E-books! Will readers use Readers?

What’s an e-book? Electronic book - can be read: Online (not going to talk about these) Downloaded to a device Computer PDA Mobile phone E-book Reader

Electronic book - can be read:

Online (not going to talk about these)

Downloaded to a device

Computer

PDA

Mobile phone

E-book Reader

Formats (Tower of eBabel) .epub – open format based on XML, published by the International Digital Publishing Forum .pdf – new version released last week by Adobe resizes pdfs to smaller screens .doc, .txt – basic word processing formats .xml, html – basic web formats

.epub – open format based on XML, published by the International Digital Publishing Forum

.pdf – new version released last week by Adobe resizes pdfs to smaller screens

.doc, .txt – basic word processing formats

.xml, html – basic web formats

Big Guns .azw – Amazon’s proprietary format, can only be read on a Kindle .bbeb, or .lrf – Sony’s proprietary format, can only be read on the Sony Reader .mobi – format from MobiPocket, can be read on multiple devices PNPd – Palm ereader format … and many more…

.azw – Amazon’s proprietary format, can only be read on a Kindle

.bbeb, or .lrf – Sony’s proprietary format, can only be read on the Sony Reader

.mobi – format from MobiPocket, can be read on multiple devices

PNPd – Palm ereader format

… and many more…

Sony Reader First model introduced in 2006 3 models to date Opened to epub formats in Summer 2008

First model introduced in 2006

3 models to date

Opened to epub formats in Summer 2008

Sony, continued Can only buy books from Sony eBook Library (Windows only) Download content to computer, then sync Reader Only supports Sony format, and non-DRMed formats New version has touch screen for note taking and annotations.

Can only buy books from Sony eBook Library (Windows only)

Download content to computer, then sync Reader

Only supports Sony format, and non-DRMed formats

New version has touch screen for note taking and annotations.

Amazon Kindle Debuted in November 2007 Uses same e-ink display as Sony Wireless connectivity over “Whispernet” provided by Sprint

Debuted in November 2007

Uses same e-ink display as Sony

Wireless connectivity over “Whispernet” provided by Sprint

More on the Kindle Can only buy books from Amazon’s Kindle Store Proprietary Amazon format Can subscribe to RSS feeds and Newspapers for a fee You can add your own content, but only after going through a conversion process

Can only buy books from Amazon’s Kindle Store

Proprietary Amazon format

Can subscribe to RSS feeds and Newspapers for a fee

You can add your own content, but only after going through a conversion process

Kindle 2! Releases today! Sleek new design, more memory, more battery life, and text-to-voice capability

Releases today!

Sleek new design, more memory, more battery life, and text-to-voice capability

CyBook by Bookeen Lesser known No proprietary format, can’t support epub or any DRM other than .mobi Comparable technical specifications to Sony & Kindle

Lesser known

No proprietary format, can’t support epub or any DRM other than .mobi

Comparable technical specifications

to Sony & Kindle

iRex iLiad 3 different models ranging from small and basic to large and very sophisticated

3 different models ranging from small and basic to large and very sophisticated

More iRex Most expensive models Has the largest screen Wacom tablet technology, touch screen, wireless No proprietary formats Uses Linux

Most expensive models

Has the largest screen

Wacom tablet technology, touch screen, wireless

No proprietary formats

Uses Linux

Plastic Logic Scheduled for release early 2010 Full paper size (8 1/2x11) Touch screen controls Sleek design, may add color May be flexible

Scheduled for release early 2010

Full paper size (8 1/2x11)

Touch screen controls

Sleek design, may add color

May be flexible

Comparisons Great comprehensive table from the MobileRead Wiki: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

Great comprehensive table from the MobileRead Wiki:

http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

Barriers for readers Price Cheapest Readers are around $300 Each book ranges from $5-$10 Plus other fees Book Availability (which leads to…) DRM DRM DRM

Price

Cheapest Readers are around $300

Each book ranges from $5-$10

Plus other fees

Book Availability (which leads to…)

DRM

DRM

DRM

E-book availability List of free e-book sites: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/free_ebooks E-book Stores: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/e-book_stores From (Arizona) libraries: http://overdrive.phoenixpubliclibrary.org

List of free e-book sites: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/free_ebooks

E-book Stores: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/e-book_stores

From (Arizona) libraries: http://overdrive.phoenixpubliclibrary.org

DRM Proprietary formats make it difficult to “own” e-books Can’t read on every device No guarantee of perpetual ownership Must be aware of which formats are supported by which Readers This is complicated

Proprietary formats make it difficult to “own” e-books

Can’t read on every device

No guarantee of perpetual ownership

Must be aware of which formats are supported by which Readers

This is complicated

Final Thoughts Very personal decision – have to find the right balance of price, convenience (dedicated Reader vs. other mobile devices), content accessibility and availability, and individual feelings on DRM.

Very personal decision – have to find the right balance of price, convenience (dedicated Reader vs. other mobile devices), content accessibility and availability, and individual feelings on DRM.

Bibliography Ebook Presentation Bibliography on Google Docs: http:// docs.google.com/Doc?id =dds3f5t9_37d87772gc

Ebook Presentation Bibliography on Google Docs:

http:// docs.google.com/Doc?id =dds3f5t9_37d87772gc