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EBook Readers - A Quick(ish) Guide.
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22-11-2011 9:41pm#1There seems to be regular same questions reoccurring in regard to Ebooks so I decided to try help out and provide a small general introduction to a number of them them available and some additional answers to possible questions surrounding them.
In explaining a few things I've deliberately kept some words as simplistic as possible to ease understanding, while balancing some words that a reader might need to be aware of during getting to grips with the whole topic.
I hope the below is of some use.
What are Ebook Readers?
Ebook readers are generally flat electronic display devices that come in various sizes that are meant to be held in the hand. They can come as small as 6 to 7 inches, to larger such as Amazon.com's original Kindle product that was around the size of an A4 page.
As time progresses, there are a number of major companies producing ebook devices independently as a stand alone product, while others are making their electronic ebooks devices available also for use in conjunction with their additional literature book sales business also (example: Amazon.com & Barnes and Nobel). Others while are independent businesses on their own, come together in business partnership for hopeful joint cross-benefit. (example: Sony and Waterstones Books)
Advantages.
The advantages of an ebook reader device is that it can hold a great many of books within the confines of a single object. An ebook reader can hold any any single book which might consist of a few pages as an actual paper publication, to a publication that might consist of thousands of pages if it or the former was to occupy a space on a book shelf. Be it one page or ten thousand, the presence of either within an ebook makes no difference to the actual weight of the electronic devices as they only exist in an ebook in digital code.
Disadvantages.
The main disadvantage of an ebook reader is obvious. There is no paper, there is no feel of a novel or manual, etc within the hand when reading. Reading traditionalists prefer the look and feel of an actual book within their hands, preferring to keep up a long time honoured tradition of holding paper, a heavier actual weight and turning pages for a 'book' as such to be real to them, in its truest paper sense.
Display
Some earlier forms of ebook readers displayed their text with pure white backgrounds with the text as standard black colour. While initially this welcomed as it was easy to read the text, it was eventually noted that under certain conditions the white background was more of a hindrance at times. When sunlight reflected off such ebook type screens it would bounce into the eyes of the reader. On top of this some readers found that constantly reading with a white background effected their eyes with or without string sunlight. A form of 'snow-blindness' effected their eyes and their ocular ability would get tired more quickly.
Eventually in order to try solve this problem, later ebooks used what's commonly called now "E Ink".
This is still the display of words most of the time in black text but the background consists of a slight grey colouration and a form of sheen that is less light reflective - thus little or no reflecting light into the readers eyes (note: this is why sometimes, some 'tablets' are said to be less usable just as a main ebook reading tool. They oftimes have the very white background).
Another advantage to this later form of E Ink display is that even at slight angles, the ability to still read text from a display is greater.
E Ink displays are especially popular due to their resemblance to printed paper. Besides being considered by many as easier on the eyes, E Ink also boasts lower power consumption, particularly when compared to traditional backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. These advantages, along with adoption by major eReader manufacturers such as Amazon and Sony, have caused E Ink to dominate the eBook reader display market.
Despite its popularity, E Ink technology currently being used in most devices also has its limitations. One is its inability to display color and video. Also, unlike traditional LCD displays, typical E Ink displays don't have backlighting, which makes it a challenge to read them in dim places.
To counter competition from rival displays such as reflective LCD and new screens developed by potential competitors, E Ink is working to improve its technology. New features in the works include the ability to display color.
Ebook formats.
Depending on the retailer, books are available in a number of file formats specific often to themselves.
Waterstones (in conjunction with Sony) provide their books in "Epub" format.
Amazon book site provides their books in "mobi" format (previous called "azw" or "prc" format but still basically the same thing - all of which can be used/read on their 'Kindle' ebook).
There are a number of other used (slightly less used) formats and some rarely now used ones. Some formats was originally designed for other devices and were used later on ebooks as they began to emerge in to the public market.
A list of the various format can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats
Generally a good number of ebooks can accept one MAIN format or the other - additionally they can also accept formats such as text (txt), Rich Text Format (RTF), PDF's (public document format) and plain unformatted text as part of their ability to display words.
