Purchase a ladder shelf equipped with a laptop desk. Place your notes and computer all on the ladder shelf and turn it into a home office. This shelving gives you so many ways to produce a creative space for your home. Search the many styles of a ladder shelf for your way of decorating.

Love to cook but find yourself wishing you could do more things with your kitchen. Take a corner and put a ladder shelf in it. Take a sturdy wooden box cover it with cushions and lovely pillows and now you have a lovely place to read write notes and contemplate while you wait for fantastic dishes to bake.

The Book’s Journey Into the Digital World

Books themselves are nothing new, with origins centuries back. However, they were something that most people did not have access to until the development of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century. Since then publishing has gone from strength to strength, and the book made its first appearance in the digital world in 1971, with a digital version of the Declaration of Independence: Project Gutenberg was launched (which now houses many free books available to download right to your reader!)

The First Readers Available on the Market

As the popularity of the eBook started to grow, the first eBook reading device was developed in 1998, and websites first begun selling popular books in eBook format. Though the popularity of downloading and sharing eBooks on the internet caught on, the eBook reader itself wasn’t so quick to follow suit, until recently.

The Evolution of Today’s eReader

When it comes to the  modern form of the eBook reading device, Sony led the way with its first release in 2006 – being the first to make use of e-Ink technology. It was 2007 when Amazon launched its Kindle in the US, and popularity of the device began to grow at a rapid speed.

Modern eBook readers make use of technology similar to that employed within a computer, with the main difference being the e-Ink screen: designed for the most pleasant reading experience possible. These screens mean that we don’t experience glare as we would with a traditional computer screen or other handheld device.

The Future of the eBook Reader

Readers continue to evolve, bringing bigger and better features to book lovers. These features include larger screens, as seen in the Kindle DX, and will also, in future, involve color screens and perhaps a larger amount of applications and software added onto the main function of reading eBooks.

eBook readers have received some criticism from those who are worried that the book will lose its purpose. However, the popularity of the eBook reading device shows no signs of slowing down, prompting major manufacturers to get in on the act and release their own models.

1) Powered By Electricity

One of the first obvious drawbacks of the eBook reader is that they need electricity to work (unlike physical books). You will need to check the battery life of any reader you buy to see whether it suits you (especially if you travel a lot – as having to charge your reader could limit just how portable it really is).

2) The Cost and Availability of the eBooks

When it comes to buying eBooks, many people expect them to be far cheaper than physical books due to the fact that there are fewer materials involved. However, at present eBooks are almost the same price as physical books. Another major drawback is that the title you are looking for may not be available in eBook form. eBook availability is constantly growing, though.

3) It’s Not the Same As Reading A Real Book

There’s no getting around the fact that reading a book has a certain feel that handheld eBook readers can’t quite match. E-Ink is far better than reading a computer screen, but still not the same as paper – especially when you consider the fact that eBook readers are not yet available in color. However, designers make sure that readers are as comfortable as possible, and you will generally get used to them in no time.

4) eBook Readers Are Not More Eco Friendly

Some people argue that, though eBooks save on paper, they are not more eco friendly due to the electricity, plastic and other factors that go into making handheld eBook readers. However, the sheer amount of printed books and paper that could be saved as a result of the eBook reader should outweigh these concerns.

5) The Cost

There’s no escaping the fact that handheld eBook readers are going to cost you a lot more than a book – however, this cost will be made up for over time the more you use it. You will have to be more careful not to damage your reader, though!

6) I Don’t Need A Whole Library of Books With Me, and What About the Books I Already Own?

Some people claim that they don’t need to be able to take thousands of  books wherever they go, which is understandable. If you travel often, then an eBook reader is probably useful due to the fact that you don’t need to carry as many heavy books. However, a major drawback is the fact that you can’t convert the books you already own to digital format unless you buy them again (and they are available as an eBook).

7) Can’t Share eBooks

Lastly, many book lovers get joy from sharing their books with others, and selling them on, or giving them away, when they are done reading. This isn’t possible with eBooks, and you’ll each need to buy your own copy, which could work out more expensive depending on your book reading habits.

