E-book readers cost money, even if the upfront cost is not significant. Costs for e-book readers range from $139 for a basic Amazon Kindle to $249 for a Barnes & Noble Nook Color and $499 and up for an iPad 2 (as of April 2011). If you choose to read an e-book on your computer, you need to install additional software.
Not all books are available in e-book format. Not all e-book readers support the same formats. The native format for an Amazon Kindle is .mobi, while most other readers use the .epub format, including the Nook, Kobo eReader and Alex eReader.
E-book readers may malfunction or lose power while you are in the middle of a book. While some have battery life that lasts for weeks, you may not always have access to a power outlet to keep your reader charged. Some publishers recognize that electronic devices are not always reliable and automatically back up your digital library on their servers, which you can re-download at any time.
An e-book reader transports your entire library in a very small, convenient reader. E-book capacity ranges from hundreds to thousands of books, depending on the device. With support for removable media, the storage possibilities are endless. Some textbook publishers distribute books in both print and e-book format, saving students' space in their bags and decreasing strain from transporting heavy texts.
E-books allow you to search through text quickly by typing in a word or phrase. In less than a minute, the reader finds your term, saving you time. You can make notes and annotations in an e-book that are not permanent, which keeps the condition of the book in pristine condition. Users can increase the font or size of the type, which benefits those with disabilities. Many e-book readers also support text to speech, turning a regular book into an audio book in seconds.
E-books do not consume resources to print and distribute. Books in print consume paper, ink and time, while e-books are available for download through publishers directly. Users download the content over the Internet and transfer it to the device by connecting a cable from the computer to the reader. They also can download the book directly from the network with wireless-enabled readers.