| eBooks are becoming increasingly popular. They | | | | universities. Most authors are making their books |
| can now be used on a variety of devices (e.g. | | | | available in eBook format notably Stephen King |
| mobile devices including handheld Palm Pilots, | | | | who wrote 'Riding the Bullet' solely for eBook |
| iPhones, Kindles as well as laptops and desktop | | | | format and sale. A notable exception, by contrast, |
| computers and others). There are many eBook | | | | is J K Rowling who apparently does not wish her |
| reader programs (e.g. some well known ones | | | | 'Harry Potter' novels to be published in eBook |
| include Adobe, Microsoft, Foxitsoftware, Sony, | | | | format. |
| MobiPocket and Amazon's Kindle readers) and | | | | Generally eBooks are cheaper to produce than |
| devices.eBooks have many advantages over | | | | conventional books which need more specialised |
| conventional printed books. Large libraries of | | | | equipment to produce hard copies (as either |
| eBooks can be kept on these devices. They can | | | | paperback or hardback books). This means |
| be stored on the device's hard drive or on | | | | eBooks are normally cheaper to buy than |
| removable recordable digital media such as CDs | | | | conventional books. |
| DVDs and memory sticks - all very portable. | | | | As already mentioned eBooks can be produced |
| Perhaps their big strength is their flexibility as they | | | | relatively easily by anyone with commonly |
| can be produced in many formats that can be | | | | available software and many people are making |
| used on many electronic devices and they can be | | | | their own eBooks for both personal use and for |
| produced professionally with state of the art | | | | retail sale either through eBook websites or simply |
| software or produced by anyone using free and | | | | from personal webpages or blogs. |
| open source software. Current formats range | | | | The growth in the number of eBooks has been |
| from HTML, PDF, EXE, DjVu, EPUB and most | | | | rapid over the last couple of years and it seems it |
| recently Kindle format. | | | | is predicted to continue to rise over the next few |
| As well as handling text and graphics they can | | | | years. This is confirmed in part by the growth of |
| use audio and video format although often an | | | | Google Books eBooks category. |
| internet connection is needed for these more | | | | In conclusion eBooks have become important |
| sophisticated functions. | | | | means to promote and impart knowledge and |
| They are fast becoming available on every | | | | enjoyment through reading using new 'electronic' |
| possible topic both fiction and non fiction and are | | | | technology.eBooks are now known and used |
| widely accessible from the internet. They are | | | | frequently by many people worldwide and this |
| even available in public libraries. They are also | | | | new way of reading looks certain to continue to |
| being used more and more in schools, colleges and | | | | grow and constantly be developed and improved. |