Softcover vrs HardCover

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Originally posted by Ichabod
What does it really matter, anyway? The content is the same, no? The only advantage hardcover books have is that they come out earlier, in my eyes.

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It is the same as people who want to buy a game complete with case and instructions: it looks nice on the shelf. I read books no mater what form they are in, but if I'm going to have a few out on display in my living room, I'll take a nice group of hardcover novels over the broken spined paperback collection any day.

Paperback man myself. I feel like an ass trying to read some huge hardcover "novel" on the go. Why don't I just start smoking a pipe while I'm at it.

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Originally posted by Captain Vegetable
Hardcover. Hardcover books, especially of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy variety useally include maps of the world, space-ships and the like. You don't get that in the softcover books, and if you do, it's severly watered down.

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They do that? I haven't noticed.

I prefer softcover myself. It's all in my head, I imagine, but they're easier for me to read.. the pages seem to turn more quickly. I also own tons of Hardcover books though. If it's something I know I'll enjoy, I won't have the patience for the year+ wait.

I hate hardcover, I really do. I hate the fact that you can only read the book decently when in the middle of it (and when you're reading a giant 800-pages book that takes a while). I also hate the fact that they are usually bigger, and that they are not fit to take on a journey.

I like hardcover. If I'm going to spend any money on a book, I like to spent it on a copy that's going to last a while. I also like the feel of them...they just feel more permanent than softcovers, and I get all fuzzy inside at the bigger and more varied typefaces and when they use roughcut pages.

Used copies in nice condition are usually available for most books. And call me anal, but I like to put library-style mylar covers over my books' dust jackets. Those and the hard bindings make the books damn near indestructible.

Price shouldn't really be a issue now with the magic of the internet. I've been building up my Anne Rice collection, and for the most part have paid less for all my hardbacks than what you would pay for the average softcover new. Thank you ebay, thank you.

I should read titles a little more carefully. I tought it said if you prefered.. sOft Core porn, or hard core porn..

ha..

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Softcover costs less. So it wins.

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Try looking at the bargain tables of your local bookstores... once a book comes out in paperback, the hardcover copies will usually hit the bargain tables at an average of $2 less than the paperback. But they go pretty quick and can't usually be re-ordered, so you have to make sure to check fairly often if you're on the lookout for something in particular.

Also, some counties' libraries will actually set up a store somewhere in town... there's one in an outlet mall near me, books range from .50 to $4, almost all hardcover. Of course, they all have that fugly clear plastic that library books have, but you're apt to find some rarities... I found a couple of Fletch novels which have been out of print for some time the last time I went.

Also, Bookfinder, Abebooks, and Half.com are your friends.

Hardcover wins hands down. Not so good for travel (although the new Terry Pratchett came out the day before E3, so it traveled anyway) but wonderful for everything else. The dust jacket doubles as a bookmark, too. :)

James