Conclusion

There are, inevitably, some drawbacks to using handheld eBook readers – and they won’t be for everyone. However, many people are already enjoying the new technology and finding that it can help them access books they would previously have just left on the shelf unread!

If You Own A Kindle

Those who own a Kindle, or are thinking of getting one, should know about the ability it has to connect to the Kindle store and download eBooks in Kindle format. These are generally priced slightly lower than physical books, though you can sort the store to display from low prices to high ones and you can find many free eBooks right there! This won’t work for those who don’t have a Kindle.

Finding Free eBook Downloads in Compatible Formats

You’ll need to check exactly which formats your particular eBook reader can support, but there should be many options for you as long as your reader supports some of the most popular formats (ePub, PDF and others).

One of the easiest places to start is with Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/) or Google Books (http://books.google.com/). These provide eBooks that are completely free since their copyright has expired. This means you are free to download and enjoy them on their eReader, and many of them are even available in the popular ePub format which most of the modern eBook readers support.

Some other resources you might want to check out include:

• ManyBooks.net – providing you the same books as Gutenberg etc but in more formats.
• Feedbooks (http://www.feedbooks.com/) – Allows you to specify the size of your reader to download PDF files that display correctly,
• Baen Free Library (http://www.webscription.net/c-1-free-library.aspx) – This is a great resource for books specifically from the Baen publishers of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.

Don’t Just Stop At Free eBook Downloads!

Free eBook downloads are a great way to populate your new eReader with content, and to get some entertainment on a budget, but you should realize that all the newest titles are still in copyright and will require you to purchase them from available eBook stores.

Once you feel ready to start buying new eBooks for your device, make sure to check formats carefully and always go for compatible files. You should also follow your reader’s instructions carefully in case you are required to convert any files before they work. Happy reading!

The Argument Against the Portable eBook Reader

The eReader is undoubtedly becoming more and more popular, however there are a number of reasons why it’s growth in popularity could be slowed. For a start, the price of an eBook reader – even the cheapest model – is many, many times more than the price of a book. On top of the reader itself, there is still the cost of each new eBook to consider. Unfortunately, eBooks cost roughly the same as traditional printed books.

There is also the fact that the traditional book is a part of our history, and a part of our culture. There are people who love the feel of a book, who love to fold down the pages and love to make notes. People love browsing libraries and bookstores and seeing the books in their physical form, which eBooks can never replace.

In fact, books become an artifact from history in their own right. Some might argue that paper books have a far longer lifespan than a gadget ever could – as we all know they eventually tend to break down or simply become obsolete.

The Argument for the Portable eBook Reader

Many people say that you can’t understand the experience of an eBook reader until you have one of your own. Even some of the strongest book lovers have found themselves converted to digital format, and see eBooks as the format of the future.

Indeed, many business and universities already make use of digital forms of books to help make them more accessible. Students can simply read papers and chapters from home, rather than having to go out to the library and carry heavy books back with them. Most of the top eBook readers even allow for annotations – making eBook readers far more valuable than simply displaying words on a screen.

A Middle Ground?

The middle ground states that, whilst eBook readers will continue to grow in popularity, and eBooks will become more and more widely accepted, there will still be a place for the physical book in our lives. However, the portable eBook reader will make books more accessible, especially through the help of free libraries such as Project Gutenberg. It isn’t impossible to love both physical books and electronic versions!

The simplest definition is that electronic book readers provide a method by which you can read traditional books in digital format (also known as eBooks). These are generally handheld, portable devices allowing you to store multiple eBooks in one place.

eBooks themselves are designed to replicate the printed word, whether that be a book or magazine, but are delivered electronically.

Can’t I Read eBooks On Other Devices?

Technically, you could class electronic book readers as any gadget that has the ability to read eBooks. This may include PDAs, cell phones and even some MP3 players. However, specifically designed eReaders have the main purpose of displaying eBooks, and as such employ technology to make this as easy and enjoyable as possible for their users.

