This model is being phased out, and the new version wasn't available for me to test. So I decided to stick with the Rocket because it's the closest thing to the industry's vision of how e-books might work in the future. My own computer would have made those unhappy whirring noises and crashed. The downloading process is fairly easy. From there, you download the title to your Rocket.
Special encryption prevents illegal copying of copyrighted books.
When it comes to books put out by regular publishing houses, life is more complicated. Enthusiasm for publishing e-books varies from house to house. Gemstar has persuaded some to put out an e-version of a book before the hardcover hits the stores. But the range of titles available is limited, and the pricing is screwy. The prices range from nothing to the cost of a hardcover.