All About eBooks

Books have always come in many forms -- or, in twenty-first-century terminology, formats. From the serialized novels of Charles Dickens (published one chapter at a time over the course of months) to "penny dreadfuls", hardcovers, paperbacks, trade paperbacks, audiobooks, and more, the true definition of a "book" is not the physical form it takes, but the content: ideas conveyed from a writer to a reader.

One more format to add to this list is the "electronic book" or "ebook." The ebook itself is the novel, poetry collection, or textbook you'd like to read; an "ebook reader" is the technology with which you read the ebook.

Below are a few links that describe some of the ins and outs of the "ebook revolution."

Places to Read About eBook
Hardware and Software

What is an eBook?

The Open an eBook site features lots of information about eBooks, including devices, software, and other resources that will help you dive right into the world of eBooks! Best of all, you can download eBooks from leading publishers right here -- for free.

E-Book: RCA REB devices

(formerly Rocket Reader and Softbook)

"We are the technology providers behind the next generation of exciting new reading devices from RCA, and we are your source for the highest quality, most preferred digital books, magazines and newspapers available in the world. Unlike PCs or handheld computers, eBook reading devices deliver a reading experience comparable to traditional paper books, while adding powerful electronic features for note taking, fast navigation, and key word searches. eBook is perfect for reading in all the places you love to read and perfect for all the material you like to read: bestsellers, fiction, all the top genres, even popular magazines, and newspapers."

Franklin eBookman

Read an ever-growing library of MobiPocket-ready eBooks, and seamlessly download up-to-date eNews and other HTML or TXT files.

Palm OS handheld device

This "pocket digital assistant" allows you to do e-mail, surf the Web, and keep your calendar, as well as read books.

Pocket PC

Microsoft's mobile device, a competitor for Palm.

Glassbook (Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader)

For use on laptop or desktop computers