[davea0511]

Funny how libraries can freely check out regular books, but not ebooks. Could the DRM revolution be the start of the publisher's efforts to shut down public libraries? Me thinks so.

[davea0511]

Funny how libraries can freely check out regular books, but not ebooks. Could the DRM revolution be the start of the publisher's efforts to shut down public libraries? Me thinks so.

[nategesner]

Dude, go back about five posts and read my last paragraph. Then check out your local library. I move around a lot and the last three states I've lived in had on-line library catalogs that enable a cardholder to check out e-books without leaving your house. AND, this includes audio books in WMA format! This is all available because DRM is able to limit the amount of moving the file does and how long it lasts. After about three weeks, my DRM license expires and I can no longer use the file. Just delete and check it out again.

While not everything is available, it's a pretty healthy selection. I just checked my library system (Hawaii) and they have tens of thousands of books, thousands of audio books, and hundreds of music albums on-line for people to check out. Just check out your county or state library on-line and see what they offer.

[VanHlebar]

Originally Posted by nategesner

Dude, go back about five posts and read my last paragraph. Then check out your local library. I move around a lot and the last three states I've lived in had on-line library catalogs that enable a cardholder to check out e-books without leaving your house. AND, this includes audio books in WMA format! This is all available because DRM is able to limit the amount of moving the file does and how long it lasts. After about three weeks, my DRM license expires and I can no longer use the file. Just delete and check it out again.

While not everything is available, it's a pretty healthy selection. I just checked my library system (Hawaii) and they have tens of thousands of books, thousands of audio books, and hundreds of music albums on-line for people to check out. Just check out your county or state library on-line and see what they offer.

This would be a great idea, sadly, I just check both the Cincinnati Public Library and the Lane Public Library systems in my area and it doesn't look like either of them offer e-books to be checked out. Unless of course I am missing something, which is highly possible.

-Eric

[bechmann]

Eric, maybe you should check this out or take a closer look at Cincinnati Public Library and the Lane Public Library websites :
"The Ohio eBook Project is proud to announce the arrival of digital eBooks and Audio Books for your enjoyment. Patrons from member libraries can browse and search hundreds of great titles and download them to computers, transfer them to portable devices, or burn them onto CDs for reading and listening anywhere, anytime."

[VanHlebar]

Originally Posted by bechmann

Eric, maybe you should check this out or take a closer look at Cincinnati Public Library and the Lane Public Library websites :
"The Ohio eBook Project is proud to announce the arrival of digital eBooks and Audio Books for your enjoyment. Patrons from member libraries can browse and search hundreds of great titles and download them to computers, transfer them to portable devices, or burn them onto CDs for reading and listening anywhere, anytime."

Thanks for the help. It appears this is the only place to get them, as the public library's that I mentioned do not carry any ebooks at all. You can however use your public library card at the Ohio eBooks Project site to check out a variety of ebooks. Looks like they have a good selection, but the problem is that the ebooks are mostly only in audio format (OverDrive??) and if they are in the printed format they are only in pdf or mobireader, of which both stink in my opinion.

Great idea, but still sadly lacking. One more reason for a standard container to be a good thing, IF they ever get around to doing something serious about it that is.

-Eric

[juni]

Just a quick note: The latest MS Reader is VGA compatible - and it can be installed on a storage card.

[ChristopherTD]

Although the latest MS Reader is VGA aware, it doesn't actually display any more text than the QVGA version. Even at the smallest font setting.

Applying a brute force VGA tweak makes a tiny difference (you get a few more titles displayed in the library, and one extra line of text). I haven't tried it using something like TrueVGA or ozVGA because they break too many other things to be worth considering for me.

Whereas eReader lets you choose a variety of fonts and sizes to suit your preference. I end up with a setting that displays perhaps 50% more than QVGA which makes for a very satsifying display.

A couple more notches on the MS Reader font settings and it would be grand!

[sweb3028]

I personally use eReader. I have no problem paying similar prices for eBooks and paperback. For me, they are much more economical. I can store an entire library on my SD/CF cards. They are not taking up precious space in my house. My wife is not bothering me about keeping all of the books around that I have already read. Of course the biggest plus for me, it was much easier carrying my ebooks with me on my latest trip to the desert. It was also alot easier for me to buy them in the desert. There is definitely a practical application for them.

[Wasp]

The problem isn't with MS Reader, its with the ridiculous prices charged for the books. For science fiction readers, Baen Books gives a great deal on E-Books. You can buy any one book for $4 and there is no DRM involved. There is only the honor system. You can buy the monthly selection for $15 (6 books). My understanding is Baen is doing great with this policy.