Why Would I Want an eBook?

2009-04-13T21:59:00.003-05:00

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Well, first of all because there are many worthwhile features. You can highlight text, search for words and phrases, look up a definition immediately, control font display size, make notes in the book and you can always return automatically to the place where you left off. You can, carry multiple books, magazines and newspapers on the one device with everything being available when you want it. And in the near future, the capability to display high quality color pictures will allow for the showcasing of beautiful artwork. With regards to textbooks, the problems of caring heavy text books around, acquiring books in time for the start of a semester, running around to return books at the end of the semester and having to spend a lot of money to fulfill your book order should all be resolved. Traditional books will still be there, just as we still have the ability to write traditional letters, even though we now have email.

The time for the e-book is near. There are five current manufactures of eBooks: Sony, Jinke, Netromix, Amazon and IRex. However, not unlike appliances most of theses manufacturers sell under different names. The two most popular devices, to date are made by Sony and Amazon. Sony sells its “Sony Portable Reader” with several different configurations. Amazon sells only one unit, with one configuration named the Kindle.

One problem that needs to be resolved is to find an answer to the question of which format will evolve. Just as the old wars between cassette or 8-track, VHS or Beta, Blu-Ray or HD DVD one format needs to prevail. A winner will surface and then there will be fewer reasons to hold off on investing in an eBook. The winning format may come from Sony or Amazon or even the iPhone.

Amazon offers free connectivity. You select a book for purchase and it is quickly downloaded to your eBook reader for only, the cost of the book (magazine or newspaper). Other documents are not as easily downloaded, but it is possible. You may send, word documents, text, RTF, various picture formats, mp3’s and even pdf’s directly to your eBook. However, at this point in time complex pdfs, may not display properly. Also, these documents will incur a .10 charge, unless you go through a two step process by forwarding it to Amazon first. Through Amazon it will be converted and forwarded to your eBook reader. This process is still in the developmental stage. So if you are counting on taking advantage of all of the free .pdf documents that are available you might have some issues.

Sony reads all the above documents and stores them on the Sony Portable Reader. However, Sony requires purchasing books and transferring to your reader. Also, Sony does not have the great purchasing and distribution system that Amazon has been perfecting since it first started out. As you might remember Amazon began as a book distributor. But Sony does have access to Random House, Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins. Also, Sony currently does a better job at handling the various other file formats.

A huge improvement in eBooks has been the development of the screens. They are now easier to read than the screens found on your monitor or laptop. Those screens have a glare factor which causes exhaustion to your eyes thus limiting the time you can read. Also, the displays have been developed to use less energy, which allows for a long battery cycle between charges. A little over a year ago in The Future of E-Books, author Any Greenberg, touted the advancements of the eBook. One drawback he mentioned was that the screens do not yet have color. And that is a point worth mentioning, for once the color screens are available they will present a wow factor thanks to high resolutions that will be better than what you get on your HD televisions.

For the time being competition will once again help develop and mature products. If you are a person who enjoys testing out the latest electronic devices these eBooks are definitely worth your time now. Otherwise, stay tuned and you will soon be rewarded.

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4u2c by Judy Okazaki

Why Would I Want an eBook?