aaaargh, I still can’t imagine reading a book in this way.  I do want a kindle, though.  I imagine it will save a lot of space.  Not to mention be easier to travel with.

You’re reading this website in this way aren’t you?

‘Splain it to me.  Why not read a book like this?

I like to hold a book, I like the weight of a hardback fullsized print book.  When I read - I like to flip back to check something or somone again.  Online is faster, not so reflective and ultimately feels more ephemeral. 
Also - I ain’t got no iPod - interesting topic though.

’Kay I was trying to be clever - never works well - obviously it isn’t an iPod delivery.  Didn’t the publishing industry try to get people to buy digital books a few years ago?

Shaun,
Reading a blog just feels different.  It’s often much shorter and not connected.  Like Linda Sue said, I love the feel of a book in my hands.  I love to look at the cover while I read (this is just a weird thing about me) Sometimes, I wonder if reading things on a computer screen hurts my eyes.

I’m interested in the ereaders because many book lovers have said they are comparable to a book. 

I’ve been sent a few books to review via pdf files and I haven’t even bothered opening the files.  Whenever I found research in school on the internet I had to print it out to read it.  It might not make sense, but quickly reading something on a blog or forum has an entirely different feel than investing the time to read a book.

The whole idea of the ebook is definitely catching on though.  Right now a lot of publishers are offering free books online to see if it will help increase sales.  I think the basic idea behind this is that readers will sample the book on their computer and then purchase it if they like it.  (at least that’s what I heard one publisher say)

It’s hard to underline or make contextual notes on a digital screen.  It’s harder to make notes on an mp3 player.  Also, maybe its just me, but I retain more, have an easier time grasping the context, and do much better in editing or finding grammatical errors when something is in print.  I’m not sure why that is, but it is pretty evident.  Digital does save space, though and makes research easier due to the wonders of indexing and boolean search.

MB

I don’t think digital books will ever take the place of paper books.  There is something so ancient and basic to human nature about the need to pick up some kind of parchment.  That is why I think blogs (short vignettes) have grown in popularity without usurping the longer paper book. 

I think the need for a tangible book is both physical and psychological.  People try to draw comparisons to the music industry LP-8TRACK-TAPE-CD-m3 download but the medium of sound recording is a twentieth century phenom that has not been time-tested and is still under development.  The written word has stood the test of time through thousands of years and still goes on.  People may use digital viewing for quick fixes (references) but there is a beauty in a tangible, hand-held book that cannot be replicated or surpassed.  I think we are drawn to it as we are drawn to museums to see the physical work of art rather than settling for seeing it on the internet.

The idea of buying by the chapter scares me.  What if on a barn-burning-page-turner the last chapter is 4 times the price?!  Give me something tangible I can write in the margins of anyday!  It’s the only way I can remember anything…