E-Readers (like the e-ink Kindle and Kobo) have never broken out of the black-and-white, small paperback form-factor. Which makes them ideal for reading...small

E-Readers (like the e-ink Kindle and Kobo) have never broken out of the black-and-white, small paperback form-factor. Which makes them ideal for reading...small, black-and-white paperback titles. But nothing else. Books come in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes. E-readers and tablets do not. Shape, colour, double-page layouts, plus the tactile feel of paper are all intrinsic to the design of so many books. E-readers and tablets simply can't accommodate those qualities. E-readers work well for reading paperback-sized fiction and non-fiction titles, but I don't think anyone really expected them to replace physical books.