DFP Article: eBooks

What is an eBook?

WHAT IS AN eBOOK?
An eBook is simply a book in computer format. Any book can be rendered into digital format for reading on a multitude of electronic devices, including: computer monitors (for desktop, laptops, and some televisions), PDAs (i.e. portable document appliances, including dedicated eReaders), and cell-phones with interactive display screens. Although professionally-produced eBooks have been available for sale to the public since the mid-1990s, they have only just now begun to make an appearance in mainstream marketing due to recent advances in the technology used to create hand-held computerized devices.

eBOOK FORMATS:
The book industry has been fighting over eBook formats for more than ten years now. Many formats have come and gone with only fringe popularity and minimal device support. For works still under copyright protection, the best formats today are Acrobat PDF (file extension ".pdf") and MOBI (file extension ".prc"). Both PDF and MOBI formats offer professional quality presentation with reasonable document security through affordable and accessible file-creation programs. Another recently popular format is EPUB, but these files are difficult to produce (requiring programming expertise and/or expensive software) and provide questionable security for copyrighted works. However, unsecured formats, such as TXT (plain text) and HTML (web-based format), are fine for works no longer under copyright protection (i.e. books in public domain).

WHAT IS PDF?
PDF files are produced with either Adobe Acrobat (the writer, not the reader) or any number of other generic PDF-creation programs. PDF files are what POD (print-on-demand) manufacturers use to print hardbacks and paperbacks. PDF files are "fixed page presentations," meaning the text and graphics are unmovable page-by-page and cannot "re-flow" to adjust for font or screen size. PDF eBooks look like print editions, because they are created in the same manner as their companion paperback and hardback editions. Reading a book in PDF format is the next best thing to reading a print edition, because PDF fully supports both text and full-color graphics with good security without impeding readability. PDF editions are by far the best eBook format on the market.

WHAT IS KINDLE?
Kindle editions are a form of HTML, which supports re-flowable text and full-color graphics. Originally called "Mobipocket" (or just MOBI) editions, these base files usually have a ".prc" extension (i.e. file type name. Like PDF eBooks, Kindles support active content (including hotlinks), graphics, and color. Read PRC files on devices with a MOBI application.

WHAT IS EPUB?
EPUB files are stripped-down HTML files, which offer re-flowable text. EPUB promoters claim that anyone can create the files, and in one sense that is true. The programming specifications are free and open to all who "can" do the programming and who "have access" to the appropriate software. To date, there is not yet a free standardized creation software, which both creates and secures eBook EPUB files. In addition, some distributors require one kind of EPUB package file and others another.

WHAT IS DRM?
DRM stands for "Digital Rights Management" and it has been the bane of the eBook industry since the beginning. In short, an eBook with DRM is sold to the consumer by a seller who "encodes" certain things into the file. Sometimes the buyer's name and information have been encoded inside the file. Sometimes DRM allows the eBook to be read only a limited number of times. Sometimes DRM guards against illegal file-sharing. In truth, most DRM tactics usually just wind up aggravating and frustrating the consumer.

eBOOK FILE SECURITY:
File security is necessary for eBook editions of copyrighted works in order to guard against content theft, content alteration, and illegal file-sharing. However, public domain works (i.e. books no longer under copyright protection) do not need file security, as long as the file in question was distributed for free and not part of a publisher copyrighted edition. Publishers are always looking for ways to provide reasonable file security without making eBooks too difficult for the paying customer to handle. File security is necessary for all copyrighted works. The trick is finding the appropriate level of security that does not get in the way of reading the eBook in question.

eREADER DEVICES:
Dedicated eBook readers have been around since the late 1990s, although few of the original brands are still available today. As of late 2009, several new eReader devices have appeared in the marketplace and most of the newer ones support both PDF and MOBI editions. Some eReader devices only support files from their exclusive servers, but do keep those files on hand for internet or WI-FI download as the customer needs them. Most of these also allow content purchased elsewhere to be loaded onto the device. Some of the more versatile eReaders also play music MP3 files, which means they will read audio books. Before buying a dedicated eReader, go online to read the specifications, including what files it supports and how it operates.

["What is an eBook?" (�2009 Terri L. Branson) - posted 10/25/2009 to the Dragonfly Publishing, Inc. website at: http://www.dragonflypubs.com/dfp/ebookinfo.html ]