[Wiggster]

I'm sort of new to eBooks, and as I'm not an avid reader, I don't do much with them.

Recently, I wanted to reread some Arthur C Clarke, but couldn't find the all the books I wanted to buy online. So I went to the bookstore, bought up six of his books, and then downloaded them in TXT formats from a Google search. I know, dubious legality, but I just wanted to read some books and try and make sure the author would get some tithings. After reading them, I summarily deleted them, and put the unopened paperbacks on my book shelf for my girlfriend to read when she finishes reading her other 20 books she bought at the bookstore.

To me, eBooks aren't quite up to filling the niche I have for reading. I love taking 6 books with me and not carrying any extra bulk (hey, the PDA is a necessity, like car keys), but I'm too underwhelmed by the availability of the books I want to read. I don't mind the price, as I think the price of books should be for the entertainment and experience, not for the binding and supplies needed to print the book. But for the casual reader like me, it's just not what I want yet.

Maybe I should just buy some Douglas Adams eBooks and wait for the complete Ender's series by Orson Scott Card to be available. Then I might be satisfied. For a week, anyway :wink:

[Wiggster]

I'm sort of new to eBooks, and as I'm not an avid reader, I don't do much with them.

Recently, I wanted to reread some Arthur C Clarke, but couldn't find the all the books I wanted to buy online. So I went to the bookstore, bought up six of his books, and then downloaded them in TXT formats from a Google search. I know, dubious legality, but I just wanted to read some books and try and make sure the author would get some tithings. After reading them, I summarily deleted them, and put the unopened paperbacks on my book shelf for my girlfriend to read when she finishes reading her other 20 books she bought at the bookstore.

To me, eBooks aren't quite up to filling the niche I have for reading. I love taking 6 books with me and not carrying any extra bulk (hey, the PDA is a necessity, like car keys), but I'm too underwhelmed by the availability of the books I want to read. I don't mind the price, as I think the price of books should be for the entertainment and experience, not for the binding and supplies needed to print the book. But for the casual reader like me, it's just not what I want yet.

Maybe I should just buy some Douglas Adams eBooks and wait for the complete Ender's series by Orson Scott Card to be available. Then I might be satisfied. For a week, anyway :wink:

[Paragon]

In the four years since I've started reading nothing but eBooks, when I'm finished reading an eBook I move it to my used book folder, which is WAY smaller than my used paper book shelf...err...shelves...err...box...well boxes....many, many boxes...

Dave

[pmgibson]

sigh. you guys are all "keepers". you keep all of your books.

I guess I wouldn't mind paying the prices for the ebooks if I could do the same things with them that I do with physical books, e.g., give them away or sell them.

I used to be a "keeper" too. Then I ran out of space. (And my brothers swore they would never again move all my boxes of books. :wink

Then I discovered that there are folks who will pay a little bit for a used book. Thus giving me the funds for more books.

Ah well. I was hoping for a magic piece of information that I had not learned yet -- that I COULD sell my "used" ebooks -- that some piece of software that would transfer the DRM existed.

sigh.

[Eowyn]

What's the DRM?

I love reading e-books on my IPAQ, but so far, I've only got the free e-books, and haven't yet had to pay for one. (so deleting an uninteresting one is not a problem)

[dMores]

when you buy a book at an online bookstore, they are protected. this way, they won't end up on kazaa and the like.

DRM = digital rights management.

[Don't Panic!]

I save nmine in a folder called e-books on my PC.

Most of my stuff is from Baen's WebScription Service or Free Library and ESSPC E-books so if I wanted to I could donate them, swap, trade whatever without worrying about DR Management.

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[KimVette]

eBooks?

I only download free eBooks since those are never locked. So, that pretty much limits me to the classics, plus the occasional freebie that publishers put out.

Why?

1. They are too expensive (if they were 1/3 price, I'd buy an eBook, otherwise I'd rather have a paper book which does not rely on batteries)
2. DRM sucks. If my PPC dies or I switch credit card companies and lose the old number, I'm SOL
3. DRM is a direct violation of my first sale doctrine rights. If I buy a book, I have the sole right to transfer ownership of that book to somebody else. Unlike software, a book is property, not a license.

[jeisner]

3. DRM is a direct violation of my first sale doctrine rights. If I buy a book, I have the sole right to transfer ownership of that book to somebody else. Unlike software, a book is property, not a license.

Thats it DRM (Digital Rights Management) relates to YOU not the BOOK, as they're managing (to remove) YOUR rights.

[deniski]

I love ebooks and wouldn't mind paying the same price as a hardcopy book IF I knew I would continue to have access to my book for as long as I wanted. I've already had problems with DRM ebooks after I upgrade MS Reader, and apparently if I change the email address I use to activate new versions of MS Reader, then I also lose the ability to read old ebooks I bought when I had a different ISP.

So for me, it's hard to get excited about putting my library all in e-format. For books I really want to keep (especially nonfiction), I will still buy hardcopies. sigh. I REALLY would like to take advantage of digital books to save space.... :cry:

[Jorgen]

apparently if I change the email address I use to activate new versions of MS Reader, then I also lose the ability to read old ebooks I bought when I had a different ISP.

Yes, they conveniently forget to tell you that when you buy your e-books and when you make your passport account. Imagine you have bought 500 e-books and lost your email address for whatever reason! I can't even count how many email addresses I have had (started in the late 80ies).

Jorgen