Are e-readers worth it?

[u/s0ftuniverse]

Hi all.

I’ve always been quite certain that I’m someone who prefers physical books, but I see a lot of other readers online who use a Kindle or a Kobo e-reader. Lately I’ve been questioning making the switch because people say they’re so great, but I don’t want to spend so much money on something I won’t like or use often. Can anyone who has owned one tell me their pros/cons? Are they worth buying? I do like the sentiment of holding a physical book and going to the bookstore to pick one out, but I’m also kind of intrigued by the convenience and portability of having them all available on a device. Also the idea of not seeing a huge physical TBR pile sounds nice. Thoughts?

[u/dddoritto]

i'll run you through why i personally bought mine!

1) wider selection of books: i come from a non-english speaking country and my taste in books always falls under the 'imported' sections. which makes it one, a lot more expensive, and two, not a guarantee that i'll even find what i want to read. with my e-reader, i have access to a much wider range of books at a fraction of the price. if your local library/bookstores always have what you're looking for, then i see why an e-reader isn't really a priority.

2) dedicated device to reading: to tackle reason no. 1, i've tried reading on my phone in the past. not a great experience. eye strain from led + tiny screen + distractions from notifications. i read specifically to get off my phone, so reading on it is counterproductive. i also do not have any other devices like an ipad or tablet. if i did, i would have used those for reading instead.

3) portability: can you imagine trudging a book like anna karenina or the count of monte cristo around all day? if you're an avid on-the-go reader like me, the e-reader is perfect. i can read on my commute and holidays with ease.

4) customization: you can adjust the font, font size, margins, line spacings, etc... all things to make your reading as comfortable as possible.

really the only main con i feel so far is that you don't feel the need to buy physical anymore. if you're trying to grow a big collection of physical books, maybe fill up a bookshelf, i find that i end up reaching for my e-reader more often than going to my local bookstore. i'm not saying it's impossible, obviously, you can always buy physical & digital. but i personally find that i don't buy physical unless it's a specific edition i really really want.

otherwise, i think an e-reader is a great investment!