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Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:17 am
by chris narcosis
I need to slouch

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:25 am
by Morpheus
No chance. I have 3 pdfs on my computer and they're used only because the search function makes it easier to find references. I could never read a whole book on the computer, I'll always need a physical copy.

My books are on the shelves left to right in author alphabetical order in sections. Two case for novels, one for Philosophy etc. Novels per author in the chronological order of their publication. Texts are in subject area i.e. Poetry and again in author alphabetical order and chronological publication including where there are several translations of any particular text.

I can do all this even though I buy secondhand. It would be much easier if I still had an account at a bookshop and collected each authored new novel or text as it came in.

You'll find the same author on different shelves because they write poetry and prose or because they write science and novels.

Seriously dedicated readers will always want a physical book. If you're surrounded by books you are constantly drinking in the details. I walk to the kitchen and I've passed Peter Carey's Jack Maggs and I've though of Australia, Oscar and Lucinda, Ned Kelly other Australian authors, etc. And that's just one stream of thousands relating to one author book. I'm surrounded by thousands of books. They are literally the wallpaper and they improve my mind and my literacy at every moment. The connections are limitless.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:51 am
by spacehamster
Hell no. I don't know why some people seem to think this'll catch on. And I don't know anyone who does it.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:06 am
by Teufel
Comic books, yes. Novels, no.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:12 am
by Krieg
I am waiting for the iPad.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:33 pm
by gasoline y2k
The information is the same. The sooner that one can wrap his mind around that the more accepting of digital book media one can be. I will say this: the only reason I prefer regular, paperback sized books is the ease of operation and the fact that they don't make my eyes hurt.

To those that need 'the real thing' - how about a 4x5" (or whatever 'regular' book size is to you) openable tablet. Run on AA, hold more than you can read. A book-pod. It can even have a real paper cover. Would you go for that? Or does it have to be paper?

I am 50% through "The Idiot" on my phone, and can't see myself picking it back up. Just too much on the eyes. But I would love to have something that could hold all the texts I would need without the eye strain. Imagine the space it would free up.

EDIT: also, need to be able to make / view notes on the page. Paperback, I use the margins. I write all over my shit.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:35 pm
by Bored, Esq.
I have programming/application manuals on my computer that I refer to...but I can't read a whole book on my computer.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:35 pm
by Friendly Goatus
I've tried reading books on the computer... it fucking sucked. I think the only way I'd be comfortable reading an e-book was if I used a Kindle or something similar. Even then I would miss the feel and smell of real books...

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:35 pm
by Bored, Esq.
gasoline y2k wrote:The information is the same. The sooner that one can wrap his mind around that
Not really the point.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:39 pm
by Hell-haine
Comics most of the time.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:44 pm
by gasoline y2k
Bored, Esq. wrote:
gasoline y2k wrote:The information is the same. The sooner that one can wrap his mind around that
Not really the point.
I think that absolutely is the point. If they can make digital comfortable, then digital is better for both space and ease of information reasons. Download a textbook vs. order and wait? Want that out of print edition? How about all the media that is crumbling in libraries?

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:47 pm
by Bored, Esq.
gasoline y2k wrote:
Bored, Esq. wrote:
gasoline y2k wrote:The information is the same. The sooner that one can wrap his mind around that
Not really the point.
I think that absolutely is the point. If they can make digital comfortable, then digital is better for both space and ease of information reasons. Download a textbook vs. order and wait? Want that out of print edition? How about all the media that is crumbling in libraries?
Ugh...

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:08 pm
by Krieg
Bored, Esq. wrote:
gasoline y2k wrote:
Bored, Esq. wrote:
gasoline y2k wrote:The information is the same. The sooner that one can wrap his mind around that
Not really the point.
I think that absolutely is the point. If they can make digital comfortable, then digital is better for both space and ease of information reasons. Download a textbook vs. order and wait? Want that out of print edition? How about all the media that is crumbling in libraries?
Ugh...
Quite ironic coming from the guy who listens to music exclusively from a laptop.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:11 pm
by Bored, Esq.
Krieg wrote: Quite ironic coming from the guy who listens to music exclusively from a laptop.
I don't. Even if I did (I don't have a laptop anymore, for one thing), it wouldn't be pertinent or applicable. C'mon, man...

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:13 pm
by Krieg
Bored, Esq. wrote:
Krieg wrote: Quite ironic coming from the guy who listens to music exclusively from a laptop.
I don't. Even if I did (I don't have a laptop anymore, for one thing), it wouldn't be pertinent or applicable. C'mon, man...
books -> e-books
albums -> mp3s

Same thing.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:14 pm
by neckbeard
I read one or two of the Gunslinger books (longer ones) off my computer at my old job. I was supposed to be working and Alt-Tab back to excel or whatever was possible and easy, hiding a real book wouldn't have worked.

I read one or two parts of Song and Ice and fire off my fricken nintendo DS.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:16 pm
by Bored, Esq.
Krieg wrote: books -> e-books
albums -> mp3s

Same thing.
Image

:drooly:

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:38 pm
by gasoline y2k
neckbeard wrote:I read one or two parts of Song and Ice and fire off my fricken nintendo DS.
I'm on the third book. Dark wings, dark words. :awesome:

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:40 pm
by gasoline y2k
Bored, Esq. wrote:
Krieg wrote: books -> e-books
albums -> mp3s

Same thing.
Image

:drooly:
Really? What if you wanted to study some shit that is in, exclusively, a library in Venice, falling apart from existing so long. Few high quality pictures, and bam. You don't have to go there. What is bad about this?

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:15 pm
by John Jr.
i can. i prefer a book, and will sometimes print and make one.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:46 pm
by metal5411
Krieg wrote:
Bored, Esq. wrote:
Krieg wrote: Quite ironic coming from the guy who listens to music exclusively from a laptop.
I don't. Even if I did (I don't have a laptop anymore, for one thing), it wouldn't be pertinent or applicable. C'mon, man...
books -> e-books
albums -> mp3s

Same thing.
That is such a bad analogy.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 4:22 pm
by The Wages of Ben
SPOILERSPOILER_SHOW
Image

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 7:32 pm
by altars of radness
Krieg wrote: books -> e-books
albums -> mp3s

Same thing.
That's the stupidest fucking thing I've heard all day. I think you just blew your entire reserve of smug cred.

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 7:51 pm
by neckbeard
I wonder which way uses more energy.

Print & transportation vs Download and electricity

Re: Do any of you read books from your computers?

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:48 am
by Bored, Esq.
I basically see electronic book readers, digital texts, etc. the same way I view Twitter. Stupid, useless new technology pushed onto bored people with too much money and made to seem "necessary" through advertising. They invent a new product and then go back and try to create a demand for it...instead of the other way around. With digital texts, also, you simply have a new business model enforced by giant corporations who are always looking for ways to cut costs and increase profits. I like regular books just fine and I'll keep my old school library, thank you. Don't come crying to me when you can't find some great "obscure" text because the people who serve you pap-product decided it wasn't in the interest of the majority to produce it.

Fucking morons...