Disadvantages of Ebooks and Readers

[Merben Jun Tepan Andojar]

I prefer a book than an Ebook. But a book is book, so it is still fine for me.

[Emma Alexandra]

I hate not having to hold a book in my hands and not experiencing that satisfying feeling of turning pages.

This is my least favorite thing about my kindle e-reader. I also like that hard copies can be purchased used and exchanged between friends. I've always been a physical book person, but then I started to declutter my book shelf. Now, I love that the e-reader is a space savor. I still compare prices of the hard copy and e-reader. I love my e-reader a lot more lately.

[David Tutor]

tactile! I hate staring at a computer for ages...I love the feel of paper...the sound of turning pages. I love putting a book down and then picking it up again...........and NOT having to switch on a machine...no matter how small or large.

You just spoke my mind. Staring at a computer screen for too long gives me a headache. I should consider investing in oven of those special glasses.

[Angie Fernandez]

I am a relatively new e-reader owner. I will say from the start that I am old-fashioned and enjoy the feel and smell of a book in my hands. That said, an e-reader does travel well. I recently went on a family vacation and didn't have to lug four or five books with me. Another drawback, however, is when I want to review names, dates, or events. This seems to happen a lot in my crime or mystery novels. It is really hard to go back with an e-reader to look for a specific detail, whereas I can quickly scan the pages of a book and find what I need.

[skac]

For me, I like having to pack as little as possible when I travel. Especially when backpacking or camping, I've found it easier to just read on my phone instead of having to take my kindle, as well as an additional charger. It's not really a huge deal and if I'm going somewhere where space or weight don't matter, I'll still take the kindle.

[kcladyz]

No disadvantages.

[Ika Apro]

I hate that I can't change the font size. I have poor eyesight and it is hard for me to deal with some books.

[Muhammad Haikal Birton]

E-books lack the tactile experience of holding a physical book, turning its pages, and feeling its weight

[Alyssa Day]

One of the biggest disadvantages to me is cost. While the list pricing of a new ebook is often the same as a new print book, sometimes it is more expensive even when new due to some discounts that do not get equally applied to both formats. What further differentiates the price is that an ebook cannot be resold to the used market like a printed book. As a price-conscious reader, the savings of the used market and book discounts are significant.

It's very clear that readers are paying for convenience when they buy e-books. I think no one should pay for them unless they find it worth paying more! There are many places to find books cheaper than Amazon as well. A savvy shopper who spends time looking for deals can find some incredible buys out there, but not if they're restricted to the e-book market.

As an example, I picked an upcoming title that's generating buzz lately. It is called "This is How You Lose The Time War". From the reviews I've read, I personally do not plan to read this one, but it's receiving a decent amount of attention so it is widely available in different places.

I can buy the Kindle e-book, which is format restricted only to Kindle so not easily transferable to other readers if I were to switch later. This is a huge drawback, yet this format is also the most expensive: $12.99

I can buy this book new on Amazon for 9.21 and new from similar vendors for 8.48 and I haven't even dipped into the used market yet. I can save 30% or more just by going with the printed version, even if I want it in perfect condition.

Now I might accept it in less than perfect condition as well, and if I go to a book outlet I can find the same title in almost perfect condition for even less. I quickly found the same title listed for $5.99, a whopping 54% savings. On the used market it can be found in good condition for a bit less, $4.88 , which brings us to ~65% savings!

I encourage all avid readers to really explore their options and consider the price you are paying. Does an e-book present a significant advantage? If not, a printed book is always your best option. From there, you can weigh the benefits in terms of quality.