What Features Do Most eBook Readers Have in Common?

Digital readers, specifically made for the purpose of reading and storing eBooks, generally have one major point in common: their displays use a technology known as e-ink, a screen that replicates the way light reflects from paper, to make reading the devices far easier on the eye than reading a computer screen would be.

Other features of eBook readers include:

• Wireless access to digital bookstores,
• The capability to store a wide range of eBook formats,
• MP3 player or radio capability,
• Storage for thousands of eBooks on one device,
• Some eReaders include input via stylus,
• Some eBook readers allow users to annotate text digitally.

In general, the main benefits of these devices are that they are extremely portable, they store all of your books in one simple location, they help to save paper and they are fun to use! eBook readers do, however, cost far more than your average paperback – typically a few hundred dollars.

Major eBook Reader Players on the Market

eBook readers are certainly not a new technology, though they are only just beginning to gain mainstream popularity. Readers have been released by the likes of Amazon, Sony, Barnes and Noble and more.

Whether electronic book readers have the ability to overtake standard books in terms of popularity has yet to be seen. However, for now they are one of the hottest gadgets around! And, much in the same way as MP3 players, more and more big names in the world of technology are expected to release their own versions in the near future.

What is e-Ink?

No eBook reader review will be any good to you unless you understand some of the most important features of the reader, including e-Ink. E-Ink is the technology behind the way the text and eBooks are displayed on your eReader screen. In effect, this display is the digital replacement for the paper that you used to read the words from on physical books.

There are a number of different kinds of e-Ink, but they generally all strive to be as comfortable to read as possible. They are far more comfortable to read than traditional computer screens due to the fact that they do not make use of a refreshed image, and they allow natural light to reflect (rather than emitting their own light).

The Benefits of e-Ink

As any eBook reader review will tell you, the main advantage of e-Ink is that you’ll soon forget you’re reading a digital book at all – making the conversion from physical books to digital formats much easier. Glare and eye strain are a real worry of people looking to make the move, and e-Ink helps to allay those fears.

The Drawbacks of e-Ink

There are still a few drawbacks to the e-Ink employed in modern eBook readers. For a start, the technology has not yet developed far enough to allow manufacturers to display color images on screens. Whilst many books look fine in black and white, books that make heavy use of colored images may not convert as well.

Aside from this, e-Ink also makes use of a very low refresh rate which makes it a lot harder for manufacturers to implement certain applications that compare to those available on other handheld devices, such as smartphones etc. Transitions between pages may not be as smooth as they would be on a traditional computer screen.

Conclusion

E-Ink is a very important technology when it comes to making eBook readers as user-friendly as possible. When choosing which eBook reader to buy, check out any eBook reader review for an overview of just how successfully any manufacturer matches the experience of reading a physical book. Remember, it may take a little time to get used to digital eBook readers, but e-Ink makes the adjustment much easier.

1) EBook Reader Device Covers

Now that you’ve spent a good few hundred $$ on your new eBook reader, you’re probably going to want to prevent it against any damage to ensure you get your money’s worth. One of the simplest ways of doing this is to buy an appropriate eReader cover for your device. There are many different manufacturers to choose from. If you own a Kindle, then you can buy direct from Amazon, but there are also covers for the Sony Reader and more.

2) Chargers

Charges are a perfect accessory for your new eBook reader device.  Not all eBook readers (including Kindle) come with their own mains charger, and are charged by plugging them into your PC or Mac. This may be acceptable, but there are also occasions when you may need a charger for the mains. These are, again, available from a number of suppliers – and in international formats if, for example, you are buying a Kindle and shipping it to the UK.

3) Reading Lights

Reading lights have already become popular for use with the Kindle, making the reading experience even more enjoyable. These are personal lights that can be clipped onto your reader and are perfect for those who want to read in bed but don’t want to disturb a partner. Remember – your reader won’t light up itself in the dark due to its natural e-Ink technology, which is why these lights are so useful.

