but does have it's restrictions that a printed book hasn't. I like the feel or a real book and the ability to flick through pages scanning for something.

[Skinski]

Read both, but I enjoy print much more.

[Maria F]

I got used to digital.

[Chips]

Printed is much easier to take into the bathroom for reading. Multitasking is in full force that way.

[alin04]

I read 2 or 3 digital books for year.I buy and read over 20 print books for the same period of time.I am old school.

[FictionNet]

As my name here suggestions, my online beginnings were literary-based and it was smack in the middle of the start of e-publishing, so I was very focused on trying to convert paper readers into online readers. It wasn't easy (we ended up providing both online and paper versions), publishing online-only full length books and with a CPM revenue model, hoping the reader would continue reading to the next page. Not easy at all and 14 years later, I still wouldn't fancy the challenge because I much prefer reading books and magazines on paper. Saying that, I probably spend 20 hours reading from a screen for every hour I read on paper. These days, the only time I get to read a magazine or book is when I'm on a plane.

[TheGooner]

Very interesting FictionNet

Regarding magazines and newspapers - you might have a point as they very rarely are material worth keeping.
I cannot remember the last time I bought a sports magazine.

We also have a newspaper subscription that comes with online access to their website for all the stories. In our house the online stuff via tablet is called "news" and we joke that the physical paper delivered daily is the "olds".

But we keep the newspaper going - for the daily puzzle page (crosswords, word puzzles, sudoku) as much as anything else.

[pobbmaster]

definitely printed its much easier for me but depends.

[bboyspyder]

Printed for sure. I prefer being able to touch what I actually read. Oldschool is oldschool.

[TravG]

I am still old school and like the actual print. I do not even own a kindle....

[-Shay-]

The first book I ever read for enjoyment (and completed) was an e-book. I can't bring myself to read for leisure unless it is online.

For research purposes, I will read either - but if given a choice, I very much prefer online reading.

[Chelsey Hill]

Print is more enjoyable of course, but e-books are so much more convenient for me, especially in long trips.

[EmmaF]

Reading for pleasure I prefer digital as all my books are together on my Kindle and if I have time to read for pleasure it usually means im on holidays!!! But for work I tend to print off everything and read from good old fashioned stapled together paper!

[Crazyrewards-Morten]

Printed is much easier to take into the bathroom for reading. Multitasking is in full force that way.

Spot on...

I kind of like to read larger publications in print - haven't really given it a shot with a proper tablet/ebook reader though, since I haven't really found the need for it.

Shorter stories, blogs artcles etc. I still by far prefer to read a digital copy of, but as for know that's how far my battle to save the rain forests have gone

I have no doubts that I will at some time get a tablet/e-reader and that is definitely the future

[EmmaF]

Shorter stories, blogs artcles etc. I still by far prefer to read a digital copy of, but as for know that's how far my battle to save the rain forests have gone

Feeling guilty for all my printing now...

[Moonlight Cat]

I choose digital books. I use Ritmix RBK-420 E-Reader. This is cheap, but very good e-reader. When you read
book from it, you have feeling that you are reading printed book. And one more reason - I like to read several books
at one time, and e-reader is the best decision for this. In my e-reader i have several thousand books. And every
week i upload to my e-reader several new books. And they are always with me. In subway, in plane, at the beach
e.t.c.

[refposition]

print publications is the best

[ocreditor]

print is a sin, i know. but it's good to pull out from my bag and turn my eyes off some screen.
digital is nice for short items, blog-style writing, technical and industry stuff where reference LINKS are essential.