live chess vs correspondence

i have yet to figure out the joys of correspondence chess.  can someone market it to me?  Does one really sit and analyze every move played? Are outside sources allowed i.e. books, opening guides? and computer banned? or does it just give you days to analyze each posistion?

I don't analyze ever move played.  I play it like live chess. Except, I can log off in the middle of a game and come back to it tomorrow.  Live chess, I play it now, finish it, and then I'm done.

Also, you get to play in tournaments with correspondence chess.

I don't spend much time on most of my moves in online chess - though I may come back a couple of times to think through some that really stump me.  I think the main advantage is as Jythier said - you can leave and come back when you have time.  That works very well for me since I rarely have time to sit still for a whole game. 

correspondence and live are certainly different animals! i enjoy them both for different reasons. i recommend you try a few games of correspondence and really take some time on your moves.

I started at the days/move time control because I am interested in improving at the time controls found in over-the-board tournaments. At the slowest these are G/60 and often common is 30/90 SD/1 or 40/2 SD/1. You can't find this slow of a game on a live chess server -- and I wouldn't have time to play it regularly anyhow! The days/move time control allows me to take as much time on each move as I would in an OTB tournament game without the impossibility of having to find the time and opponent to play with.

One of the joys of correspondence chess is licking all those stamps ! 

I prefer the correspondence because if you get kicked off line you don't lose the game while your trying to get back on. I wouldn't do analysis engines or books while playing someone because I believe that is wrong. but as I said in an earlier comment when you play chess you bring your reself to the game.

Based on your comments I would not try to market correspondence chess to you. I doubt you would enjoy it. Just stay with what you are already doing.

thanks for the comments.  i have started to play, and actually enjoy it more for the reasons aforesaid mentions in this thread.  i really enjoy the tournaments too!

One problem with correspondence is it can make you lazy.  SInce I can shuffle the pieces at will in CC I find my vision in OTB chess to be getting worse.  This can be fought by playing both but a major reason I play CC is a lack of time for OTB.