E-book readers

Reading from a computer screen or pda is no picnic, no matter what people may say. It isn't quite practical to read a book from your notebook while being on the road, at home on the couch or under a tree. Fortunately, there is an alternative: the e-book reader.

E-book readers use the e-ink technology, causing the screen to be read as easily and comfortably as paper. The text can still be read well when the light intensity is high. The size (about half an A4) is handy and the readers are light (about 200 to 400 grams). You can download as much as 100 books and you can easily extend the memory.

Types of e-bookreaders

There are different e-book readers on the Dutch market, such as the iLiad, Cybook Gen3 and Hanlin V3. Prices vary from € 329 for the Hanlin to € 600 euro for the iLiad (the iLiad has a touch screen which makes it more expensive).

More info on the various e-book readers on://www.ebookreaders.nl/ebook_readers.
Also see: "Video NOS Journaal about the introduction of the e-bookreader [27 October 2007]

Test e-bookreader iLiad

The library has two iLiad-readers available for lecturers, researchers and students for library use. During a specific period the iLiad can be tested after which the library asks you to give your experiences.

Would you like to test the iLiad for a while, then contact Eric van den Akker (h.j.m.vdnakker@uvt.nl) or Richard Broekman (r.j.h.a.broekman@uvt.nl).

NB: e-bookreaders have not been on the market for that long and the offer of e-books suitable to download an e-bookreader is still limited. However, the number increases rapidly. The e-books of MyiLibrary and NetLibrary are not suitable to download on an e-bookreader.

Also see the campaign pages: Use e-books en Free e-books

A World Without Books

[video courtesy YouTube]

Bright Future