The "e" in e-book stands for "electronic," like the "e" in e-mail. E-books come in many different formats, and each of those formats requires a different platform. Initially, you could access an e-book only on a computer, but then "e-readers" were introduced. While bookstores are charging hardcover prices between $25 and $30, e-books are available for as little as $10.
An e-reader is a portable device for reading e-books. The Amazon Kindle costs between $299.00 and $489.00, depending on the size of the display and capacity. The smaller Kindle can hold 1,500 e-books, while the larger one can hold up to 3,500 e-books.The Sony Reader costs between $199.99 and $299.99, the more expensive one offering a touch screen, and both hold up to 350 e-books.
People are spending less money on everything, and that includes books. An August 31, 2009, post on PublishersLunch.com reported that 400 bookstores could close in 2009. Susan McCarthy, interviewed by PBS, reported that her library has had "300 to 500 new users every month coming in to register for library cards."
The Green Inc. blog on the New York Times website reported in a Cleantech study that purchasing 144 e-books over four years produces roughly 908 kilograms of carbon dioxide less than the same number of printed books. Readers seeking to "go green" might prefer an e-reader to have a smaller carbon footprint.
A September 14, 2008, article in New York Magazine points out the practice of some publishers paying writers very large advances without knowing if they will get that money back in book sales. Also, publishers have been known to pay bookstores for a display of 300 copies of a book placed front and center for marketing purposes. In the future, it's possible that the Kindle could eliminate the need for publishers altogether if writers sell their books directly to Amazon.