Forked Thread: PDF or Dead tree?

[drothgery]

I'm not against e-books in principle. However, I'm dead-tree only (except for freebees and D&Di) for two major reasons reasons...

1) I don't currently have a device that makes for a good e-book reader that I could easily bring to the gaming table and use there (a traditional notebook is too big, and I don't have anything smaller). A Kindle DX, 10" screen netbook, or 12" screen subnotebook would almost work, I think; a paperback-sized eBook reader (like the standard Kindle or most others) or a smart phone would be too small for RPG books (too many important illustrations and tables).

2) Electronic versions of RPG books are almost invariably PDFs with a layout designed to be printed on letter-size paper in portrait format. Hence they require scrolling or scaling on a screen that's smaller than that. And even a 14.1" 1400x900 notebook screen or a 20" 1650x1080 monitor is smaller than that.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I buy virtually only books, not pdfs, though I bought a couple adventures on pdf a few years ago from RPGnow.

I also do not use DDI.

 

[Greg K]

It depends.

I prefer print for several reasons:
1. I can see it up front
2. I can read the item away from the computer

However, I prefer pdf for books that I might want to check out, but don't want to spend the cover price. However, the product better not be more than a few dollars.

I also don't mind pdfs for items that are less than a dozen pages provided they are cheaply priced. I simply print them out and put them in binders.

 

[Alzrius]

I've run out of shelf space, and I don't like having to keep boxing things up in the attic (let alone sell my books - I never do that). Hence, I much prefer PDF only options. It's easy with my laptop and a good printer for PC handouts.

 

[Starglim]

I'm critically short of space (I would say shelf space, if I owned any shelves) so very strongly more likely to buy a PDF than hard copy, unless it's something I'll refer to constantly. I also appreciate the ability to search and to make backups.

 

[darjr]

I love and hate PDF's.

Give me something like the online SRD or a wiki or the DDI database.

I much prefer reading off of dead trees.

PDFS do have useful utility for instant availability and they sure do weigh less than a book does.... but I can't stand reading books off a computer screen.

 

[El Mahdi]

I mostly prefer physical books. But, once the market finally delivers a feasible and convenient e-paper reader/viewer, I'll probably start going predominantly pdf. Right now, I have pdf copies of all the books I use regularly (for ease of use at the game table and for game prep - cut and pasting), but they are mostly just supplements to my physical copies.

For books I only want for reading or idea mining (not for actual game play) I'll buy the pdf only, simply because they are usually cheaper.

But, if it's a book I'll use for gaming, or want as a collectable, then I'll always get a physical copy.

However, I will probably still buy physical copies of the books I really like even if I go to predominantly using pdf's. Partly as a collectables, but also because having a physical book in my hand will probably always be more satisfying than a pdf.

 

[loki8481]

I do a bit of both.

I prefer reading in PDF form so that I can read books at work and alt-tab over if the boss is walking by but then I generally print out selected information from pdf's for easy access around the gaming table. it's a lot easier to carry a folder full of papers over to my friend's house rather than 5-6 books.

 

[Nai_Calus]

Attempting to read PDFs for more than a few minutes makes my head hurt. I hate it.

Books plz, or something like the d20 SRD. I prefer books though, I find it much easier to find what I'm looking for faster in a book.

I wish companies did more softcovers. My D&D3.5 PHB is softcover, and I much, much prefer it over hardcovers.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I despise reading on the screen with an abiding passion. (Obviously, messageboards are an exception. ) I'll occasionally buy a PDF if it's something that catches my interest but don't expect to use much, and if it's short, but if it's anything I plan to read in deapth, or to reference frequently, hardcopy all the way, every time.