I’ve been an avid ebook reader for two years and counting. Previously, I was reading ebooks on my Pocket PC using uBook before I decided to get a dedicated device. Here’s more info about me: I’m an impulsive buyer and own over 700 ebooks. About 400 of those ebooks were bought at Fictionwise which is my preferred etailer because I like to buy all my ebooks in one place. Overall, I’ve enjoyed reading ebooks but there are times when I wonder why I continue to bother with them at all.
The Advantages vs. the Disadvantages of Ebooks
There are definite advantages to reading ebook and here is my list:
- Instant gratification. Self-explanatory.
- Portability. I love carrying around 700 ebooks when I travel.
- Platforms that allow user to tweak the look of their ebooks (font size, text color, background image)
- Promotions where publishers and author(s) give away free ebooks =major WIN
- Privacy. No bookcovers to stare at when I’m reading save my ereader bookcover
- Saves gas so no running to and from brick and mortar stores
Here’s the crummy part, the little annoyances I’ve had to endure to enjoy a format that I prefer:
- Price. Sensitive issue and annoying because some publishers believe incorrectly that charging readers a higher price for the ebook copy over the paper copy is smart and will engender sales. Guess what, you’re wrong, it’s not and it doesn’t.
- Cherry picking titles to be in digital format while other titles remain unavailable=lost sale
- DRM supposedly stands for Data Rights Management. Hotly contested issue right now and I’ve ran into my share of DRM resistance and have barely won. DRM restricts legitimate buyers from reading their ebooks on multiple platforms. So far, DRM doesn’t seem to deter piracy but it does annoy the hell out of consumers.
- The reputation and/or perception that ebooks are some kind of sub-standard format that doesn’t belong with paper and audio formats.
- Releasing ebooks a week to two weeks or more after the print release. Makes zero sense to me as a reader/consumer but others have stated that ebooks are inhibitive of print sales and this is significant if you want to land on the NYT bestseller list (even more important than making money I suppose).
- Some authors books are not even digitalized and makes me wonder if it’s the author or the publisher that is holding out (looking at St. Martin’s Press). SMP seems to cherry pick titles for digital release.
- Converting purchased ebooks to a format that is rendered on your preferred reading device.
- Ebooks are non-returnable and non-refundable and you can’t even exchange formats. If you enjoy trading in your books for new books, this format is not for you.
- Format wars — I have ebooks in several different formats but I read them all on one device.
- Dedicated ereader devices thus far are not cheap
Conclusion
Sometimes, with so many missteps made by publishers from their lack of vision or insight, it’s a wonder that I still prefer to read ebooks at all. I mean I can’t return them (as listed above) and sometimes I will pay steep prices if I really, really want to read the ebook version but despite the many disadvantages as listed above, I love reading ebooks. No more paper for me (unless I’m forced to buy them). Ebooks are the future. I hope this year will mark some significant changes for the future of ebooks. Apple anyone?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
SarahT, though there are some talks about introducing Kindle in Europe, it can be quite far perspective from today (if ever…). The system that Amazon uses to distribute Kindle ebooks bounds the device to US market, and Kindle2 has shown they were not going to change the direction.
Exactly. Thanks Daisy.
Love ebooks. Like you, I do believe they are the wave of the future and that publishers need to get on board with what readers are looking for.
The many different formats and the DRM issues, the price points and lack of availablitily are all issues that need to be addressed quickly.
I live in the absolute middle of nowhere and ebooks are it for me. Purchasing a book requires a minimum 100 mile drive (one way) and then I can’t be guaranteed that the book I am looking for will be in stock. Ordering the book for delivery requires paying for shipping and waiting, sometimes 2+ weeks for the book to arrive. Give me ebooks any day. No shipping, no waiting.
In addition to that, I never run out of shelf space for ebooks and I don’t have to dust them. Pluses all around!
I love books and will always be a book buyer. There are some books that I just want in a paper version. But ebooks now comprise the vast majority of my book buying, simply for the convenience.
@Coral — I love Stanza! I convert to ePub too. I love Calibre and without it, I don’t think I could have bought a Sony Reader. I would have just used my iPhone since it’s about the same size as my Pocket PC anyway. Thanks!
Couldn’t agree more. I only buy ebooks now — mostly from BooksonBoard — first choice being ereader and then mobi as both can be stripped — to read on my iPod Touch. Kindle and Sony readers are not available in Australia and iPhone/iPod Touch are worldwide plus the new version of Stanza has plenty of options to customise your viewing pleasure. I too use Calibre to convert files but to ePub. My book files I will keep on the computer forever, they don’t take up much room and I read lots of series, so can do a refresher course when a new book is due.
@jenreads — I always buy MS LIT because you can strip it. I use Calibre to convert the non-secure LIT files to the LRF format. Google it to see what I mean or email me. I also on occasion will buy eReader for my iPhone. I love reading on my iPhone (complete 180 as I didn’t before).
@SarahT — that sucks. Sorry to hear that!
@animemiz — INORITE! I sometimes I finish reading them and think, should I delete them or keep them? I can only read so many over again and I am not a big rereader.
@Kara — what device are looking into getting?
I’d be interested in knowing what format you buy at Fictionwise. Love my Sony Reader but hate buying the .pdf versions of books when I know how much easier it is to read the .lrf version.
I’d planned on getting a Sony Reader when they launched in Switzerland last month. Then I found out that they are language-specific. I even called Sony Switzerland to confirm that they won’t accept books from Fictionwise, etc. As most of the books I read are in English, it didn’t make any sense to buy one.
I’m hoping Bezos & Co. are more sensible when they finally introduce the Kindle in Europe.
Greetings this is animemiz from Twitter.. and yep I love ebooks as well.. my issue tho is that when you’re done with the ebook.. I don’t know if it is worth reading over and over again.
Would also love to have a handy dandy system where I can read pdfs.… for academic purposes.. hence my other blog that what you see linked up as. I use mobipocket on my Palm Treo 750, as of the time being I am not really fond of Amazon’s kindle.. and is waiting for an upgrade for Sony’s ebook reader or for public release of Foxit reader. .>_<
I am a huge eBook reader too — and Fictionwise is my favorite place to shop!! I totally agree with your advantages and disadvantages. I too carry around a huge stack of books — those to be reread and those on my TBR list. There is just something so convenient about being able to look through my eBook list and pick any book I want.
Right now I read on my PC or my Palm TX…am looking into buying a dedicated reader sometime this year.