Sometimes eBooks are just useless

A few months ago, the editorial team of heise.de found themselves in a discussion about the pros and cons of eBooks in comparison with original printed books. They put both to the test:

• Your plane has crashed and you find yourself in Greenland, somewhere between Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. You find some matches and your carry-on printed book. You start a small fire and save your life. If you had an eBook – you had frozen to death after burning your fingers trying to stay warm!

• How on earth are you going to underline those important sentences in different colours?

• Can you remember the time when you dried flowers and leaves between the pages of a classic book? Well, those times are over. Feel free to try the same with an eBook, but you’ll be left with disintegrating flower petals on your screen after a few weeks.

• You’ve just finished a fascinating novel on your eReader. You place it back on your otherwise empty book shelf: it looks like s***!

• Just an assumption: if Tom Cruise had not stood on a stack of printed books for his wedding picture with Katie, he would have looked even smaller?

• Instead of throwing an outdated tabloid magazine at your partner during an argument, you find yourself throwing his eBook reader at him. Consequences: a painful breakup and a large bill.

• The back side of your ebook reader may only have room for a handful of dedications from your favorite authors.

• Fold-outs are just not the same on an eBook…

• Printed books are so much better at making your apartment even more cramped and cozy.

• Smashing Mosquitos is so much more difficult with a Kindle – and may have unforeseen economic consequences.

I hope you enjoyed this little excursion. But remember: our eBooks can be downloaded for free, and this argument certainly roots for eBooks. Enjoy your weekend!