In this “all-digital” age, more than 90% of us own a smartphone, which has become almost essential to our daily lives. And, there is another small device that is making headway, the electronic reader. Still much less widespread than the smartphone, it nevertheless imposes itself in our lives as readers. In 2020, according to the National Publishing Union, 12 million French people have already read a digital book and of the panel of 5,019 surveyed, 28% read on an e-reader. I’m one of the 28% who own an e-reader, although I sometimes return to paper books when it comes to my favorite authors. I am a big consumer of books, and the e-reader offers me many advantages! But, if you are planning a purchase, you also need to know its drawbacks, and sometimes sellers forget to mention them to you. Decryption!
Disadvantage #1: Price
When I bought my first e-reader, the purchase price of over €200 surprised me somewhat. Indeed, the initial investment is more important than purchasing a paperback book! Of course, it’s true that you have to like reading to buy an e-reader. But, I have a concrete argument to explain to you that ultimately, it is not that expensive. I read approximately ten books per month, which, if I buy them in large format, costs around €220. The new products are sold for around €20. Knowing that the price of a digital book is approximately €15, I save €5 per book, so €50 per month. My e-reader therefore pays for itself in less than a year.if my calculations are correct.
Disadvantage #2: Eye fatigue
Most e-readers have special screens to prevent this eye strain. However, reading on an e-reader means spending even more time on a screen and fatigue is felt more quickly than on a paper book. Let’s say that I read more often, but for shorter periods than with a paper book.
Disadvantage #3: Lack of sensation
The big fan of paper books that I was, struggled to deprive yourself of the sensation of paperits smell and its texture. I must admit that this feeling of reading on a screen is strange. This is a drawback that should definitely be considered, as some people will never get used to the “coldness” of a screen.
Disadvantage #4: Book Format Compatibility
This is, for me, the biggest drawback. Indeed, my e-reader, a little old, does not read all book formatswhich are sometimes in EPUB, the most common. On my e-reader, for example, I don’t have access to manga and comics, that’s not a problem for me. However, it can represent one, if the reader is a fan of this type of reading. Additionally, some templates are limited to a specific library and exclusive formats, so you won’t be able to use files from other sites.
Disadvantage No. 5: possible breakdowns
Of course, with a paper book, breakdowns are rare, unless your coffee spills in the middle of reading. E-readers are electronic devices that may break or become obsolete over time, forcing users to replace them or deal with updates that are no longer compatible. You can also, in the event of a major failure, lose your entire library, this is a risk to consider!
[Edit du 5-11-2024] Disadvantage No. 6: the right to read, not the possession of the book
In an email received from one of my readers, Sigrid Marchand raises a point which I had not thought of, but which indeed remains a disadvantage. Sigrid explains to me that a small inscription, written in small letters in the conditions of sale and use, should appeal to you. Indeed, vYou are not buying the book, just the right to read it. You therefore do not have permission to lend the book by transferring the file to a friend, for example. A disadvantage which prevents the sharing of books, but also the promotion of an author, for example. Thanks Sigrid ????!
Disadvantages, but also advantages obviously!
I could write a novel about the advantages of an e-reader, because I see them every day:
- I gained a gigantic space in my house by placing my paper books in book boxes. From now on, my entire library fits in my e-reader !
- The price of digital books is much lower than that of paper books, and it’s a real saving when you devour a hundred books per year.
- I can now read everywhere, without carrying an 850-page book… Waiting room, boring meeting, queue and even in the car, which I couldn’t do with a paper book.
And you ? Do you already own an e-reader, and do you know of any disadvantages other than those I have just explained to you? Give us your opinion, or share your experience with us. Please notify us of any errors in the text, click here to post a comment.
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