Fiction

I absolutely agree that using an e-reader would be a foolish choice to do much looking at Life (we were a Life family, not a Look family), I haven't looked at, or wanted to look at a Life Magazine since I was growing up. Didn't then very much, either--too many pictures, not enough words.

I don't see that as any more of a downside than the more or less equivalent: Physical books are at best a mediocre format for presentation of technical documentation. Hypertext and other forms a far more usable and effective.

My comment about lack of downside was about using (e-book|physical book|audio book) "if it fits the way you use books."

Since I don't, in general, read anything where detailed pictures or images are important--90% fiction, 10% history/science non-fiction, no non-work related magazines--there is no downside to an e-reader. Obviously if the bulk of someone's reading mix does require detailed pictures and images, it wouldn't be a fit for them. If something isn't a good fit for the e-reader, I just get a hold of a physical copy and use it. In real life, I just read the most convenient version-e- or physical.

I certainly could be wrong, at least that's what my wife claims, but I suspect that the bulk of most reading for folks that read a lot is fiction or other text-heavy books that work perfectly well either way. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Or, checks out your choice from the library. Or something.

So that's where I was going with the "No downside." There is truly nothing other than personal preference involved for most reading.

(As an aside, I don't know if you were looking at the Life archives on Google Books or another one. On GB there is a side by side option for the pages that allows viewing full spreads. On my main display at work, anyway, the screen is pretty close to the size of an old open Life. Can't quite get it to fill a full screen because it still wants navigation on the screen, but it could be worse. Was just poking around randomly to try things out and stumbled across four very pretty watercolors painted by A. Hitler in the 11.30.1936 issue. Made me wonder what folks where thinking about the politics in Germany while reading Life in middle America. Maybe I should read more Life if it makes me think! )