Advantages and Disadvantages

Disadvantages:

“The primary disadvantage of ebooks is that you need a relatively expensive device to read them-either a computer or a hand held device” (Grant, 2002, p. 50).

Desktops are not portable, laptops have low battery lifes, heavy, handhelds have hard to read screens (small text) and many can not handle graphics/pictures. Are costly as well.

Certain formats of the files are not accessible by all hardware on all computers. This is to discourage piracy.

“And let us not forget the ‘look, feel, and smell’ factor that many of us value highly” (Grant, 2002, p. 50).

Many of the older generations will miss holding the novel, seeing all the brightly colored covers sitting on the shelves waiting to be read. 

But will the kids of this generation care?

Possibly detrimental to libraries and the workers within

Advantages:

“save costs of printing, binding, warehousing, shipping, and handling retailer returns; content updates are vastly easier” (Grant, 2002, p. 50).

Sometimes it’s easier for authors to publish an ebook versus a regular book

Greater and faster availability, download a book from anywhere and begin reading. Do not have to wait on a hold list at a local library.

Cant loose or damage the books. Always there, if they get deleted, just download them again

Write notes, highlight, read in the dark, have hundreds of books on one device.

Don’t need a physical space for the library, no over due fines, no re-shelving, no staff needed to train

Seems libraries are not in danger and books sales are still skyrocketing. No decrease in library funding.

Some libraries even distribute their own handhelds for customers to use. Ebooks will eventually become even more cheaper than regular books due to the economy.

Textbooks are expensive for students, so it would valuable if textbooks were available in a handheld device.