The concept behind electronic books is a simple one: it is to convert text,
whether it’s a book or a magazine article, into digital form so that it can be
read on the screen of a PC, notebook or handheld computer.
Making books and articles available digitally has several advantages. Perhaps
the most obvious plus-point for anyone with a handheld computer is portability.
Rather than carrying a book around in your bag, you can download the e-book
version to a handheld computer from one of the many e-book websites online.
If you’re planning a trip or going on holiday and need some reading material for
the plane, saving three or four books to your handheld computer could save you a lot of space in your hand luggage.
E-books are also more interactive than their paper equivalents, often including
links to references and further information to explore.
To read an e-book you’ll need to download reader software, which is usually free and takes just a few minutes to install.