eBook, also known as digital book, is an electronic version of a book. It does not necessarily mean that an eBook has a printed version, but most of them do.
Because of the release of new eBook readers or gadgets that have eBook reader capabilities, the market for eBook has grown significantly. With the release of Apple's iPad (with iBook software) and Amazon's Kindle, and their positive feedback, more consumers are searching for electronic versions of books they want to read. With thousands of free eBooks readily available for download on the Internet, more readers are finding the convenience of eBooks.
Advantages of an eBook
Costs
Though an eBook reader costs more compared to one printed book, the eBook itself is generally cheaper. There are lots of old fiction books found in public domain that can be downloaded for free.
Amazon's Kindle
Availability and Distribution
eBook is generally offered via the Internet, so it is available for download 24/7 and is ready for use immediately. Customers do not have to wait for a book to be delivered via courier, or go to a bookshop or library which is open only for a limited number of hours. eBook will always be available and will never "run out of print." Having books online also means that customers can be provided with updates and revisions for free. Books can be updated to different formats when new reading devices or file formats become available.
Portability and Storage
Since most eBook readers are lightweight and small, people can carry hundreds of books with them wherever they go. The only limitation will be the memory storage of the eBook reader.
Other Features
Most new eBook readers are capable of playing sounds, are capable of displaying videos, and have built-in dictionaries. The font size of these readers can be adjusted for easy reading or better page viewing. Many eBook readers also have features such as text-to-speech software (or the capability to convert texts to sound), word searches, bookmarking, and highlighting.
eBook Formats
There are several proprietary and non-proprietary file formats available for eBook, the most common of which are the portable document format (PDF) and the *.epub format. Below are some examples of eBook formats:
