FAQs about e-Books:

1. What’s an e-book?

   An e-book (electronic book) is a book written in digital format, usually an electronic version of a bound book, but can be much more. Throughout history, books have been written on materials such as bamboo, palm leaves, papyrus, copper plates, parchment, silk and most recently, paper. Today, we can write books digitally and store them electronically. You can get your e-books by downloading directly to your hard disk via the Internet. You can read them on your PC, laptop, Palm Pilot and other handheld computers. Some of the more popular e-book formats include Adobe PDF, Microsoft LIT and Palm Reader formats.

2. What are the advantages of e-books over paper books?

   1. Instant availability: you can get it NOW. No shipping. Save time and money.
   2. Lower prices: an e-book is often cheaper than its paper equivalent.
   3. Hyperlinks: just a click away from additional information.
   4. Can be searched, annotated, high-lighted, bookmarked over and over without damaging the book.
   5. Font & type size are adjustable: This is great for folks who need larger print.
   6. Words can be read aloud by your device (if the function is enabled by the publishers).
   7. Built-in dictionary.
   8. Up-to-date: information can be kept up-to-date & be re-distributed easily. This is especially useful for medical or any technical guides or manuals.
   9. Paperless: environmentally friendly.
   10. Portable by volume: for laptop and handheld device users, you can bring your whole bookshelf with you anywhere you go!
   11. Some even offer animation, audio & video clips within the book.
   12. If you borrow an e-book from an e-library, there is less worry about overdue fines. The book may simply expire automatically on its due date.

3. What are the disadvantages of e-books?

1. Glare on screen and is harder on the eyes. Fortunately, this is being improved gradually by both hardware and software designers. To learn more, read this article.
2. It just doesn't feel like a book (for now, anyway).
3. Needs special equipment (i.e. reader software, a PC or laptop, and preferably connection to the Internet). To purchase a PC, laptop or handheld computer is a significant investment for many people.
4. Cannot be autographed.
5. Cannot be displayed for show or vanity.

4. How do I actually read an e-book?

To read an e-book on your PC (or laptop or other handheld computers), you will need to download a free copy of an e-book reader software from either Adobe or Microsoft via the Internet. After you install and activate the software on your PC, you are ready to download an e-book into your e-book reader for reading.

5. How do I obtain an e-book?

• You can get a free e-book from many sites that offer such freebies, or buy one just like buying anything on the Web. Once you provide payment, many e-book shops will provide you a link where you can download your new e-book.
• To get a sense of what types of e-books are out there, you can visit sites such as www.Amazon.com: from their WELCOME page, select BOOKS at the top menu, then scroll down a bit to select ' E-Books & E-Docs ' on the left menu under the BROWSE column.
• To look for a specific e-book title, try this site: eBook Locator.

6. Which e-book reader is best?

The most popular ones, like Adobe and Microsoft, allow you to have broader selections of e-book titles to purchase. Adobe Reader takes longer to download than Microsoft Reader, but it is compatible with Mac and offers two-page view as well as a built-in dictionary. Microsoft Reader, on the other hand, is compatible with PocketPC devices and you can choose to download their dictionary free from the Microsoft site. Examples of other formats are Palm, Gemstar, MpbiPocket, hiebook and HTML. You ultimately have to assess it based on your particular needs. For those who use Windows PC for viewing e-books and do not require other bells and whistles, Adobe PDF is sufficient.

7. Am I allowed to make copies of an e-book I own?

You can copy an e-book from your PC onto your handheld device (they must both be activated under the same name). You won't be able to copy an e-book like other files if its content is protected.

8. Am I allowed to print an e-book?

Since printing an e-book can be an infringement upon the author and publisher's copyright, many e-books are produced with the print function restricted or disabled. You may be able to print a few pages or cut and paste a certain amount of text at any one time, but unlikely an entire book in one shot.