Disadvantages of Ebooks and Readers

[saturday+deviant]

I think a disadvantage is the size of the print. Yes, it can be enlarged in some cases, but even then for me, it is too small.

[Age777]

1. no power, no reading
2. if you are one of those special people like myself who drain batteries...need I say more
3. drop your ereader vs a book and it may break
4. get your ereader wet...oops, it's f***ed
5. drop something on your ereader...oops, it's f***ed
6. incompatible format - not every book is available in every format
7. no book smell, or texture
8. freezing problem...sh*t
9. some are difficult to see in sunlight or other bright lights
10. children like to play with buttons (vs tearing pages...huh)

That is only a handful of the problems or downsides to ereaders vs books but I personally love carrying an entire library around in my pocket. That is enough for me to love them right there.

[Jenn+books]

I like my Kindle--it's quick and easy to get books, and I have saved a lot of money renting textbooks on the Kindle rather than buying a paper copy. It's light and easy to take with me when I travel. My biggest beef, however, the reason I will NEVER be without a paper book to read, is that I cannot--or will not--take my Kindle in the bathtub. If you drop the Kindle in the bathtub, you lose maybe hundreds of books and a substantial financial investment, whereas if you drop a paper book in the bathtub, you just dry it out and keep reading, or pick a used copy at a garage sale somewhere. Therefore, we can never do away with paper books. I don't know anyone who would disagree with me!

[cathjade]

well runing out of batterie , making sure not to drop coffee on it and mostly having nightmares about loosing my ereader! it contiens hundreds of books

[Lexiophile]

I have the kindle paperwhite and I love it, but I really love the the feel of actual books. I just feel the the kindle and other readers alike are so impersonal.

[nan m]

ohh I'm madly in love with my ereader. I can't think of a single reason to hate my dear reader.

[Cali]

I wrote about this in another thread; but one disadvantage for me is that I often fall asleep reading books and while that's usually ok for a paperback I don't like risking my laptop or a reader to the bumps and squashing that may occur

[chibisa]

I like real book and science. I like research book and perform them. sometime, it is difficult.

[Zannie]

I find my Kindle hard to read in bright sunlight too

[booklvr62]

Sad to say that I do not have a single friend or family member who reads or has the same tastes as I do except a daughter who lives in another state,so I have never loaned a book anyway[though I have given her a few when she came home to visit].That being said,the only possible disadvantage of an E-Reader for me is a low battery. I totally love my Kindle.I just finished reading the hardcover of Dan Brown's~ Inferno, and it was a pain in the butt to read that big book in paper form!I had reserved it at my library and didn't know it was hardcover which I have always hated,or I would not have gotten that edition.PB or Kindle edition,only for me!

[urica]

Reading actual books defines a culture, a generation. Emergence of digital books is a breakthrough. Technology has its good and bad sides. One disadvantage of ebooks and readers is that future generation wouldn't know how a real book felt in their hands.

[Zannie]

So far, you have all talked me out of an e-reader. I like the actual books, but I was swaying the other way for convenience.

There is a good thread on Advantages of Ebooks. It is worth a read if you are thinking of getting an Ebook reader

[gali]

The only disadvantage I found is that they don't last long if you read too much on them. The longest my kindle lasted was 1 year and my last broke up after 2 months. I got it replaced. Saying that, I love my kindle and I think it's worth it to have one.

[plath]

For those missing the feel of paper, may I ask what ereader you have? I got a Paperwhite and surprisingly it does have a paper feel to it. However, I must admit I miss the smell of newly bought books. You can't have that from ebooks. :p

[Amagine]

I know that a disadvantage is simply that it is an electronic device. So if there was ever a power outage, my tablet had better be charged! If not, I'm just out of luck. That is a case when having a physical book is better.