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October 20, 2008
The e-book reader has arrived. After a bit of a stuttering start the bigger companies have now seen the full potential of the market and are going full speed ahead. Companies such as Amazon, Sony, Mobipocket and Adobe have developed e-book reader solutions.
Technological history is littered with companies going head to head to get their system into the number one spot. Usually in these battles there can only be one winner, remember Betemax or 8 track stereo/ e book readers are no exception.
Currently Sony are promoting their own LRF formatted e-books which is the only system that will work on their own e book players.
Amazon is favouring its own proprietary format, which is called AZW. Unlike Sony Amazon took the decision to allow other formats to be viewed on their ebook readers.
A third format available is Mobipockets MOBI. Unlike LRF and AZW was not created with any specific ebook reader in mind. It was designed for Mobipockets own reader software program. The software is free to download and the company make their money from the sale of the ebooks.
Finally there is the long established Adobe pdf . Many people will be familiar with the format, which is now supported by most computers. At present there are some issues regarding sizing and the display of A4 pages but I expect these may will have to be resolved if pdf if Adobe is to become a serious player in the game.
So where does that leave the potential e-book reader buyer? I suppose the common sense answer is to sit on your wallet and see what develops. But for most of us that is not an option. ebook readers are out there and we want one. So what are the benefits of an ebook reader?
For a start you can clear all those books off the shelves, an e book reader can store hundreds of books so why keep a library at home?
If you are going on holiday there is no need to pack a pile of books, (that eat into your weight allowance if you are flying). Simply put your e-book reader into your pocket you will have enough reading material to keep you going for a couple of years.
ebooks tend to be much cheaper than the printed originals. This is simply because there are no physical production costs to contend with.
You can carry around your professional or private library with all the time, which is great for reference or leisure.
The question many people are asking is, will e-book readers catch on? Of course they will in exactly the same way as all the other personal electronic equipment such as mobile phones and Ipods have taken off. Which format will win the ebook reader battle is still open to question and off course it is still not too late for other entrants to enter the field of play.
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