Chapter 10

Curling Up with a Good iBook

IN THIS CHAPTER

check Getting the skinny on e-books

check Shopping for iBooks

check Staying on top of News

Don’t be surprised if you have to answer this question from an inquisitive child someday: “Is it true, Grandpa, that people once read books on paper?”

That time may still be a ways off, but it somehow doesn’t seem far-fetched anymore. Apple is among the tech companies that are major proponents of the electronic-books revolution.

Don’t get us wrong; we love physical books as much as anyone and are in no way urging their imminent demise. But we also recognize the real-world benefits behind Apple’s digital publishing efforts — and those by companies such as Amazon (which manufactures the market-leading Kindle electronic reader). As you discover in this chapter, the Kindle plays a role on the iPad as well.

For its part, the iPad makes a terrific electronic reader, with color and dazzling special effects, including pages that turn like those in a real book.

We open the page on this chapter to see how to find and purchase books for your iPad, and how to read them after they land on your virtual bookshelf. But first, we look at why you might want to read books ...

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