A writer or publisher has many options when it comes to choosing a file format for production. While the average end-user might arguably simply want to read books, every format has its proponents and champions, and debates over “which format is best” can become intense.

 

Advantages:

• Text can be searched automatically and cross-referenced by hyperlinks. This is an excellente choice of format for dictionaries, reference works and certain kinds of textbooks.
• Less physical space is required to store e-books. Approximately 500 average e-books can be stored on one CD.
• Readers who have difficulty reading print books can benefit from the adjustment of text size and font face.
• It may be more comfortable to hold because it does not need to be held open like a paperback.
• It costs little to reproduce an e-book and copies are made instantly.
• Readers can begin reading as soon as the download completes, or sooner, depending on the e-book formats’ capabilities, without the need to visit a bookstore.
• Errors can be easily and quickly corrected in an e-text.
• They require electricity to be read but the production does not consume paper, ink and other resources that are used to produce print books.

Disadvantages:

• An e-book is dependent on equipment to be read, it can be affected by faults in external hardware or software. 
• Digital rights management techniques may be used to restrict what the user may do with an e-book. For instance, it may no be possible to transfer ownership of an e-book to another person, though is common with printed books.
• Screen resolution and contrast is much lower than paper, and it may not be possible to view such devices in bright sunlight.

 

Only time will tell whether e-books take the place of printed books.

 

 

Source: E-book. (2008, January 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:35, January 2, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=E-book&oldid=185320868