About ebooks

What is an ebook?
Ebooks are digital multipage documents specifically designed to be read on screens. Most are based on existing printed editions. When viewed on a computer or a tablet or iPad, the page layout will normally be identical to the corresponding printed book. When viewed on a smaller device such as a Kindle or a Nook the ebooks are generally reconfigured, with simpler graphics, larger type, and fewer lines per page.

Advantages of ebooks compared with printed books
Ebooks have a number of advantages over printed books :

1. They can be viewed online before purchase (if, like MB2000, the publisher offers a view-inside facility)
2. They can be purchased, downloaded and opened in minutes, all in the comfort of your own home (or office)
3. You can store a large (very large, if required) number of books on your computer or reader
4. They can easily be taken on your travels and take up none of your allocated luggage space (or weight)
5. They last forever
6. They are fully searchable
7. They can be annotated without spoiling the core documents
8. They are interactive, offering live hyperlinks and connectivity
9. There is no associated delivery cost
10. In the case of MB2000, they are also cheaper

Types of ebook
Ebooks come in a variety of formats, but the main two variations are pdf and epub. The main difference is that pdf-formatted ebooks offer an exact visual representation of the printed version, including complex graphics and page layout, whereas epub-formatted ebooks are simpler and allow the number of words per line to vary according to the size of the ereader device. The epub format is used by smaller readers such as the Kindle or Nook; the pdf format is used on PCs and tablet readers such as the iPad where the screen-size is similar to printed book-page size.

MB2000 ebooks
MB2000 ebooks are presently supplied only in pdf format for viewing on computers, tablets and iPads. In the fourth quarter of 2011 we will be offering some titles in epub format too, in order to allow readers to view selected titles on smaller readers and hand-held devices. We will make an announcement on the website when the new format option is live.

Using an e-bookshelf
Whether you view your ebooks on your PC or on any other device you will store, view and access your books via an electronic "bookshelf" which enables quick and easy access. Simply open your bookshelf and you will see all the covers of your books arranged in rows – scroll to the book you want to view, double-click on it and your book will immediately open – it's as simple as that.

Copyright protection (DRM)
Like most ebook publishers, our books are copyrighted, and we supply them in an encrypted format to avoid piracy, copying, and unauthorised distribution. This is known as "Digital Rights Management" or DRM. From your point of view the encryption is seamless – the reader software you download on your first download will automatically release the code so you can immediately view the purchased product.

Further information
For further information, including a step-by-step ordering guide, see also the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on this site. If you have any specific questions relating to your purchase, please email your query to mb2000.support@ipublishcentral.com.