All my ebooks are unencrypted EPUB, where available, or otherwise unlocked DJVU or PDF. That way I can easily get at the text even if the format itself is later superseded. I don't purchase DRM'd books, just like I don't purchase DRM'd music or games.

Can't read & take a bath at the same time that way though :(


In general, I prefer paperback. Cheaper, so I don't have to be careful with the books, easier to carry with me and they take less space in my bookshelf (which is overflowing)

Wouldn't that run the risk of getting your book wet?

also at least you can take books in a plane where they don't allow the use of kindle.

If I were to drop it, yes, but I've never done that, and as it's a paperback, it won't be a huge loss if i were to drop it.

Haven't read the responses, so guessing this has already been said but I'll add mine.

I like reading hard cover books. I like buying paper backs.

While I don't really have an interest in that I am none the less intrigued. I wonder if a actual autographed Vonnegut would fetch the same price as an ereader autographed Vonnegut. Someone out there must know this stuff.

Paperbacks.

Much depends on the nature of the book

For reference books, I prefer a durable binding. Most of the time it means hardcover
For ancient litterature, I prefer old editions, hardcovers.
For a quick read in public transport or on holidays, I prefer an e-book

+1.

Also, during Friends of the Library sales you can find hardcover books in decent condition cheap. Also hardbound editions of books that were released 2 or more years ago that were once hot items with a good amount of buzz (at least in the book world) you can find on Amazon, Alibris, or Abebooks for a couple of bucks. Or even less; you just pay for shipping.

Steam from the bath isn't making the book wet? I prefer my bath hot :P

If I may I'd like to jump in and say how proud I am to be part of a community where no one chimed in to post "What's a book?"

Mark my words, in the Steam forum the very thought of the written world would have sent waves of confusion roiling throughout the very fabric of their service.

by the way:

http://kindleowners.com/2010/05/14/top-5-kindle-waterproof-covers/
http://www.amazon.com/Proporta-Paperwhite-BeachBuoy-Waterproof-eReader/dp/B0099ANVQM
http://waterfi.com/waterproof-kindle

Well, it would definitely be easier to forge so unless they integrated strong certificate based encryption to authenticate the signature, I'd say no.

I don't use that feature much myself. I think it was mostly meant for students reading textbooks.

While I do use it to read technical books, I am not directly tested based on my readings so I don't feel the need to annotate them, though perhaps it would be a good practice.

We have books that date back to 1400.
Conversely, no known digital format lasts more than 20-30 years :)

Paper book FTW!

Those books were not made by shitty cellulose paper, bro. Some of them at stores are better, but they will come to shreads after few generations most likely.

Most of my books turned yellow in like 10-15 years.

Books my father bought in the 60s are really worn out. The text will get less and less visible over next years.