What is an Ebook Reader?

Ever wondered: "what is an ebook reader?" In recent years, the introduction of the ebook reader helped the ebook publishing industry grow by leaps and bounds.

Today, the Internet contains a wide assortment of books on almost every imaginable topic under the sun. From getting rich quick to taking care of a loved one who has a mental illness and everything in between, you can find it on the Internet in ebook form.

However, ebook publishing and its success led to a dilemma. Most readers don’t want to sit at a desk to enjoy their books. And while laptops do make ebooks a bit more portable they still don’t seem as convenient if you want to read an ebook on the train, on a bus, in the waiting room, or on the sofa. Thankfully, fans of ebooks now have another option but before they can enjoy it they first need to know the answer to what is an ebook reader.

What is an Ebook Reader - The Basics

The key for the ebook publishing industry’s continued success seems to be the ebook reader. These readers are a type of hardware that was specifically created to hold downloaded ebooks and to make reading them easier, more convenient, and more portable. Unlike other devices on which ebooks can be read, the ebook reader is considerably smaller. Most are about the same size as a paperback book.

Ebook readers also have other specialized features. For example, they have appropriate lighting to make reading the text on the screen easy in many conditions. Most of us have found out the hard way how difficult reading content on our laptops can be on a sunny day outdoors. Plus, the ebook reader is generally going to have better battery life because it is smaller and uses less energy when compared to a laptop. That means you won’t have to stop reading after only an hour or two because your battery has run down.

Modern ebook readers also try to simulate as much as possible the traditional reading experience. For example, some allow you to “flip” the page with a simple touch on the screen.

What is an Ebook Reader - History

Since its early existence, the ebook publishing industry knew one of the challenges was going to be getting people to read ebooks as they would normal books. Obviously, no one was going to print off a 100 page manuscript and carry it around to read during coffee breaks or during commutes. A better answer had to be developed.

In the late 1990’s, a handful of companies had the bright idea of developing an ebook reader. Of course, everyone wondered “What is an ebook reader?” Too many people had not yet discovered the benefits of electronic media so the market for these pieces of hardware was slim. Add to that a high price tag and a bursting Internet bubble, and you had a recipe for disastrous results. Most of these early ebook readers have since been discontinued.

What is an Ebook Reader - The Resurgence in Interest

Around 2004, several companies started to think about the ebook reader again. By now, ebooks had dramatically increased in popularity and were selling well all over the Internet. Even libraries were making electronic versions of popular books and media available for free download. People had also become used to using hardware for enjoying downloadable media. The IPod, for example, had given people on-the-go access to movies and television on a tiny screen – something most people would never have imagined doing before.

Clearly, the situation was right for the re-introduction of the ebook reader into the market. By 2007, more than a handful of these ebook readers had hit the market. Sony had developed a couple of models and even Amazon had their own version available. Now the ebook publishing industry has expanded to include electronic versions of more traditional literature and media titles which can be purchased online and downloaded directly onto these readers. Some, like the Amazon Kindle, are even capable of handling audio books which make them even more versatile.

However, the ebook reader industry still faces one major obstacle: price. Many people would prefer to carry around their multi-function laptop in order to read ebooks instead of spending $200 or more to purchase an ebook reader.

Some buyers may also be concerned about the longevity of the models. While these are all valid concerns, the growing popularity of these hardware devices means prices are going to start lowering soon and that you can expect them to be on the market for the foreseeable future.

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