Your Guide To Books

Buying an ebook reader is very exciting! Finally, you’re going to be able to take your books with you everywhere in a convenient, small device. Before you get started, you do need to pay close attention to what kind of ebook reader you should get. There are different ebook formats out there that are supported by different readers.

However, you should note that some ebook readers use proprietary formats - those restricted to readers made by a single company. Companies develop proprietary formats because they hope that they will become widely adopted. Keep an eye on what formats the ebooks you wish to purchase come in to make sure that they will work on a particular reader.

The different formats include:

Adobe Reader Format (PDF)

If you have read ebooks on your computer you’re probably already very familiar with PDF files. These files have become the standard over the years for ebooks read on a computer. The problem with ebook readers, however, is the size of the display. It’s too small to display a PDF file accurately. Fortunately, the two biggest players in the ebook reader industry, Amazon and Sony, have ways of converting PDF files so they can be displayed on their devices.

Mobipocket Format (MOBI)

MOBI is a standard format that is supported by many different devices. MOBI software is available for free. The Amazon Kindle has it included with their device automatically but it is not found on the Sony Reader.

Amazon Kindle Format (AZW)

The AZW format is only supported by the Amazon Kindle. It is Amazon’s proprietary ebook format. The good news is the number of ebooks in this format is growing everyday. At the time of this writing there are over 240,000 titles already and they are all priced at $9.99 or below.

Sony Reader Format (LRF)

This file format is the one you will be using for ebooks on the Sony Reader, as this is the proprietary format Sony has developed and has chosen to support. Be sure to examine the choices available in the Sony store to make sure they have books you want to read. The selection is smaller than those offered by other companies such as Amazon.

Selecting the right ebook reader is mainly a matter of making a commitment to your preference of file formats. With development in the industry, we’re bound to see more standardization in the formats offered. Currently, the situation is somewhat fragmented, yet it’s possible to discover the majority of the titles you’re looking for in all types of formats.

When you’re ready to purchase an ebook reader just be sure to read customer reviews and comments of the devices you’re considering. Chances are if customers complain about a certain format, you’ll be unhappy as well. Regardless of what ebook reader you end up with, you’ll have plenty of reading material to choose from as there are thousands of ebooks available in a many different formats.