An electronic book, or e-book, is basically a digital copy of a printed book. It is a “text- and image-based publication in digital form produced on, published by, and readable on computers or other digital devices”.(Wikipedia) It can come in many formats, such as plain text files, hypertext markup language, and portable document format. A company that produces reading devices, as well as e-books, may also have their own formatting. A digital image of the text of a book is displayed on the screen of the reading device. A reading device can vary in size, specificity, and format. E-books can be read on desktop computers, laptops, e-reader devices, as well as some phones. Devices that are used solely for the purpose of reading e-books are called e-readers. The Kindle from Amazon and the Nook from Barnes and Noble are among the most popular e-readers. There is a wide array of e-readers available, and they all vary in their size and storage capacity. Screen sizes of e-readers can be from 5 inches to over 9 inches diagonally. The amount of memory available varies widely, and some devices offer additional storage space through the use of memory cards. E-readers are progressing rapidly with their book accessibility features, and display options. Some e-readers require connection to a personal computer to download books. The new versions of Nook and Kindle both offer a wireless feature that allows the user to browse and download books in seconds from almost anywhere. Companies that make e-readers are constantly competing to produce lighter weight readers, and easier to read screen images. The Kindle is only 8.5 ounces, which is much lighter than the average book. Some e-readers now offer additional features such as games, picture and music storage, and personalization. A read aloud function is also available on a few models. With the wide array of published e-books, and the availability of a variety of e-readers, anyone can carry a library of their favorite books with them wherever they go.
