- Print does fixed layout better than ebooks. Yes, you can technically do a fixed layout ebook format but it’s pretty much only usable for ibooks. Most ebooks are a flowable style format (unless you do each page as an image which is not a good idea in most cases.) Ebooks are more like basic websites in this sense.
- Print does resale better than ebooks. If you’re as a consumer you’re going to read something once and not reference it you’re still sometimes better off buying the physical copy so you can resell it when you’re done. Unless mass paperback with no resale value.
- Print does sharing better than ebooks. Yes, there are ways to share with someone for a limited time but it’s not as simple as grabbing the book. Though it could be argued that ebooks do sharing easier than print because you have all of the books with you at any time and don’t have to go home to get one if you wanted to share it.
- Print does libraries better than ebooks. My local library offers a small selection of ebooks, not as many titles as you can get in print AND their system logs me in and then tells me I don’t have an account when I go to download (like that makes sense. I should call and see if they can reset or delete my account and start over.) You don’t get that kind of glitch and barrier to entry with a physical book.
- Print does the social coffee shop factor better. You see someone reading a great book at a coffee shop and are able to start a conversation from it because you can see the book cover. It’s arder to start a conversation with someone when you don’t know what they’re reading on an ereader. But this is also a perk for some who either want to be left alone OR would like to read a trashy romance novel without trying to hide the cover.
- Print does not have glare or batteries. I like my kindle fire but there’s glare when trying to read outside. E-ink is fine outside but you have the same glare problem with an ipad or a nook. All have batteries. What if there’s an ice storm and your power is out for a week? What if you’re going camping? Battery life is less of a worry on some devices over others.
That said I’m reading and buying more and more ebooks. I really like it for reference as well as the portability and always with me factor.
I however still buy most of my design / layout books in physical format because most do a horrible job of converting to ebooks (some do not even seem to understand resolution and put key images at a low enough resolution that they are unusable.