Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Books
While there are millions of e-books available for download, not every book published is put into a digital format. The new bestseller that just came out might have to be purchased in paperback form, or the publisher can choose to make it available as an e-book only. Many e-books are available for free, or at a lower cost when compared to a huge paperback novel. So a person has to compare cost to book availability when choosing to go with e-books. However, the availability of e-books and the convenience of using them may encourage more people to read, especially in the young. “Advancing technology offers incredible opportunities to improve children's literacy”. (Gold) Electronic books take up no space on the bookshelf, but an avid reader may need to purchase an additional storage or memory device to keep their entire library. As stated before, e-books come in a variety of formats. E-books may not be able to be returned if the format is not compatible with the reading device. Paper books can be traded, gifted, resold, and lent. However, a gift card for an e-book is not as personal as a nicely wrapped paper book, and an e-book can’t be resold in a garage sale. Some e-books are allowed to be lent from one reader to another, but only for a short period of time. Money spent on an e-book is an investment that can be lost if the data is destroyed or if the book was not enjoyable.
Advantages and Disadvantages of E-readers
The most obvious disadvantage to purchasing an electronic reading device, made solely for reading e-books, is simply cost. E-readers can cost around $200.00 in some cases, and not everyone can afford one. Other electronic devices, such as a laptop computer or the new iPad, can be used to read e-books and are multifunctional, but those items are still fairly expensive. Sticking to paper books can be more cost effective, even if it is less convenient. E-reading devices are easy to use and easy to transport. They take up much less space when traveling than a paper novel does, plus they can store multiple books without adding weight or bulk. An electronic reader can even save a person from a trip to the bookstore by offering wireless downloads and book browsing.
An E-reader is a very convenient piece of hardware to possess, but there are a few drawbacks to owning one as well. All electronic devices are subject to failures, and an e-reader could malfunction. A paper book can be read without worrying that the words on the page will disappear. A book does not need to be plugged into the wall to be read, but an e-reader needs to be charged repeatedly, which can be inconvenient when sitting on the beach. Not every reading device comes with a wireless feature, and downloading a book may have to wait until a more suitable time. E-readers are also easier to damage than a paper book. A short fall can crack the reader’s screen, or cause other irreparable damage. A paper book can withstand a fall, and is less likely to become severely damaged or unreadable. In addition, electronic readers rarely accept all e-book formats. Purchasing an e-book that has the wrong formatting is an unfortunate incident since e-books are seldom returnable. The factors of cost, convenience, and hassle are important to consider when purchasing a dedicated electronic reader.
