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Originally Posted by KiloSierra
I am completely new to the e-reader concept, so I have questions.
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1. Is there a universal name?
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Ebook Reader Device, ebook device, ebook reader, digital book reader, digital reader,
liseuse (don't ask).
Personally, I call mine "George" and am more than happy to share the name universally.
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Is E-Reader a brand name or a device description?
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The Wiki is your friend:
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Ereader
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2. Is there a preferred format?
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Well, "preferred" is a mouthful when it comes to
format.
PDF is usually not preferred for mobile devices (though not always - for instance, you can annotate pdfs with the stylus on the Iliad). Anything with
DRM is generally disliked. Probably the only "preferred" format, in the absent of a standard, is whatever can be most easily and accurately be transferred into all other formats with the assorted
software tools available.
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3. Is there free out of print downloads? (like from a library or Google)
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If you mean public domain, then, yes, there is a
wealth of them, even
here at MobileRead.
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4. Are the reading programs interchangeable with any laptop software?
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There are quite a few
reading programs. For instance,
Mobipocket Reader (for the mobipocket format) is available on multiple platforms (unfortunately not OS X), and is what, for instance, both the Cybook and the Iliad run as their internal standard reader software too.
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5. If I already own the book, do I still have to pay for the e-version?
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Almost certainly, though some folks have
scanned their own paper books and converted them for reading on their own devices. Legalities of the former and the latter might depend on jurisdiction in some way that others more interested and informed than I can elaborate on (hopefully without turning it into a mad bunfight that is no real help to you).
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6. Who supports new printed material? Publishers or book stores?
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I'm not sure what this means. I would say "authors" support printed material. Publishers and book stores rub their hands together, laughing evilly, while contriving more and more ways to DRM their goods to annoy customers while bringing in the lovely, lovely, lovely money (but then, I'm paranoid delusional, so feel free to ignore that
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7. Will the e-readers put book stores out of business?
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Who knows? It's possible, but I suspect that, though they may have to reinvent themselves somewhat, people still like book-browsing in paper-and-meat form, and the online experience is going to find it difficult to simulate that satisfactorily, or change that. This is, of course and at the moment, putting aside the issue that can be contained in the phrase "coffee table book".
There you go. Some information and half-formed, half-deformed opinions. Hopefully it'll prompt others (if only to correct the madness!
).
Cheers,
Marc