PDFs or texts

And while PDFs or simple texts find their way to an e-reader via a connected computer, purchasing an e-book with the new WLAN-enabled readers is very easy. Both with the Kindle as well as with Kobos e-book reader it is possible to buy e-books through the integrated browser. The e-reading will be transferred to the reader after the purchase.


Loading books


Shopping is more difficult with devices that do not have a WLAN connection. To upgrade these e-libraries, downloading programs is only available. First, the e-bookworm has to download the free program Adobe Digital Editions. To ensure the rights management of copy-protected digital books, he must register with Adobe to authorize the PC as an administrative device.


Read in parallel


After this login procedure, there is a download link to the e-book. The entire e-library is then managed via Adobe's program. New books bought from Buch.de, Libri, Thalia or Weltbild were bought there. And anyone who wants to transfer other content to their e-readers needs to use Adobe's administrator to transfer the desired content to the reader from there.


TIP: borrowing e-books


At Amazon, Kobo or Libri, for example, all purchases are managed on a cloud-based basis. If you have a smartphone or a tablet PC next to your e-reader, you can read your books on any other device with the right app.


Apps are now available for Android and iPhones, some also for BlackBerrys. However, anyone who works with a Windows Phone device must be restricted to Amazon and the Kindle Reader. Only for this there is currently an app. For this, Kobo has the so-called reader hub on Samsung's smartphones.


Anyone who logs into the online bookstore on his smartphone or tablet can access his digital reading device independently of the device. If the e-reader has a WLAN module, bookmarks and the last position in the text are matched. If the reader accesses his e-book via his smartphone, he simply reads where he left the reading at the e-reader.


In addition, it is, of course, possible to read its library on the notebook or PC, but the joy of reading suffers. It is true that E-books do not elicit the charm of traditional books. Neither stimulates the smell of a freshly printed book, nor does the slightly modesty smell of a dampened work recall the reading experience of earlier days.


Test: Design Ultrabooks


The familiar, hasty rustling in the exciting reading has given way to a barely perceptible button click or flicker of the screen. Not to mention that the bookshelf in the living room remains empty - and hardly any more. Sadly, it is also a fact that favorite chess players can no longer be given.


And yet e-book readers of the new generation are a real alternative for multiple readers. At least if the book friend does not want to read magazines or comics. This would require e-readers with color display and more magazines on the market. And this revolution is a good thing to do.


Although it is not possible to borrow copy-protected e-books among friends, Bücherein has created a platform through www.onleihe.net, which makes it possible to borrow digital media, including e-books, for a certain time. If you would like to read e-books on the Onleihe, you must be registered as a reader at one of the participating municipal bookshops. As a rule, there are no additional costs.


You can find out which libraries are connected to the library at Onleihe. The reader searches for the desired book through the search form of the city library. The available information on the medium indicates the format of the e-book (usually EPUB) and whether it is available.


Each book can be borrowed only once. How long the loan period is (usually 7 days) is displayed here as well. If the book is available, the reader logs in with his user data at the library. Now he can borrow the selected e-book at the click of a mouse.


Adobes Digital Edition is required for downloading and managing borrowed e-books. The e-book does not land directly on the e-reader, but on the PC. From there, it can be transferred to a reader (or read from the computer).


If the loan period has expired, no return is required. Rather, the usability of the e-book goes out automatically. The e-book can not be opened anymore. It is then available again for other readers. In this way, no one can forget more loan periods and thus save burdensome reminder fees.


It is also practical that the on-loan is "open" around the clock, so it is possible to borrow it on a Sunday evening without any problems.