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What's an ebook?
eBooks are the same as print books, only the binding is different. Whereas
print books are made of paper and glue, eBooks are composed of bits and
bytes (electronic files). eBooks offer another opportunity for people
to read amazing books.
How do I read an
ebook?
eBooks come in electronic formats that can be downloaded over the internet
and read from your computer, a laptop, a dedicated reading device, or
printed out on paper. There are several free ebook readers available to
read ebooks on your computer monitor. The handheld devices can be purchased
either via the internet or through your local computer shop.
Some dedicated readers have a back light and the font size can be increased,
so this makes ebooks particularly attractive to the visually impaired.
Another advantage to ebooks is that they are fresh and original works
that readers often cannot find in a bookstore. And no trees have been
felled to produce them! eBooks also take up less space and don't need
to be dusted!
How do I purchase
an ebook?
Most electronic publishers have a website where you can purchase original
books as either a download or CD. You can pay online with your credit
card or through PayPal. If you order a download, it will be sent to you
as an email attachment within 24 hours. Cds are sent via regular mail
and will take a little longer. Most ebook publishers will also accept
personal cheques (sent via regular mail) if you are uncomfortable using
your credit card online.
Please visit my epublisher, Electric
eBook Publishing, for more details.
Which Handheld
Reading Devices are currently available?
Casio
Cassiopeia E-115 Color Pocket PC
Compaq
Aero 1550 Pocket PC
Handspring
Visor
Hewlett-Packard
Jornada 545 Color Pocket PC
Palm
IIIc
Rocket
eBook Pro
Softbook Reader
Everybook Reader Professional
Franklin
eBookman
Free Readers:
Adobe
Acrobat Reader - The most common is the Adobe Acrobat Reader which
can be downloaded for free from Adobe. This reader is for documents and
ebooks done in the PDF format.
Adobe
eBook Reader - Adobe® Acrobat® eBook Reader™ is the ultimate way
to view the growing number of eBooks in the marketplace today. The Acrobat
eBook Reader combines a vivid, elegant reading experience with an easy-to-use,
intuitive interface and features you won't find anywhere else. It's easy
to download the software .
Microsoft
Reader - Microsoft Reader offers the pleasure of reading enhanced
by the benefits of technology. Try the first electronic reading software
with ClearType™ technology and enjoy an unmatched on-screen reading experience.
Mobipocket
Reader - Mobipocket.com is the universal reader for PDAs: the
Mobipocket software package is freely downloadable from their web site,
and consists of publishing and reading tools dedicated to PDA devices
(Windows CE, Palm OS and Psion).
PDF
Reader - The PDF reader is for all EPOC PDA's like the Psion 5MX
and Psion Revo Plus, the Diamond Mako, and the Osaris (among others).
If you have a handheld reader, this is worth a look. They offer both a
free and an advanced version.
Peanut
Reader - If you have a Palm Pilot, Handspring Visor, or any other
Palm OS or CE device you can be off reading eBooks in minutes. Read books
and periodicals wherever you are and whenever your schedule permits! NOTE:
You need a PDA (handheld computer) running Palm OS or CE to read peanutpress.com
eBooks.
Rocket
Librarian - eRocket gives you the experience of the Rocket eBook
right on your PC. Download the eRocket and read thousands of FREE titles
in RocketEdition. Create your own titles or download them from Rocket-Library.com
and read them on eRocket.
Fugue
Software - The viewer supports standard HTML v3.2 including frames,
GIF, JPG, BMP and PNG graphics formats, MPEG, WAV and AVI multimedia formats.
TK3
Reader - What Is TK3? TK3 is a format for electronic books that
handles text, hypertext, and rich media, including pictures, audio, video,
web links. To use TK3 books, you need to get the free TK3 Reader from
the Night Kitchen website, www.nightkitchen.com/downloadreader/. You can
download it before or after you get your first TK3 books.
What is a TK3 book? Published TK3 books work like real books: pages turn
instead of scrolling, you can bookmark them by "dog-earing" the corners,
and you can make notes on the pages or highlight text. Once you've got
the book on your computer, you don't have to wait for pages, pictures,
audio or video files to load, so you can enjoy an uninterrupted reading
experience. All the text in a TK3 book - even your own marginalia - is
searchable by word or by phrase. And TK3 Reader comes with a built-in
notebook where you can write notes on what you're reading and drag in
text, audio and video for later reference -- TK3 Reader will even remember
to cite the reference for you.
Where do TK3 books come from? TK3 books are made with TK3 Author, a tool
that offers a simple drag-and-drop interface for making fully functional,
media-rich electronic books -- no programming knowledge required. TK3
Author is also available from Night Kitchen at www.nightkitchen.com.
For more information
on ebooks, please visit: www.ebookconnections.com/ReadersPrimer/
Reader’s Ebook Primer An Introduction and Guide to the World of Electronic
Books
www.deb-e-books.simplenet.com/eread.htm
www.geocities.com/mdbenoit_2000/ebookman.html
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