E-Readers - A New Chapter in Books

<p>The history of personal electronics is marked by new uses. The latest new use is the e-reader, or electronic book reader. These devices occupy the middle ground between bulky, heavy laptop computers and cell phones with minuscule screens. Similar in size and weight to a magazine or paperback book, e-readers promise to give their owners access to great literature or trashy novels - any time, anywhere.</p><p>E-readers typically use a liquid-ink technology that makes text on the screen look more like text on the printed page. Displays are usually book-sized, and range from a five-inch diagonal screen to screens the size and shape of printer paper. Controls are usually mounted on the bottom or sides of the reader.</p><p>The major players</p><p>As of 2009, Amazon and Sony dominate the e-reader market. These companies have very different business strategies, which makes their e-reader offerings equally different.</p><p>Amazon's main focus has always been content. For this reason, the Kindle is the only e-reader compatible with e-books from Amazon. But as the competition has grown, Amazon has embraced the concept of convergence, enabling Kindle owners to send personal documents to the device wirelessly or via USB port from a PC.</p><p>At the same time, Amazon's focus on the needs of the human reader has given the Kindle some nice features that Sony can't match. The latest version of the Kindle includes 3G wireless, which Amazon claims can download a book in less than a minute. Amazon hopes to be able to offer every book ever printed, in electronic form. In addition, a speech-to-text feature lets the Kindle read to its owner.</p><p>Sony's offerings use a USB connection to deliver content, making it less appealing for the impulse reader. But users of the Sony e-reader can read files from more than one vendor. The Sony website even mentions compatibility with Google Books as a selling point. This points to the difference between Sony as an electronics manufacturer that also publishes books and video, and Amazon, which is primarily a bookseller.</p><p>What's next?</p><p>The e-reader story is just beginning. Several new companies are ready to enter the market with new devices in 2010. Look for more connectivity, additional functions, and the addition of colored cases in the near future. Displays will be changing, too, with some models sporting a two-page format to build on the paper book paradigm.</p><p>Why an e-Reader?</p><p>Palmtop computers are light and compact, and perfectly capable of displaying a screen full of text. Smartphones are even smaller, and have excellent display quality. How is the e-reader better than these devices?</p><p>E-readers displays are designed to be compatible with the way humans read. Other devices use LCD screens. The liquid ink technologies used in e-readers produce smoother print, causing less eyestrain. The physical format is also important. People are used to reading pages, not small scraps of pages. E-reader displays are large enough to show at least half a page. This provides a more normal reading experience.</p><p>As the technology advances, e-readers will develop new functions. Print is far from dead. It's just gone electronic!</p><p>For more information on E-readers, visit <a target="_new" href="http://top-ereaders-shop.com" rel="nofollow">http://top-ereaders-shop.com</a></p>