Your experience of e-books

[cateau1]

1. Depends very much on the book. If it's a straight novel (ie text only) then ePub is all I need. I hate pdf versions though if they don't fit to my iPad screen size and I constantly have to move the page around or resize it because the text doesn't flow like an ePub book. If it's a non fiction book or a children's book, an enhanced interactive app can take the reading experience to a whole new level by providing fun interactivity, great searchability, video footage, ability to add my own content to, say, a database, use my GPS location to customise information relevant to me, etc. etc.
2. I've never printed anything from an ebook or app, though I might from a website or blog - though I'm more likely to cut and paste, or file it.
3. I know DRM is a big issue, but it's not impacted on me yet, though I know it's a real issue for authors who are struggling to make a living out of being published.
4. No, because of the above.

I LOVE pbooks and how they feel and smell, and how you can keep them - or give them as gifts. But I am also enjoying the digital world's portability and how it lets me go beyond the printed page. I'm sure there's room for both. I love the response from little kids too when you have an enhanced book for them that lets them record their own voice as they read, or touch the illustrations to make 'things' happen. I love, too, that if they don't know how to say a word, they can touch the word and it will be pronounced for them. I know of one child whose daddy is serving with the army overseas and dad was able to record his voice reading the story apps when he was at home last, so his son now listens to daddy reading him a bedtime story at night (brought tears to my eyes!)