3 ms·

I had no idea that Borders was in financial trouble. I have always preferred them over Barnes and Noble because they always have a wide selection of technical

I had no idea that Borders was in financial trouble. I have always preferred them over Barnes and Noble because they always have a wide selection of technical books. Unlike B&N which has aisle after aisle of VB, * for Dummies books, and their ilk, Borders is a place where I have discovered great books on niche technical topics. It will be sad to see them go -- buying a book physically provides a far greater visceral stultification than buying online.

ja27 16y ago
As a book lover, I'm happy in either store, but Borders has always been my preference. They always seemed to carry more titles and somehow feel to me like less of a big corporate store. (I'm a little biased, having spent quite a bit of time around Ann Arbor and the original store even before it moved.)
dandrews 16y ago
"... wide selection of technical books" - my experience is opposite, sorry. I've seen the number of technical books dwindle in the years I've patronized my local Borders store. Lots more emphasis these days on M'soft applications and Xyzzy for Dummies. Where there was once an entire corner of the store dedicated to computing titles, there is barely 15' of wall space now. Over time the store has ditched its foreign newspapers. Used to be able to buy Russian language titles in there, but not anymore. Few tech books on music/theater. Biographies heavily loaded toward current celebs. But they've got holiday calendars by the gobs. I liked doing business there 'cause I got instant gratification and it was a comfortable place to browse. But they've gotten rid of the chairs and tables too, and now the only place to sit is in the cafe. Many's the time I'd read a chapter in an easy chair, get up and purchase the book so I could take it home with me. But now all your browsing has to be on your feet - I get the feeling that management thinks bookstore shelves are like supermarket shelves. "Hello Dear? Would you stop by on the way home and pick up something from the Ender series?"

ja27 16y ago

As a book lover, I'm happy in either store, but Borders has always been my preference. They always seemed to carry more titles and somehow feel to me like less of a big corporate store. (I'm a little biased, having spent quite a bit of time around Ann Arbor and the original store even before it moved.)

dandrews 16y ago

"... wide selection of technical books" - my experience is opposite, sorry. I've seen the number of technical books dwindle in the years I've patronized my local Borders store. Lots more emphasis these days on M'soft applications and Xyzzy for Dummies. Where there was once an entire corner of the store dedicated to computing titles, there is barely 15' of wall space now. Over time the store has ditched its foreign newspapers. Used to be able to buy Russian language titles in there, but not anymore. Few tech books on music/theater. Biographies heavily loaded toward current celebs. But they've got holiday calendars by the gobs. I liked doing business there 'cause I got instant gratification and it was a comfortable place to browse. But they've gotten rid of the chairs and tables too, and now the only place to sit is in the cafe. Many's the time I'd read a chapter in an easy chair, get up and purchase the book so I could take it home with me. But now all your browsing has to be on your feet - I get the feeling that management thinks bookstore shelves are like supermarket shelves. "Hello Dear? Would you stop by on the way home and pick up something from the Ender series?"