Unless you mean just the ink, and the physical paper it's printed on, you don't with a paper book either. An e-book is just a different type of display hardware to a paper book.

I've broken 5 Kindles in 2 years. Had a case with every single one. I love them as gadgets, but they don't pass the durability test like a normal book would, if you move around from place to place a lot.

I'm moving on to the Nexus 7 tablet this weekend - see how that fares, at least it has scratch resistant glass.

Got quite a large normal book collection at home though and I don't personally see the ereader as a replacement yet.

I think it was DRM'd files that the mp3 case was about wasn't it? Same issue with Kindle books, and the reason I own a Kobo. I learnt about the cons from owning an ipod.

This is pretty much my thoughts - before I was given a Kindle earlier this year I didn't see the point - I have plenty of books and always liked the feel of them whilst reading that I wouldn't get from an e-reader.

However since getting the Kindle I doubt I'll buy another book - and I'm currently thinking of ditching all my old book, bar a few collectables as they just take up so much space!

The only annoying thing is the draconian attitude applied on planes.

Not really a kid, but I'm 22 and most of my friends find the thought of reading a book for fun as almost disturbing surprises me. Not that I read all too regularly, but if I do get into a decent book its hard to put it down.

Never used an e-reader but I'd always feel as though I'd prefer a proper book.

Another eBook lending scheme is rlhttps://booklending.com/rl I haven't used it and its American so not sure if it works outside of the USA (licences and all that), and it seems to be an Amazon business and heavily promotes Kindle ownership so not sure if it allows other formats - seems to work on the principle that when you buy a book for kindle from Amazon they allow one free loan of 14 days to another kindle device.

I was going to join but having read the terms & stuff its just easier for me to use Leeds City Libraries.

When you own a paper book though its harder for it to be 'stolen' by the publisher. Amazon can delete books from your kindle. It happened a few years ago, ironically to 1984 by George Orwell. There was some copyright dispute with the publisher and Amazon deleted paid for material from peoples kindles.

As I do most of my reading in the bath I much prefer good old fashioned books. I dont think you could dry out a kindle on the radiator very well after you have dropped it in the water. If push does come to shove it only costs a few quid to replace a book compared to £70 for a Kindle and you only lose the one book at a time, not half your library.

I like my washing machine, but you just can't beat the feel and smell of taking your dirty clothes down to the stream and rubbing them on a rock.

Do you then strategically place your underpants on said [irock[/i to dry using natural solar rays or do you bang them all in your tumble-dryer?