Reliability of the Paperback “Digital reading will completely take over. It's lightweight and it's fantastic for sharing. Over time it will take over” (Gates). In our hypermodern, digital world, it seems everything must evolve to a smaller, faster, and more portable platform. This transition is not limited to electronic devices. In recent years, eBooks have become a popular way of digesting novels, works of nonfiction, and even textbooks. An eBook is not a book itself, but a device which books can be downloaded onto as an alternate form of reading an ordinary paper book. Although eBooks have tremendous advantages as far as accessibility and portability, they take away from the experience and enjoyment of reading a traditional paper book. Because an eBook must be read on a computer or ereader device, they are susceptible to the same problems that plague electronic devices. Ereader devices have long battery life, but after so many uses, the lithium ion battery must be replaced. This problem can become a costly one, as lithium batteries can cost almost as much as the ereader device itself. Also, ereaders are vulnerable to various types of damage, such as water being spilled, the device being dropped, or in some cases, theft. Plain paper books are extremely durable compared to their electronic counterparts and most thieves aren’t interested in a good story. Ebooks have limitations where paper books don’t, thus they alter the experience of reading a physical book. In summary, ebooks have obvious advantages but sacrifice reliability for accessibility and portability. Ebooks are electronic books, and suffer the same problems other forms of technology have. Battery life and replacement, wear and tear, and theft are common deficiencies people run into with ebooks. With old-school paper books, finding a source of light is the main downfall. Ebooks are a tempting way to consume books, but fail in areas paper books prevail, leading to a entirely different way of experiencing a good read.