Ebook Retailers
Fictionwise.com is one of the larger ebook retailers, with over 50,000 titles available. Formats include Mobipocket, Adobe Reader 7, Microsoft Reader, and eReader. Multiformat books-unencrypted books that are available in up to 12 different formats-are also available for download. Books sold here are primarily fiction, and most often genre fiction, such as sci-fi, fantasy, romance, mystery, etc.
Ebooks.com is another good site, where you can browse 102,000 popular, professional and academic ebooks from the world's leading publishers.
Mobipocket.com is a site where you can download book samples, and in some cases, the sample may be as long as 3 chapters. Chapters are readable for free on your computer by using Mobipocket's free reader for the PC, or download free readers for Palm, Blackberries, and other handheld devices.
Download public domain mobipocket books from here: Mobipocket Public Domain Books
Sony's public domain books, provided by Google: Sony's Public Domain eBooks
Libwise.com is an ebook lending library solution offered by Fictionwise.com. Here, small groups or libraries can set up their own online lending ebook library, with a small start up cost. Costs can be as low as $29.95 per month for up to 250 check outs.
Ebook Readers
Dedicated ebook readers are becoming more widely available. These new readers use eInk technology, which mimics the lighting and look of real paper, and is easier on the eye than most PDA or computer screens. The Wikipedia Ebook Reader Matrix allows you to compare current eInk readers specs, formats, and prices easily.
The Cybook Gen3 by Bookeen is my favorite of these readers. This reader allows you to read a variety of formats, including Mobipocket, PDF, txt, and html, as well as others.
The Illiad iRex is a pricier model, but this one has a touch screen that also allows you to take notes.
Amazon.com's Kindle Reader is also an option, although Amazon.com is more proprietary on their formats. The Kindle reads Amazon.com's format, and while it can read other formats, like PDF (I believe), you have to have them converted to do so. Amazon.com offers a conversion service, but it costs ten cents a file. Books can be instantly downloaded from Amazon.com's site, as well as newspapers and RSS feeds. Most content, however, is downloadable only through the Amazon.com Kindle store.
