Mobipocket Reader
Finally, there is Mobipocket Reader from Mobipocket. Mobipocket Reader has been around for quite a long time, and like eReader, began life as a Palm OS application. And again, like eReader, Mobipocket now offers their Reader on a multiple of platforms, including Windows, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Blackberry, and several dedicated ebook appliances. Mobipocket's Reader is free to download and use, as is their Mobipocket Creator for creating Mobipocket ebooks.

It would seem the ebook applications that originated on the Palm OS seem to have gotten the display right, as Mobipocket Reader will fill the screen with text, reflowing and paginating as necessary. In Figure I below, you can see Mobipocket Reader on Windows Mobile.

FIGURE I


Mobipocket Reader knows how to fill the screen with text. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The PC version of Mobipocket Reader offers more than just ebook reading, it also includes an RSS reader and direct access to their ebook store. Just as on the handheld version, the PC version is able to fill the screen with text. In Figure J, you can see the open ebook in a frame, but it is quite capable of expanding to a full screen display.

FIGURE J


Mobipocket Reader on PC is more than just an ebook reader. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Of all the ebook creators I've profiled here, with the exception of the Bullzip PDF Printer, Mobipocket Creator is the only one that is free for both personal and commercial use. It features PDF, Microsoft Word, and Text file import capabilities; unfortunately, it only imports legacy Word files, not the newer .docx format. And the creation utility is not at all intuitive, unlike all of the other ebook creators.

The other negative Mobipocket has going for it is that it is just not all that prevalent of a format. Pretty much all of these ebook formats are proprietary to the application they were created for, but of them all, Mobipocket has the least amount of content available. I have begun to see more material available for Mobipocket Reader, but the majority of content can be found in the Microsoft Reader and eReader formats.

However, if you're an owner of the Cybook, iLiad, iRex, Hanlin, or BeBook dedicated ebook appliances, you can use Mobipocket Creator to create your own content. Honestly though, aside from that, the Mobipocket format just does not have a wide enough distribution to be a viable format.

In conclusion
While there are a number of ebook formats on the market, eReader from Fictionwise is really the best investment for your ebook buck. It's available for more operating platforms than any other, with the possible exception of PDF; but as shown above, PDF files come with their own set of limitations. eReader's eBook Studio is a reasonable cost for the return you get on the content it creates, and is the most intuitive of all the creation software I tested.

Regardless of your ebook format preferences, their prevalence will only continue to grow. In time, I'm certain all new print material will be distributed in electronic format as well as traditional hardcopy. There is virtually no production cost, and an entire library can be stored on a single device. I personally have a minimum of eight books (my favorites) with me at all times, as well as the complete Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes collection (also a favorite). I currently have about twenty books on my Windows Mobile device. Try carting twenty paperbacks, let alone hardbound books, around with you everywhere you go and you'll quickly appreciate the digital format.