Are eReaders Worth It? The Pros and Cons
Readers tend to clash on many things, including what even constitutes reading, but all tend to agree that nothing beats holding a physical book in hand. Yet, nowadays, there are many ways available to consume a book. And among the most popular is via an eReader.
You can find inexpensive and quite pricey options, but is it even worth the investment? Let’s look at some pros and cons of getting such a device and find an answer.
Is It Worth Getting an eReader?
It’s hard to reach a consensus on the best way to read a book—by reading it on your eReader,getting a physical copy, or listening to the audiobook. Discussions get heated, andsome even argue that audiobooks don’t count as reading. Circumventing all the needless arguments, let’s focus on eReaders and whether you should get one.
Getting an eReader: The Pros
Ebooks can open a whole new world for you as a reader. They are usually much more inexpensive compared to physical copies, and some are even free. For example, you may find manyclassic novels available for free on your Kindle device. And, if you’re not a fan of the deemed classics, there’s a vast, seemingly endless catalog to explore.
Then, once you acquire a book you are interested in, it’s much easier to read. Most eReaders tend to be smaller and lighter than regular books, making them easier to carry around and store as they don’t take up as much space.
Additionally, reading them in the dark is easier since their screens are lit up, unlike a regular book. Well, reading in the dark without a proper light source is not recommended, but you can do it.
Also, say you start an ebook but quickly realize it’s not for you; it’s so much easier to DNF (did not finish) it. You simply stop reading and move on. Unlike a paper book that you still have to keep somewhere and potentially see frequently and feel the shame of not being able to tackle it.
And, speaking of paper books, reading on an eReader makes you inherently more environmentally conscious—no trees died for your books.
Getting an eReader: The Cons
As mentioned, eReaders come with a price tag that’s often hefty. Sure, you can find cheap ones, but the consensus online is that they tend not to last long. So, investing in a more expensive one with great reviews is better. Therefore,deciding which eReader to buycan take a long time until you gather the money needed for it.
And that means that if you lose it, you’re out a substantial sum. So, you really have to be aware of where you leave it so you don’t misplace it or have it stolen. Unlike with a book that is not nearly as grave a loss should the same happen. After all, if you possess a pricey signed first edition, you’re unlikely to carry it around with you in the first place.
Also, eReaders need more babying. You need to be mindful of their charge and ensure they’re powered up so you don’t have the device die on you at an inopportune time. Also, despite thecountless existing free ebook download sitesyou can explore, you can’t download ebooks willy-nilly. You have to watch out for which files your device is compatible with, which can be limiting.
Another limiting point to consider is that you can’t lend them out as easily as you can a physical book. There areways to share Kindle books, but none are as simple as just handing them out with no time limit to finish them attached.
And, last but certainly not least, you miss out on the new book smell.
So, Should You Get an eReader?
Well, as with most things, the answer is subjective. However, if you can spare the money, it’s certainly worth trying one out to see if it’s a good fit for you. And, if you don’t like it, you can gift or resell it—there’s certainly a market for them.
But if the cost is too great for you, don’t despair; you’re not missing out on much. After all, eReaders get the same books you might listen to or read on a physical copy. It may offer more convenience in some regards, but you don’t have to sacrifice necessary purchases for the month to buy a Kindle, for example.
Are you on the fence about buying an Amazon Kindle? Here’s why you should bite the bullet and buy the ereader now.
Don’t let someone else take over your phone number.
Free AI tools are legitimately powerful; you just need to know how to stack them.
One casual AI chat exposed how vulnerable I was.
It saves me hours and keeps my sanity intact.
Flagship price, mid-range phone.
