E-readers share similar features such as making annotations and notes. Each unique e-reader also corresponds to a electronic bookstore in which digital copies can be downloaded wirelessly through networks.
This chart shows that e-readers is a growing market of viable profit for companies. Beside the Kindle, Sony Reader, and the forthcoming Nook, other companies have also gotten into the e-reader business.
Currently libraries have to pay a higher fee for digital copies than the retail price. For example, The Lost Symbol on the Sony Reader’s book page is $9.99, but libraries have to pay $29.99 for the same book.
Steve Jordan, a self-published science fiction novelist has six different formats of his book that he sells online in order to contend with the different digital platforms.
The current business model of publishing still gives priority to physical hardcover books. E-books cannot be resold in the same way that physical books have a used book market.
![Timeline of Electronic Publishing ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)