What is an eBook?

© Copyright 2006 Kris Williams

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An eBook is an electronic book. This “e”book is usually read on a computer or hand-held device and comes in several types of different formats. The most popular eBooks are traditionally in the PDF, HTML, MS-WORD, and EXE formats. Prices vary per eBook and the publisher. eBooks are the wave of the future as they are replacing traditional books with easier access, more functional capabilities, lock-down features for publishers and authors, and creating a paperless trail across the globe.

Prices can vary depending on the type of eBook. You can find them for as little as a penny usd all the way up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Since these texts and chapters are included in an eBook file, this allows them to be downloaded, emailed, or even open across different platforms.

The PDF format is generally created by those who have Adobe Acrobat Writer/Distiller and that publisher will create an eBook in the PDF format whereas it must be opened and read using the Adobe Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader. Thus readers must have this installed on their computer to read the eBook. PDF eBooks sometimes have glitches as well. All publishers and readers should keep this in mind and here are a few you should know about now:

1. When typing in a password, the password is case sensitive for the eBook.
2. You should only have one Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your machine. If you have more than one version it can cause your eBook not to open.
3. In some cases, PDF eBooks should be named without spaces in the file name as this can cause older computers to not open these files.

Having a PDF eBook can be useful as in most cases more people are using PDF eBooks across the globe, easily making this the most popular method and format for eBooks. With a PDF eBook, you also have special features that have become commonplace and most useful for eBook protection. They allow for encryption of different levels, allow for password protection for readers and publishers to access, allow a reader to print or not print the eBook, allow the reader to add comments to the eBook or not to, allow the reader to copy/paste or extract anything from the eBook, and digital signing of the eBook with the publishers details. Of course there are other features as well, but these are the most identifiable and most widely used features for eBooks. 

The EXE eBook is a stand-alone executable file or an eBook that will open and can be read without having a separate program to allow you to read the eBook. Thus affording the reader one less program needed on their computer to open the file. However, EXE eBooks are known to NOT open on Macintosh computers. So these computer operators must download a program that will allow the file to be read on the Mac computers. Having an EXE eBook can allow you to have features other eBook formats will not allow such as adding music or additional special features such as an expiration date or setting it as a trail version for a limited time.

HTML is a common form of eBook texts since they can be uploaded to the internet as a web page or opened on a computer with any browser that you use to view web pages. Some browsers of course change settings and how the pages view, so this can be frustrating. But on the whole this way of sending eBooks can be a plus or a minus depending on that which you write and want to protect. Keep in mind theft of web pages and content is at an all time high and wrong!

MS-WORD is also a common practice among publishers since it affords the most commonly used program across the globe, which is MS-WORD. You can password protect your eBooks/documents which also helps with theft, but you can complete an eBook with title, author, publisher, keywords, and subject. If you can’t afford the huge price tags of the other programs, then look into what you may have already on your computer for making eBooks. More people know how to work in the MS-WORD program than the Adobe Acrobat programs!

Other eBook formats are available. This will allow you to view an eBook on other hand-held devices. There are specific eBook reader devices and compilers for all sorts of eBook formats. Find out what works best for you, as the publisher, and you, as the reader! What works for you , may or may not work for others. And it will make for good business sense to look into the most widely used programs, readers, and compilers for your publishing business that will most likely benefit the readers of your eProducts!

An eBook is a computerized book for you or other people to read on their computers or online. By saving trees with less paper being wasted, the eBook is creating a huge stir in the literary world. The trend is to follow up with eBooks and make them a part of your business on a daily basis. Offer cheaper materials for courses or instruction with the use of eBooks, or have access to cheaper materials with eBooks at your fingertips. As we progress into the future, I believe that eBooks will eventually replace paper texts and eventually become the normality of our present day.

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