An e-book is simply a book. The difference lies in the construction; rather than going though the print process, an electronic book is formatted to fit on your computer screen, e-book reader or a device like a Palm Pilot, in a variety of programmes.
E-books can be printed out or read on your computer, reader or laptop screen or they can be stored on diskettes, CD-ROMS or downloaded and viewed on your computer screen, on a PDA, or on an electronic reading device like a Rocket eBook. Simply put, e-books are books presented in a digital format instead of traditional ink and paper.
The new reading platforms, called e-book readers, are small, lightweight, battery-operated, rechargeable devices that have enough memory to store several e-books at one time. PDA's were the forerunners of the technology behind the latest e-book readers, first pioneered by Apple Computer which introduced the Newton MessagePad in 1993. Short for 'personal digital assistant', these are handheld devices that combine computing, telephone/fax, and networking features. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, and personal organiser. Unlike portable computers, most PDA's use a stylus (pen) rather than a keyboard for input.
There are close to four million PDA's in use, notably COM's Palm Pilot and so it would be reasonable to project that this could rise to at least ten million in 2001. The software to display large text files is available in all PDA's, and a steadily increasing numbers of PDA owners now use these devices to read documents and books.
E-books can be printed out and read like a traditional book or read on the screen of a desktop or laptop computer, a PDA or a dedicated e-book reader. There are special formats for reading e-books on your computer, e-book readers and PDA's . This format makes many e-books available to people who do not own an e-book reader
An author still has to write, edit and submit a book in whatever format; the book is then either accepted or rejected by the publisher or e-publisher. The real difference lies in the final product: a tangible product like a book that you can hold in your hand or an electronic version. The fact still remains that the final product in both cases can be good or bad. Most e-publishers have been so inundated with manuscripts they have to close submissions for a period of time. They can afford to be selective with more than ninety percent of submissions ultimately being rejected.
Book Readers
The Microsoft Reader
The Microsoft Reader is an e-book reading program available for PC's (the software is available for free download from the site) and the Pocket PC (which comes with the software already installed and 30 titles, although you can get more from Barnes & Noble). Page layout on the PC resembles that of a paper book. You can highlight, bookmark, make notes, look up definitions and save easily. You can change the font size and use the backlight to read in the dark. All the books and other content that you acquire are stored in the Microsoft Reader Library.
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat offers another book reading programme. It creates files that can be displayed on most platforms, and most e-publishers offer books for download in PDF because it is so versatile. It is easy to use, has a small file size and the page layout is unsurpassed.
Glassbook Reader
The Glassbook reader is a free software program for reading electronic books on your laptop or desktop PC and is available for free download from the site. It provides a full-color display of e-book pages including, Adobe PDF documents, and a two page display for reading. You can highlight text and annotate e-book passages.
Rocket eBook/Gemstar eBook (Rocket-eBook.com and SoftBook.com are now eBook-Gemstar.com)
Rocket eBooks are about the size and weight of a traditional book. The professional edition of the Rocket weighs about a pound and a half, has an adjustable backlight, and can store about four million words of text, or about forty novels. The next generation Rocket eBook, the REB1100 ($300) and the REB1200 ($600) are on sale now with 10,000 titles available. The REB 1100 is smaller, lighter and less expensive than the REB 1200. The REB 1200 features a color display that is more appropriate for magazines and both a 56K modem and an Ethernet port for fast book downloads. The REB 1100 can purchase books directly from an eBook catalogue throughout the internal 33.6K modem, or use the computer to download books from booksellers like Barnes and Noble or Powells, then transfer the digital content to the eBook through the infrared or USB port. The Rocket eBook is much more than just a reader or a site used for downloading e-books. They offer 45% royalties on books sold through them and a sole rights distribution network. You can also become a Rocket eBook publisher, but you must purchase one of the readers.
EBookMan
Franklin Electronic Publishers have developed the eBookMan, a "multimedia reader and content player" that looks a lot like a PDA (and comes with PDA-type calendar and address book functions) but is much better suited to reading e-books than Palm-pilot type devices.Franklin originally announced that the eBookMan would display Microsoft Reader titles but initially the units will be released on to the market with Franklin's own secure eBook reading software.
Korea eBook
The new Korea eBook is quite lightweight and easy to hold, its size being somewhere between a PDA and the Rocket eBook. It has a black-and-white LCD touch screen with a full 480 x 320 pixels screen, the same as the Rocket eBook. The case has big buttons for paging forward and backward. Korea eBook Inc., the manufacturer, has already marketed a PC-based Korean-language eBook reading program called the Hiebook Reader (www.hiebook.com) as well as a tool for converting XML content for the Reader.
GoReader
GoReader, a Chicago company of the same name has developed a prototype device called the goReader. The goReader has a color LCD touch screen that's 7.3 inches wide and 9.7 inches high, in a grey plastic case measuring 9.5 inches by 12.6 inches by about 1 inch thick. The prototype is heavy for an eBook reader, weighing almost 5lbs, but its has lots of features for making your own onscreen notes and highlights in multiple colours.
It is predicted that by the year 2003 e-book readers will weigh less than one pound and cost in the region of £66.00 or $99.00. Sales of e-books, e-magazines and e-newspapers should reach £670m by 2005. Some commentators have predicted that 500,000 e-books will be available on the internet by the end of the year and Worldwide sales of e-books could hit £2.3bn in five years.
Click here to return to Know How Guides
| Information
supplied by Business Insight Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. B3 3HQ Tel: 0121 303 4531 Email: business.library@birmingham.gov.uk www. birmingham.gov.uk/businessinsight www.bestforbusiness.com |
Alternatively,
click here for our Bite
Size Checklists. |
Golden Entrepreneurs: Disclaimer Notice GoldenEntrepreneurs.com does not have any responsibility for, or be liable in respect of the content or accuracy of the information so provided, or for any errors or omissions therein. |
The
Information provided is generic and is researched using a variety
of sources. Major sources are acknowledged. |