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When working with technology, specifically writing about it and reviewing devices, it can be easy to overlook the simple fact that these devices are intended for the mainstream consumer and not just gadget aficionados. So today we have compiled a series of frequently asked questions that relate to the main stream electronic book reading devices, eBooks and the industry in general.
1. What is an eBook (electronic book)?
An electronic book can mean a few different things. In simple terms, it is text which you can read on a screen. This screen could be your Blackberry or iPhone/iPad, your computer monitor or a dedicated electronic reader such as the Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble's Nook or a Sony Reader.
An eBook can be created from scanning in the actual page from a book and creating an image of what was scanned. These are generally not easy to read because of artifacts from scanning and quality of the paper the text is printed on. See screenshot below for an example:
The most common way for an eBook to be presented is to be digitally processed, meaning it was scanned into the computer, then with the help of computer software it was converted into a digital copy, proofread and then released to the public. This would look exactly the same as the text you are reading right now, clear, crisp and nothing to take your attention away from the book such as artifacts or scanning mistakes. With eBooks (electronic books) fasting becoming mainstream many books have skipped the scanning step altogether and are converted directly to digital books once ready to be published.
2.) Which eBook reader is best?
This question is one that has to be personally decided, after all it is you that will have to use it, not us! We have reviewed all of the main electronic book devices on the market today and here is what we think.
Amazon Kindle is the industry leader. It is an attractive eBook reader and is very easy to use. A computer is not required to download eBooks which makes this a good bet for people who are not computer wizards. Barnes and Noble also have an eBook reader named "nook", while we would recommend the Amazon Kindle or Kindle DX (Larger Screen) over the nook at the time of writing, Barnes and Noble still has a solid contender. Both readers offer free 3G access to their bookstores, so you can automatically download books to your device without connecting to a computer or paying a data fee.
The best thing you can do is research. We have a number of reviews on this website which you can check out here and be sure to explore the web and find your perfect reader.
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