Disadvantages
The e-book has many advantages although there are still a few deficiencies and vulnerabilities. There is a restriction on electronic equipment, internet reliability, fragment reading, compatibility of software, and the initial cost. Other disadvantages are navigation implications on an e-book device and unreliable life span in terms of long term digital storage (Bennett and Landoni, 2005: 10). The concept of the reader’s first edition will be lost due to the fact that one digital copy cannot be visually different from the next (Wikipedia Contributors, 2009a: online). When the electricity is out and the battery runs flat, you cannot read your book(s). If a certain format is discontinued, you may not be able to acquire the new titles, especially if your reader is locked into that format. However, a change of software can sometimes fix that. It's usually extremely difficult to purchase electronic books without a credit card or PayPal account. Most handheld reading devices still cost too much. But you can still use your desktop computer or laptop or even your Pocket PC.