E-book reader

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Definition

An e-book reader or e-book device is a device specially made to display e-books.

The word "e-book reader" can also be used to talk about a "reader" (collection of articles) ins eletronic format

See also: E-book

Hardware

E-book devices are specially made for reading books, i.e. are supposed to have at least the following features:

  • Ease of use
  • Reading of contents in any condition (even light)
  • An easy mechanism to download texts
  • Support for severl e-book formats
  • Long time without recharging

Mobileread wiki list five major brands in its E-book Reader Matrix: Sony, Jinke, Netronix, Amazon and IRex. They all use E-Ink technology. Power is only used when the page is turned and it provides a crisp image. Typically, the screen size is 800x600px and 6´´ in size. Most support some grey levels. Most of these systems run under Linux.

Most readers support several formats each. However, there is quite a big battle going one between Amazon and its closed Kindle formats vs. the rest of the world. Only Kindle seems to support Kindle formats (AZW) and Kindle does not seem to support ePub, the most interesting format for most of the world. Also, some devices can convert other formats.

Most engines also support a digital rights management (DRM) format, e.g. MobiPocket (most), Adobe ADEPT (some), and again Kindle (Kindle).

Popular models as of April 2009:

  • Amazon Kindle 2
    • File types supported: AZW, TPZ, PRC, MOBI, TXT, MP3, AA, AAX
  • Amazon Kindle DX (summer 2009)
    • File types supported: Kindle (AZW), PDF, TXT, AAX, MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion. (still no ePub).
  • Sony PRS 505S
    • File types supported: PDF, TXT, RTF, LRF, LRX, ePUB, MP3, AAC, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP
  • Sony PRS 700BC
    • File Types Supported: PDF, TXT, RTF, LRF, LRX, ePUB, MP3, AAC, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, DOC (Word 2003?).
    • Has a touchscreen and a front light.
  • Sony PRS-600
    • Has a touchscreen and no frontlight.
    • Supported formats: PDF, TXT, RTF, LRF, LRX, ePUB, MP3, AAC, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP (need to verify)
  • Bookeen Cybook Gen3
  • Various Jinke models based on the Hanlin V3
    • Format Support PDF, TXT, RTF, EPUB, LIT, PPT, WOLF, DOC, CHM, FB2, HTML, DJVU, MP3, TIFF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, RAR, ZIP, MOBI.

Alternatively there exist LCD-based solutions (see the LCD E-Book Reader Matrix at MobileRead). Some advantages are color and faster page turning. Disadvantages is much shorter battery life.

Finally, some other mobile devices, like iPhones and Palmtops also include ebook reading software. But reading is not as good. There exists also ebook reading software for micro-computers. (see the software section below)

Software and Format

E-book devices need an OS, e.g. Amazon Kindle is based on some small Unix.

There exist several formats. Proprietary / standards-based and open / locked. A short overview is provided in the e-book article.

In education

Probably such devices don't have big chances to be systematically used. Learners probably will want a device that also can run other software, e.g. a big cellphone, PDA or a small tablet PC.

However, the interesting thing about this device is that companies (or maybe other organization in the future) can integrate seamless and cheap download technology.

E.g. Amazon's Kindly so far only in the US lets customers download over a (fast) mobile phone network. A book costs typicall $10 and the download itself is free. In other words, Amazon could become the equivalent of Apple's iPod (but much easier to use). On the other hand contents are DRM protected, i.e. they run only on one device and one can not sell/pass it to other people.

Links

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