Frequently Asked Questions
What is
an eBook?
"eBook" is short for "electronic book." This term is typically used in
two ways. "Electronic book" is often used to refer to an electronic reading
device - a piece of hardware that runs software used for reading. "eBook"
can also be used to describe a title that is available in electronic format.
One easy way to distinguish between the two uses is to refer to the hardware
as an "eBook device" and a book in electronic form as an "eBook title"
or "eBook content."
What is
Microsoft Reader?
Microsoft Reader is a software application designed to deliver an on-screen
computer reading experience that for the first time approaches the convenience
and quality of paper. Microsoft Reader is the first product to include
ClearType display technology. ClearType greatly improves resolution on
LCD screens to deliver a print-like display. Microsoft Reader also pays
strict attention to the traditions and benefits of good typography. It
offers a clean, uncluttered layout; ample margins; proper spacing, leading
and kerning; plus powerful tools for book marking, highlighting and annotation.
What are
the advantages of using Microsoft Reader?
Electronic reading software offers benefits of portability, storage and
additional electronic features such as Search and instant word Lookup.
Microsoft Reader for PCs and laptops can hold as many books as your hard
drive will store - possibly thousands! If you travel, imagine having access
to all of your reading material through your laptop, saving space and
reducing the weight that you have to carry. Microsoft Reader allows you
to do many of the same things you do when you read a printed book, such
as add Bookmarks and make notes in the margins. You can then review all
of your margin notes (as well as Bookmarks, Drawings, and Highlights)
in one place. Microsoft Reader also allows you to easily do things you can't do
in a printed book, such as Search for a word or instantly Lookup the definition
of a word. Finally, Microsoft Reader is the only reading software available
that includes ClearType display technology, which makes the words on the
screen appear almost as crisp as the words on a printed page.
How much
does Microsoft Reader cost?
There is no charge to download Microsoft Reader for your PC. It's available
free via download and it comes preinstalled on the Pocket PC.
What kind
of content is available for Microsoft Reader?
A variety of published content is available including books and periodicals.
Microsoft recognizes the importance of having a broad selection of content
available. Microsoft continues to work closely with publishers and other
industry partners to ensure that customers have an increasing number of
titles from which to choose.
What is
the average size of a Microsoft Reader file?
Microsoft Reader titles are quite small and range from 200 KB for a short
to medium length book to 600 KB for a longer work. As an example, a 300-page
novel is approximately 250 KB as a Microsoft Reader file.
The file size depends on the
complexity of the content. An image-based eBook could be significantly
larger.
What about
copy protection? How will Microsoft Reader protect copyrights?
Microsoft recognizes the critical importance of protecting intellectual
property. The Microsoft Reader file format prevents unauthorized modification
of eBook content. For publishers, Microsoft offers a powerful and flexible
digital rights management solution to enable the publication and distribution
of eBook titles.
Will Microsoft
Reader accept PDF, HTML, .doc, and other files?
There are several conversion tools available for converting HTML and Microsoft
Word 2000 documents into Microsoft Reader format. See the Reader
Tools section of the Microsoft website for more information about
these tools.
What types
of media does Microsoft Reader support?
The current version of Microsoft Reader supports text, images, and audio.
Look for additional media formats, such as streaming video, to be supported
in future versions.
What
PC platforms does Microsoft Reader run on?
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition; Windows Millennium;
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0; Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Microsoft
Windows 2000 Server operating systems Additional system requirements for
Microsoft Reader are the following: Pentium 75 or higher microprocessor;
16 MB of RAM; approximately 13 MB of available hard-disk space (Microsoft
Reader is 6.75 MB but additional space is required for installation);
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 with Service Pack 1 or later; VGA or
higher resolution monitor, and video card capable of displaying 256 or
more colors; Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device.
Will there
be versions of Microsoft Reader for Macintosh, Palm, or Linux operating
systems?
Plans to develop versions for Microsoft Reader on other platforms have
not been announced at this time.
What is
activation and why do I have to activate Microsoft Reader in order to
read certain books?
Many publishers require powerful copy protection for their eBook titles.
In order for you to be able to purchase and download eBook titles that
have been secured for distribution, you first need to activate your Microsoft
Reader. Just as a credit card typically must be activated by a bank before
use, your Microsoft Reader needs to be activated before you can purchase
and read eBooks packaged for secure distribution.
Why do
I need Internet Explorer to use Reader?
Microsoft Reader requires Internet Explorer 4.01 or later be installed
on the user's PC or laptop, but the user is not required to use Internet
Explorer as his or her browser. (Netscape, for example, can be used as
the browser and Microsoft Reader will continue to function normally.)
Microsoft Reader takes advantage of some of the underlying components
within IE during activation and provides the integrated bookstore directory.
Which
Pocket PC devices include Microsoft Reader?
Microsoft Reader 2.0 comes preinstalled on Pocket PC 2002 devices from a variety of manufacturers, and you can activate and read copy-protected (Owner Exclusive) eBooks on these devices. Earlier versions of the Pocket PC feature Microsoft Reader 1.0 for the Pocket PC, which cannot accommodate activation or read Owner Exclusive eBooks. These devices cannot be upgraded to Microsoft Reader 2.0, with the exception of the Compaq iPAQ, which can be upgraded.
For the complete Microsoft Reader FAQ, please visit Microsoft directly at this location:
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/faq.asp
