My grandkids (12 and 10) are only just starting to read on an e-reader now. Before this been real books. Maybe has to do with age. Their parents have shied away from giving them too much tech.

that’s great

Not a massive sample but I don't think I have seen a single kid with a ebook. It's physical books or the phone. And while some attempt you cannot really read a book on the phone

They tend to read episodic texts on their phones rather than books. I know several teens who use e readers or tablets to read books, but it's not the majority. Sadly, reading goes off a cliff generally for teens.

I'd say they'd think it was weird, like an MP3 player.. eldest used to read some books off her phone years ago, dont know how much, doesn't now, reads paper books. Mrs D reads off Kindle paperwhite on hols and book club. I had one years back that broke ...loads on library but hate reading off tablet

yep, didn't work for me either, despite trying it a few times. plus I like having physical books around the place.

Definitely although paperwhite was a tolerable 2nd. Reading of a glaring tablet doesn't feel right, certainly not relaxing like a book. Joined a library recently and is great...they offer e-reading too but not interested

I also had a paperwhite a few years ago but went back to books

Ditto. The best of the bunch but still not good enough.

At a certain age, it is nice to be able to make the type bigger.

I have reading glasses

I am also going back to physical pictures. Takes a while though. Four years done so far. After 2010 there's too many pictures and before there's too few

Physical media are lindy

FWIW I think ppl are reading paper books more now than when smartphones first became ubiquitous, and I do wonder if Kindles helped ease some of us back to paper format, reminded us neophiles that text didnt have to be squeezed onto a tiny screen

Same. Though my wife still uses hers but only for beach/pool side reading on holidays

I went through a period of doing this with mine, due to the convenience and the fact I largely read intelligent trash on holiday so it was no loss. Then when it broke in transit I went back to books as getting a new one felt excessive.

Went back to Kindle recently due to proliferation of long books (500 pages plus) so find it difficult to carry them on commutes a flights and my old wrists are not what they were. I still buy HBs indeed I frequently buy both - ok I’m mad and an academic but ebooks serve a distinct purpose.

Yeah, looked last year at what a new paperwhite would cost, and was a lot to read books that cost the same in paper (and free in library)

I also would have sworn they were cheaper in 2011. Maybe some student deal, but I don’t recall thinking “that’s half a games console!” before.

My kindle 3 (r.i.p.) was excellent and just over £100

I think amazon was definitely running them as a loss leader back then as they were trying to grow the sector.

The other thing is that ebooks aren’t really appreciably cheaper anymore

I have an old Kindle but mostly use the Kindle app on an iPad for reading almost everywhere except outside. Have mostly got rid of my physical books (small apartment + knowledge that I have read them all and won’t reread most of them). Use libraries, Kindle & occasional physical book purchases now.

For old books I buy paper (usually secondhand, partly for environmental reasons, usually on Abe Books), but new books I mostly buy on Kindle (and often read on my phone, on the commute! It’s fine for something that can be read in short bursts).

Blocks out the incessant conversation about finreg.

By far the best of the lot n as yet have gone back. And during travel, I dont think I ever will tbh

It’s weird, I liked the original kindle and read lots on it but as it has become more like an iPad I’ve found I read less on it - it’s curious

As soon as I had an iPad the kindle reader went in the drawer. Living in a country where books are a) limited and b) frigging expensive (shipping, customs) other than annual stocking up in the UK it's 90% digital 🤷‍♂️