4) Protective Skins

If you have an Amazon Kindle then you can take advantage of some of the fun and funky protective skins designed to keep your Kindle free of scratches – as well as helping you to personalize the device. These are simple vinyl skins that come in a variety of designs, and are some of the cheapest eBook reader accessories available on the market. Great for gifts for anyone who already has a Kindle! We will probably also see these become more and more common for other eBook brands in the future.

As you can see, there are so many options for cool and practical accessories for your eBook reader device – and more and more are becoming available all the time.

1) ePub

This is a popular format of eBook created by the International Digital Publishing Forum. This format is supported by most of the newest electronic readers, including Kindle, Sony and more. This format is also used on particular software for PCs and Macs. A major benefit to this format is that it is ‘reflowable’ meaning that text is not formatted for one specific page size, and lines will flow correctly without odd interruptions in the lines. Any eBook reader comparison should look out for this format!

2) PDF

This format was created by Adobe systems and is popular on the internet due to the variety of systems that can view them. The drawback to use PDF format on electronic book readers is that lines are of a fixed length at the time the eBook was created, meaning if your reader does not match the size of the page when the file was created, lines may not display correctly. PDF is useful as an added extra format in eReaders, so may factor into your eBook reader comparison.

3) Plain Text (TXT)

Plain text eBooks are a very simple form, taking up little space. This format may be included as an extra for your eBook reader, but generally .txt is not the standard for publishing eBooks for electronic readers.

4) Amazon Kindle (AZW)

This is the format employed by Amazon to work with their Kindle eReader. As such, AZW files are only displayable on a Kindle device, and they can only be bought from the Amazon Kindle store. Amazon have recently announced that users will soon be able to view AZW files on their PC.

5) eReader (PDB)

This format was made popular on Palm handheld devices though is not the standard with current electronic book readers. It’s important not to get confused between the two, as this format will not generally work on your eBook reader unless stated in the specifications.

6) Sony Reader (BbeB/ LRF)

This is a format used by Sony Reader, though Sony Reader devices can also read other formats. Most eBook sources will be supplying ePub formats as standard, rather than BbeB.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the most common eBook formats to help with your eBook reader comparison. Remember, check specifications carefully before you buy!

1) Portability

Top of the list is the feature that digital book readers were designed for: portability. The whole point of an electronic reader is to allow users to take a whole collection of books with them wherever they go. This is perfect for those who commute, travel often, or simply love to read books but hate to carry them around!

Most eBook readers are typically around the size of a small paperback, meaning they take up far less space -whether that means on your bookshelf or in your handbag – than a normal collection of physical books would. They don’t weigh any extra, either!

2) Connectivity

True book lovers will love the connectivity features of many of the latest readers, allowing them to logon to eBook stores and purchase books whenever they want. Kindle is famous for its wireless network, though other eBook readers are also following suit.

3) They Are Easy to Read

Though some people may assume otherwise, digital book readers are actually surprisingly easy and enjoyable to read. Thanks to a technology known as e-Ink, light is reflected from the screen in the same way as it’s reflected from paper. You won’t find your eyes getting tired or strained as they would with a computer screen.

4) Benefits to Publishers, Authors and Readers

Due to the way in which eBook readers can make books available to a mass audience, they benefit publishers, authors and readers alike. They make it easy to self-publish your own work, and save publishers huge costs by avoiding printing, binding and all the other work that goes into creating physical books.

5) Ease of Use

When reading an eBook on your digital device, it’s far easier to search than with a physical book. If you need to find a particular word or phrase you can do so in seconds, and you may also have the ability to highlight, browse back and forth easily, and save favorite locations of the book. On top of this, you can customize the font, the size of the words and the layout to match your needs and preferences. On some models you can even lookup words in the dictionary on the go!

6) Take Advantage of Free eBooks

There are many fiction works, published prior to 1900, available in the public domain – and you can get eBook versions of these books completely free with your new eBook reader! What better way to start off your collection?

Conclusion

These benefits just scratch the surface of what you’ll experience when you start using digital book readers. Just think of how they will encourage you to read more, to save paper, and to enjoy yourself when travelling!