The term e-book, short for electronic book, is just like any published book but in digital form. It can be read or viewed using any electronic device that can display the format the e-book uses (i.e. PDF format, HTML, epub).
Some of the advantages of e-books over traditional printed books include environmental friendliness (no more paper and ink needed), lower publishing cost, accessibility and availability, portability and storage (multiple e-books can be stored in just one device). Examples of devices that can display e-books include personal computers, iPhones, e-readers, and other mobile devices.
E-readers, also called e-book devices and e-book readers, are devices that are designed specifically for the purpose of displaying e-books. Some e-books may have other built capabilities aside from displaying e-books, such as having browsers for surfing the internet, while some are dedicated e-book readers.
Features that e-readers usually have include integrated dictionaries and directory organization (for easier navigation between e-books). E-readers can also have WiFi capability, an in demand feature due to the convenience of downloading new e-books with the internet capability. Touchscreen e-readers also seem to be pretty popular because it makes it much easier to “flip” through pages. Other features that consumers consider when buying e-readers include dimension (people seem to prefer that e-readers be approximately the same size as printed books, except thinner), weight (lighter is better), battery life, memory size, and the overall look and feel. Some popular e-book readers nowadays include Amazon’s Kindle, Sony’s Reader Pocket Edition, and Barnes & Nobles’ Nook.
