E-Books

An e-Book is an electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal computer or by using an e-Book reader. (An e-Book reader can be a software application for use on a computer, such as Microsoft's free Reader application, or a book-sized computer that is used solely as a reading device, such as Nuvomedia's Rocket eBook.) Users can purchase an e-Book on diskette or CD, but the most popular method of getting an eBook is to purchase a downloadable file of the e-Book (or other reading material) from a Web site (such as Barnes and Noble) to be read from the user's computer or reading device.

Generally, an e-Book can be downloaded in five minutes or less. Although it is not necessary to use a reader application or device in order to read an E-book (most books can be read as PDF files), they are popular because they enable options similar to those of a paper book - readers can bookmark pages, make notes, highlight passages, and save selected text. In addition to these familiar possibilities, e-Book readers also include built-in dictionaries, and alterable font sizes and styles. Typically, an e-Book reader hand-held device weighs from about twenty-two ounces to three or four pounds and can store from four thousand to over half a million pages of text and graphics.

A popular feature is its back-lit screen (which makes reading in the dark possible). Some e-Books can be downloaded for free or at reduced cost, however, prices for many e-Books - especially bestsellers - are similar to those of hardcover books, and are sometimes higher. Most e-Books at Barnes and Noble, for example, are comparable in price to their traditional print versions.