Advantages and Disadvantages of Downloading Free Textbooks Online

Many students download free textbooks as an alternative to the college books they need. But students should also know certain advantages and disadvantages of downloading books online.

Of all the benefits of downloading books is its cost. You can simply download free textbooks and save your money instead of spending them on bookstores. There are many easily downloadable books that you can find on the Internet if you know the correct title, author, edition, or ISBN number of the book you are looking for.

Laptops, tablets, e-readers, and other devices where you store your files will serve as your own library. Instead of having a bunch of bulky, dusty books on your desk during exam week, all you need is your device and you’re good to go. Carrying multiple books at once will no longer be a chore when all you have to carry is your laptop.

Better readability is also a factor, as most e-books can be enlarged to make the letters larger and easier to read. You’re also getting more environmentally friendly when you download free textbooks and go paperless – your books don’t need any more paper or ink, and thus you help make the world a greener place in your own way.

However, digital books are not without flaws. While you can download free textbooks of different titles, it does not mean that you will be able to find everything on the net. You may have a hard time finding electronic versions of books published about fifteen years ago. There are still a ton of books waiting to be digitally transformed.

Additionally, there is a growing concern among e-book readers regarding their eye health. Prolonged reading on a monitor causes eyestrain. While other readers have the option of limiting the time they read on their tablets, students have fewer options than staring at their screens for hours, reading their digital textbooks, most commonly during test and assignment hours. Some people don’t like the idea of ​​e-books either because they find it difficult to focus on reading on a device that they can do a lot of things with (a lot of apps!).

Last but not least, the “upfront cost” can be a bit high. Unless you already have your own tablet or reader, it can be expensive to buy a new one, especially if you are a student who wants to be frugal.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *