eBooks



=**What are eBooks?**= EBooks are digital versions of books distributed through the Internet and viewed on electronic devices such as computers, tablets, smartphones, and eReaders. EBooks are often the electronic counterparts of print books, but many eBooks are only available digitally. They have become more popular in recent years because they are cheaper and easier to produce than print books and are highly convenient. EReaders can store many different eBooks, so users have a variety of books at their fingertips. With the exception of computers, most eReaders are lightweight and easier to transport than print books. For these reasons, eBooks are often a better choice than print books when traveling. EBooks also provide features that are impossible to incorporate into print books. For example, some eBooks, such as children’s books, include audio and video elements in addition to text.

=**Who uses eBooks?**= Generally, eBooks users are white, between the ages of eighteen and fifty, with some college education and an income above $50,000. This is, however, a very broad portrait of eBook users. A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows that the Hispanic and black populations are not far behind the white population in eBook usage. The study also shows that, surprisingly, eBooks have found a niche among the Americans between the ages of fifty and sixty-five. EBooks have a fairly wide audience, encompassing just about anyone who enjoys reading. They are also popular among authors, especially self-publishing authors, since eBooks are easy to create and can be put online without a publishing contract. Users can enjoy a wide variety of documents, self-published novels to bestsellers to newspapers.

**What are the different eBook formats?**
The three most common formats for eBooks are PDF, EPUB, and Kindle. An EPUB file consists of XML, HTML, and CSS files and is the most popular eBook format, used most commonly for displaying regular books. EPUB is supported by all tablets and eReaders, with the sole exception of Amazon’s Kindle. The Kindle requires a specific Kindle format, which is HTML-based. PDFs are most useful for displaying documents with specific layouts such as textbooks, newspapers, and magazines. PDFs display best on tablets and computers, though some eReaders display them as well.

=**How is this relevant to technical communication?**= EBooks are continuing to become more popular each year. It is advisable for technical writers to have a knowledge of how to create high-quality eBooks, the various eBook formats, and the many available eReaders. EBooks are especially becoming more and more important in the publishing field, but they also provide a unique opportunity in relation to manuals and informational documents. As eBooks have audio and video capabilities, technical writers can use these elements to enhance their information. While print books still dominate much of the field of technical communication, eBooks are rapidly gaining popularity.

=**Related information/sources**= [|Building E-Books: A Tool Overview for Technical Writers] [|E-Book Formats] [|Making Your Own EBooks] [|Pigs, Gourds, and Wikis- a blog that discusses eBook formats in depth] [|Turning the Page: The Future of eBooks] [|The Rise of e-Reading]