I prefer either; I don't really care. If I truly love the book or I've been anticipating it, I'll buy it in hardcover. If it's a book I want to read, and will probably read it again, but I don't hold it in high regards as the other said reads, then I would probably buy the paperback version.

What about you?

I generally don't care so long as I get the book...hardbacks are nice and kind of fancy, but paperbacks take up less space, their spines are easier to break in, and the pocket size ones fit in my pocket which come in REAL handy while waiting in the dentist's office for an hour.

On a side note, with hardbacks and paperbacks...on Amazon somebody is selling a copy of the Ghostbusters movie novelization for about $96, can you believe that? BUT, that's the hardcover, the paperback is available for like one cent. And it was announced that The Making of Rebel Without a Cause is going to be re-released soon, or maybe already has, and sell for $35, while the one that's already out on Amazon sells for $45, BUT, the one that just now has come out is the PAPERBACK, the $45 one is the hardcover.

I like hardcovers, because they generally fit better on the shelf.

I prefer paperback because they're cheaper and the left side of the book stretches out more so I can see it better. Picky I know, but I wouldn't be me if I was laidback!

I prefer hard covers. I'm really not a fan of paperbacks, because the covers start to atrophy in time. I have several old novels that I had a hard cover of that I would like to replace, but today only exist in paperback. I just don't like them.

I like them both but I prefer paperbacks because they're lighter, they usually make up most of the pocket books so they take up less room, and when I buy second hand, I LOVE the feel of a well used paperback, it's hard to describe.

Paperback every time. Hardbacks irk my hands, are annoying to carry and even if they look good in the beginning, eventually the covers get destroyed. It really bugs me when I have to wait many months for the paperback version.

I like hardcovers more....they look more upscale, "serious", and fit better on a bookcase shelf.

Paperback. They're easier to read IMO.

I think hard covers are generally more duable and as Marc said they look better on a bookcase but they're too pricey unless it's something I can't wait for to come out in paperback.

If it's a book that I feel fairly confident that I will like, then I will go ahead and get the hardcover. If it it something that just seems interesting, I will pick up the paperback. If I wind up enjoying it, I may look for the hardcover edition later on. Hardcover books, IMO, are for preservation of tales that I consider timeless.

Hardcover. But if I am buying the book, I will go for cheapest available.