HOME»How to Buy eBooks»eBook FAQ
- What is an ebook?
- What do I need to read an ebook?
- What do I need to buy an ebook?
- Must I be online to read an ebook?
- Why isn't there one standard Reader?
- What's the difference between the Adobe eBook Reader and Adobe Reader 6.0?
- Can I still use the old eBook Reader?
- Can I use both the old eBook Reader and the new Reader 6.0?
- Can Adobe's Readers also read standard pdf files?
- Why should I buy a technical book in ebook form instead of the printed version?
- What are the advantages to technical ebooks?
- Any other advantages?
- Does a Macatea ebook have the same content as the printed version?
- Why is a book in ebook form cheaper than in printed form?
- How do I purchase an ebook from Macatea?
- How much time is needed to download an ebook?
- Why are copying and printing of ebooks restricted?
- Are ebooks going to replace printed books?
- 1. What is an ebook?
- An ebook is a book in electronic form that is read from a computer or from a special reading device. It is a piece of software that contains text, figures, and illustrations in coded form.
- 2. What do I need to read an ebook?
- You need hardware (a computer or specialized reading device), and you need another piece of software called a Reader. The Reader translates the ebook's coding into book form.
- 3. What do I need to buy an ebook?
- You need a computer, a Reader, and a web browser to connect to ebookstores on the internet. A credit card would also be helpful.
- 4. Must I be online to read an ebook?
- No. When you purchase an ebook, the file is downloaded and stored on your computer.
- 5. Why isn't there one standard Reader?
- Different readers have been designed to meet different needs; that is, to be able to convey different kinds of content. This is analogous to having book shelves of different sizes in a library. Macatea ebooks all use the pdf format because that format faithfully reproduces text, symbols, equations, figures, tables, and other complex presentations that are common in technical material.
- 6. What's the difference between the Adobe eBook Reader and Adobe Reader 6.0?
- The eBook Reader is the older software for reading pdf ebooks; it has been replaced by the Reader 6.0. Reader 6.0 offers enhanced features over the older eBook Reader and it combines the Acrobat Reader and eBook Reader into a single piece of software.
- 7. Can I still use the old eBook Reader?
- Yes. If you already have the eBook Reader, you can still use it to read and buy ebooks, but Adobe no longer supports the product.
- 8. Can I use both the old eBook Reader and the new Reader 6.0?
- Yes. Both Readers can coexist on the same computer, but note that the system requirements for the two differ.
- 9. Can Adobe's Readers also read standard pdf files?
- Yes. You can use both the eBook Reader and Reader 6.0 to read ebooks and standard pdf files.
- 10. Why should I buy a technical book in ebook form instead of the printed version?
- Perhaps you shouldn't. It depends on how you will use the book and in what ways you most readily assimilate technical material. Some people learn best by interacting with physical objects (such as printed books), while other people are accustomed to obtaining information from electronic media, such as compact discs and the internet. If you will be using a book to study unfamiliar material, it may be best to have access to both forms-- ebook and pbook. Some study activities might best be done using one or the other. In other words, your best choice might not be just an ebook or just a pbook, but both.
- 11. What are the advantages to technical ebooks?
- They are convenient to purchase; they provide ready access to technical information via your computer; they have complete search-by-term facilities; they are cheaper than pbooks. They may contain hyperlink cross-referencing, if the editor and publisher choose to take advantage of the capability.
- 12. Any other advantages?
- Adobe's Readers allows you to bookmark pages, highlight text, and annotate pages.
- 13. Does a Macatea ebook have the same content as the printed version?
- Absolutely. In fact the ebook is made from the same pdf file that is used to make the printed book. The ebook has the same pagination as the pbook; that is, page 137 in the ebook is the same as page 137 in the pbook.
- 14. Why is a book in ebook form cheaper than in printed form?
- Less materials--no paper, ink, binding, adhesive; less labor in manufacturing and distribution; no shipping.
- 15. How do I purchase an ebook from Macatea?
- Follow the step-by-step instructions at How to Buy eBooks.
- 16. How much time is needed to download an ebook?
- It depends on the size of the ebook file, the speed of your internet connection, and the amount of internet traffic that is competing with you for bandwidth. Macatea ebooks are compressed, so they take between 2 and 15 minutes to download using a 28 K modem during moderate internet traffic. For estimates of download times for particular titles, go to download times.
- 17. Why are copying and printing of ebooks restricted?
- These restrictions impose copyright protection for the intellectual property contained in the ebook. Creators of intellectual material have the right to profit from their creations, just as do artists and craftsmen. Copyright laws try to deter unauthorized copying and distribution that would deny the creators the fruits of their labors. Without the expectation of compensation, people would have little incentive to distribute their intellectual creations. The work would probably still be done, but the creations would be stuffed into a drawer or left on a disc. No one would know about them. (The life of Henry Cavendish (1731-1810) is an example.)
- Or, to put it in a different light, the restrictions imposed through copyright protection help keep down the costs of legitimate individual copies.
- 18. Are ebooks going to replace printed books?
- Perhaps eventually, but not anytime soon. Right now we live in the golden age of choice; we have multiple options for nearly every activity. Reading and studying are important parts of our technological culture; we should be exploring how we can use technology to make our learning more effective and our reading more satisfying. The ebook is a possibility to be explored. Like many things, ebooks will help some people more than others.
Advantages/Limits, Download Times, eBook FAQ, eBook Retailers, How to Buy eBooks, System Requirements
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