I have both hardcover and paperback. I do not like e-books, for reference. If I find something online, I print it and keep it in a binder.
Welcome to the Quilting Board!

I have both hardcover and paperback. I do not like e-books, for reference. If I find something online, I print it and keep it in a binder.
Neesie
By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
~Richard Dawkins
WOW, big question. I think the soft cover/paper back work well once you get to a point after magazines that you wish more in detail at 3 or 4 a.m. Let's face it, what quilt class is held at that time for beginners or people trying to perfect techniques? Best magazine for entry level as far as techniques and details probably Fons and Porter or one of the McCalls or BHG special publications. I am a tactile learner so having the hard copy helps rather than beating myself up with a cursor!
I buy both soft and hard cover books and take a good many of the magazines. I hate ebooks as I love to set and look at the beautiful pictures when I have the time. I also use the internet a lot.
I have a mixture of it all. I am not loyal to any one magazine, but if I see a pattern or article or set of instructions I like, I purchase it.
I now have an iPad but still have a stash of magazines with stuff I like. Also have a few hard cover and some soft cover books. I love it all, I guess!!
Theressa
Cowgirlquilter
Recently, the books I have purchased have been soft cover. I enjoy a couple of quilting magazines; but I get most of my instruction, here, watching YouTube videos, or taking Craftsy quilting classes on my iPad. I do not like to read quilting magazines on my iPad. I've never checked to see if my library has quilting e-books. I'm going to check now.
My library does have quilting e-books. I have reserved two. I'd never have thought to do that without your question. Thanks!
Most of my books for quilting are soft cover - I like magazine but when I am done with them I confess I remove the quilt pattern i bought the magazine for, out the pages in soft sleeves and put them in a note book. My hard cover books were more than likely given to me. Except 2 Georgia Bonesteel's lap quilting books I believe I found them and could't resist. I do not use the e-books for anything yet. I am still too into the touch and smell of a book.
I have all of the above, but I prefer a nice, big, soft cover quilting book with multiple patterns, and good, easy to follow cutting and sewing instructions.
I prefer the soft cover quilting books. I have some of all types, but my favorite are the big soft cover ones.
I like the hard and soft cover books I do not like quilting books or mags on my kindle fire the screen just isnt big enough to give you a real good view of pattern and directions I subscribed to 2 beading mag on my kindle and hardly ever access them just to hard to get a good idea of what you want