Ebooks have their advantages.
But there are downsides to consider before you pour a bunch of money into building a digital library.
But Amazon doesn’t actually sell books.
Image Credit: Jason Fitzpatrick/MUO
The company can revoke this license, meaning it can delete a book from your rig without your consent.
Amazon has made the news for this in the past, including inthe New York Times.
Amazon isn’t alone in this regard.
Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Google all follow the same model.
Unless a retailer explicitly sells DRM-free ebooks, you’re merely buying a license instead.
Your Books Can’t Serve As Decoration
Your books serve as decoration, giving particular rooms a certain character.
A home office with a lamp and a wall of books feels like a cozy library.
With no books, that same room may just feel like a room with a desk.
Digital books may form a pretty grid on your screen, but no one usually sees that but you.
Your partner or your kids have easy access to the same books.
With ebooks, your license may not allow you to share a book with others.
Family members aren’t the only ones who may want to see your books.
Roommates or friends may ask to borrow from your collection, and you may borrow from theirs in return.
Distractions Can Make It Harder to Read
Phones, tablets, and PCs are all general-purpose devices.
you’re able to do just about anything with them.
And when you’re reading, you might still do anything with them.
Notifications from other apps may distract you while you’re reading on your unit.
The tyranny of choice can be paralyzing when you’re carrying around hundreds of books at all times.
But in most cases, you’re free to’t support your local bookstore when you purchase an ebook.
Depending on where you live, it may be easier tocheck out ebooks from your local library.
But there’s nothing like physical foot traffic that emphasizes how vital a library is to its community.
You Help Big Tech Get Bigger
We don’t just say goodbye to the little guys.
They get to use that information to further expand their reach.
It’s simply small fish compared to a company the size of Amazon.
Online Stores Lack the Magic of a Physical Place
Physical bookstores, like libraries, can be magical places.
You get to walk down rows of curated shelves, amazed by what jumps out at you.
It’s an experience that scrolling through thumbnails doesn’t even begin to replicate.
Are there advantages to shopping digitally?
There’s nothing quite like instant gratitude.
But there’s a lot that’s lost in the process.
Or you could donate the book to free up space on the shelf.
Digital books lack this option.
When you’re ready to part with a book, you’re free to delete it.
Unlike selling or donating a book, deleting a file doesn’t pass it along to someone else.
It doesn’t contribute to a circular economy.
It’s Harder to Skim Ebooks or Take Notes
In some way, ebooks are easier to read.
Should You Ditch Ebooks?
And if you’ve never bought an ebook before, you aren’t really missing out on much.
After all, the most important thing is what you’re reading.
