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eBooks - electronic books - are an attempt to marry the readability and tactile response of
traditional books with the convenience of electronic distribution and
storage. Below you will find the answers to some common questions asked about our ebooks:
- What hardware do I need to view an ebook?
- What software do I need to view an ebook?
- What do I get when I buy an ebook?
- What do eBooks look like?
- How easy is it to read text on an ebook?
- How can I pay for the ebooks?
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What hardware do I need to view an ebook?
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You can view ebooks using most portable and desktop computers running Windows or Mac OS
as well as many handhelds.
In addition, there are a number of dedicated devices available that look
like large (paperback size) handhelds.
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What software do I need to view an ebook?
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To view an ebook, you need a piece of software called a 'Reader' which is available for free and takes a few
minutes to download.
There are several 'Reader' programs available, the two main ones being developed by Adobe and, of course, Microsoft.
Our ebooks are currently available in the Adobe format only.
You can download the Adobe ebook 'Reader' for free by clicking
on the link to the right or the link on the Your eBooks pages.
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What do I get when I buy an ebook?
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The ebooks themselves are documents which are
opened up using a program called a 'Reader' - free from
Adobe and taking a few minutes to download. When you buy an ebook, you
will be given access to the relevant ebook document which you can download
and view at your leisure by going to Your eBooks. You can download the 'Reader' by clicking
on the links to the right of this article or the links on the Your eBooks pages.
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What do eBooks look like?
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The 'Readers' essentially look like on-screen representations of books: they have covers, you can
turn pages, view one or two pages at a time, zoom in etc.. They have
the added advantage of features like built-in dictionaries and, of course, the ability
to store a virtually unlimited library - the power of this being most
evident if you are using them on a portable device.
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How easy is it to read text on an ebook?
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In developing the 'Reader' software, Adobe has
addressed the issue of the readability of on-screen text.
The results represent a real improvement over text viewed in, for instance, Word or Internet Explorer (the interface
works by offering a series of examples from which the user selects the easiest
to read).
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How can I pay for the ebooks?
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We accept all major credit and debit cards. In order to provide as secure an environment as possible,
our credit and debit card payments are processed by WorldPay.
If you pay by card, you will be taken to the secure WorldPay servers to authorise the payment.
We also accept payment via PayPal which is a popular account-based service that allows anyone with
an email address to make payments with a credit card or bank account.
If you are not already a member and make frequent online payments, it is worth considering.
Once your payment has been accepted (which usually only takes a few seconds) you will be free to
download the ebook from Your eBooks.
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