Electronic Book Readers - What Are They and What Do They Do?

Electronic book readers (sometimes called eBook readers or eReaders) have been everywhere lately - in fact, they are probably the hottest gadget around. But if you want to know what they really do, keep reading.

The easiest way to describe electronic book readers is to say that they allow you to read traditional books that have been put into digital form - eBooks. These eBooks are designed to look like printed materials, such as magazines or books, but are read on the screen.

As a result, eReaders are very portable and can let you carry around many books on one small device.

Are There Other Gadgets That Let You Read eBooks?

There are other devices available that let you read eBooks. Some of these can even include cell phone and MP3 players, but the major difference is that reading eBooks isn't their main purpose. eReaders, on the other hand, are specially designed to make the whole reading experience as pleasant and as simple as possible.

General eReader Functions:

The main feature of all eBook readers is that they are meant to be portable, allowing you to carry all of your books wherever they are, and they also help to save paper. However, they do cost quite a bit more than your average book!

One of the main features that most digital book readers have in common is the screen. They make use of technology called 'e-Ink', designed to make them as easy on the eye as possible. This means that you won't experience glare as you would with traditional computer screens.

Some other features that digital readers may include:

MP3 player capabilities
Ability to store a number of different eBook file types
Features that let you make notes on the text
Space to store thousands of books in a single location
Wireless connection to online bookstores
The Main eBook Reader Brands Today:

Though the technology behind eReaders has been around for a while, it's only just started to come out into the mainstream. As a result, many manufacturers are now looking to get in on the trend, including Sony (PRS), Amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook), and even Apple (iPad).

It isn't certain that electronic book readers will ever become more popular than traditional books - but there's no denying the fact that they are seen as some of the coolest electronics available today! With many more features and functions being added every day, they really are impacting our lives in a big way.