To e Or Not To e That Is The Question

When I first came across eBook readers I thought WOW!

This is fantastic! An ipod itunes kind of device but the size of a book, on which you can store and read hundreds of books. Now that has got to be wonderful.

Don't misunderstand what we're talking about here. These aren't eBooks that we buy from eBay for .01c and download onto our computer and maybe read or maybe just allow to gather eDust and they are full of URLs or affiliate links.

These are "proper" books in an electronic format that you can download to a device the size of a small paperback with a decent screen and read them just like a paper book only they're written in e-Ink!

Can you imagine the possibilities?

Pros:

• Supports RTF, TXT and PDF formats without any conversion.
• The included software makes it easy to add books to either the main memory or one of the memory cards-simply drag and drop.
• Nice, clear text, readable under the brightest of lights. It's easy on the eyes, and after reading for hours, your eyes should not be strained.
• Supports mp3 playback while you're reading.
• It's light enough that your hands don't get tired holding it for extended periods.
• Supports additional books on Memory Stick Pro Duo and Secure Digital.
• Ability to store multiple bookmarks to keep your place. Useful if you read many books at the same time.
• Reads PDF files.
• Good battery life.

Cons:

• No HTML support.(There are free converters to convert HTML to RTF/TXT format)
• Refresh rate is a bit sluggish.There is a small delay to draw the page, but it shouldn't be a problem. If you think it might, you might want to try a demo unit at a retail store first. Actually it draws the page in a second or less.
• No backlight means you can't read it in bed at night with the lights off. An LED clip-on light would solve that problem.
• Price. This isn't cheap. If you read most of your books as e-books it may be worth it. The value depends on how much you'll use it.

Pros:

• Lets you read e-texts and make your own annotations.
• A screen format that is so easy on the eye that reading text on it is almost like reading a book or a newspaper. Even outdoors in bright sunlight.
• More advanced specifications and is compatible with more file formats than the Sony.
• Available in the U.K.
• Anything you can see on your PC can be saved as a PDF, and there are free PDF creators out there if you don't happen to have creation as part of another application you are using. Anything, from a screen shot to a Web page or a diagram, can be read on the iLiad Reader.
• There is 128MB of accessible storage built in.
• It has built-in Compact Flash, SD and USB slots and will read content direct from flash storage including a USB stick so you can copy stuff from your hard drive and use a flash device as permanent storage for the iLiad Reader.
• Free PC desktop companion software, which will queue files for sending over a wired or wireless connection (Wi-Fi is built in), as well as make a backup of your device and do fancy things with PDF documents.
• iRex, the company behind the iLiad Reader, suggests a myriad of uses from the educational to business sectors. If you only think of it as a way of reading the occasional novel then according to iRex, you are missing a trick. It is compatible with a fantastic array of file formats: PDF, HTML, TXT, JPG, BMP, PNG and PRC (Mobipocket).
• Plain text and PDF are probably the crucial formats in the list. Plain text based e-books are widely available for free on the Internet and Project Gutenberg is a great place to start searching.

Cons:

• Price - ...but you get what you pay for.

Pros:

• Sharp, easy-to-read screen.(Like the others)

• QWERTY keyboard.
• Free integrated cellular modem.
• Buying titles is really simple.
• Wide selection of books, blogs, and magazines.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Quirky design.
• Magazines and blogs cost extra.
• Proprietary e-book format.
• Converting files costs extra.

This is a project to digitize public domain books and distribute them for free.

They currently have in the region of 20,000 books available for free download and these would sit nicely on your ebook reader.

To find out much more look up Project Gutenberg in Wikipedia.

but the bottom line is 20,000 classic books available for free download!!

• The traditional book is much more family friendly. I don't think the bedtime story would be quite the same on an ebook reader.
• Your home traditional book library can be accessed at all times by any member of the family but unless you have an ebook reader for every member (ouch - expensive) only one can have access at once.
• You can share, loan, pass on and generally network traditional books.
• Traditional books will never need charging, or freeze, or lose your collection or any of the other things that computer type gadgets do from time to time.
• Traditional books have a whole book experience. The feel, the look, the smell, the bookshops, the shapes and sizes, the pictures...

• The ebook reader can hold hundreds of books at your fingertips.
• You can carry your e-book reader wherever your go.
• You can take lots of reading matter on holiday and not worry about excess baggage charges.
• You can fill your RV with books on your ebook reader and take up no space.
• You can read lots of documents on your daily train commute without maxing out your briefcase.
• You can download and read the daily newspaper without the hassle of newspaper spread.
• Those involved in education can carry lots of text books and other required reading on their ebook reader to be accessed at any odd moment.
• Digital book readers are ideal for business briefings..
• For hobbyists, the electronic book reader could hold lots of instructions.patterns and so on.
• Can be used as a talking book reader, or an mp3 player
• Did I mention the 20,000 free Project Gutenberg ebooks available for free download?

I can't make up my mind, are books better in paper or in electronic form?

Or is it "horses for courses"? It doesn't have to be one or the other. I'm sure the future holds good for both.

Personally, I like the look, feel and smell of a real book, but there are many occasions when an ebook reader would be a much more practical solution.

Or as Shakespeare might have put it - To e or not to e that is the question.

I'd be pleased to hear what you think or your experiences of owning one.