The more formats an ebook reader can accept and display, the better for the purchaser.
A number of formats have DRM (Digital Rights Management) ingrained into their file formatting/structure. This DRM allows the bookseller to restrict where and on what their electronic book can go. It restricts in some cases the ability to copy a book directly from "A to B" - from one ebook device to another. This amid other things is to ensure one genuine purchased book is not passed around to all family & friends too easily and thus effecting original ebook sales numbers of an original purchase.
Converting book formats from one to another is sometimes simple. Sometimes however it can be complex. It all depends on (a) the original format one wishes to convert from - as some are harder to convert than others (b) if DRM is engrained into an ebook and (c) the quality of software used to carry out the conversion process.
Generally plain text (txt) and Rich Text Format (RTF) are the easiest to transfer direct across from one device to another. More complex formats need the use of an independent third party tool to aid any transfer.
One of the best known current tools for this is free "Calibre" (found HERE)
Amazon also offer free conversion for some book formats to their preferred format for their ebook devices.
Note: PDF's are generally harder to convert given their rigid coding and format structure at design and final compression into an ebook. Unless your desired ebook can naturally display PDF's as they were originally created, its best not to expect a perfect conversion using for example, the software mentioned above.
Ebook readers compared to Tablets.
If your debating as to which to buy - an ebook or a tablet - your eventual choice will/should depend on what your going to be using it most for.
For mostly reading? Watching video? Playing games? Or are you going to be wanting to use a device equally as much for surfing or work such as entering text or numeric calculations.
A good comparison between one and the other can be found here: http://movingfinger.hubpages.com/hub/Kindle-vs-iPad-vs-Tablet-Pcs
So which ebook reader will I buy? Which one is the best?
As like the question "Ebook or Tablet?" above - it all depends on your estimated future use for your ebook reader.
Generally, here is a number of things to be aware of:
* Look at the numbers of books available on one format and compare it to the number of formats available on another device.
Remember that you can use the likes of 'Calibre' to also convert - so if your comfortable in ability to do just that, there shouldn't be a general problem.
If you just want to place a book on your ebook reader (as originally obtained) and go, the more formats any one ebook reader can accept is the best situation for you.
* Look at the actual display. Is it easy on the eyes? Does the surface reflect (too) much? Imagine it in sunlight on the beach!
* Battery life?
* Can it display PDF's at their best?
* Price?
* Weight?
* Will it play audio? Some ebook readers have ability to play music/speech/audio book files.
* Does it have speakers and/or a port for putting in earphones?
* Does it have a slot for further memory expansion?
* Position of buttons? Some are easier to flick through pages than others. Some ebook readers have the same buttons on the left side and the right, if you wish to change hands (you can hold it with one hand and still change pages with a slight finger movement of same hand) - where as some have just their buttons of the bottom.
* Do you really need touch screen? Do you want to be using both hands in order to turn a page? (one hand holding the device while the other touches the screen and 'flicks' a page forward or back)
* Do you really need/desire a physical keyboard on your reader? Would you be happy with one a touch screen keyboard or one on screen that allows letters to be selected by the repeated use of a single button?
* Do you want to save money and just have a reading (and other possible basic functions) ability?
The above is just a number of considerations. There no doubt is others depending on the individual.
Its all about balancing some aspects with others and what suits the purchaser best.
...And you as the buyer will/should know best before passing away your money.
Where do I get books for my new ebook reader?
The main sellers of ebook readers have their own book sites - the format their books coming in, being particular generally to their own electronic device.
There are a great number of independent ebook sellers. Their books come in all formats - and again if your comfortable with a conversion process (if your ebook reader is limited in the number of formats it can handle) this shouldn't be a major problem in any way.
Here to start ye off, is a number of providers - a lot free - of ebooks:
* http://www.feedbooks.com/
* http://oreilly.com/ebooks/
* http://www.manybooks.net/
* http://www.baen.com/library/books.asp
* http://www.free-ebooks.net/
* http://www.munseys.com/
* http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/freebooks.htm
* http://www.smashwords.com/
* http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/default.asp?Language=EN
Here is another 447: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/50-places-free-books-online.htm
Enjoy!
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