08-28-2002, 12:54 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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eBooks you can actually afford
http://www.pocketpcmagic.com/about.html
Since eBooks first burst onto the scene, most of us have been complaining about the cost: if it's electronic, how come they're so expensive? Why doesn't anyone release cheap eBooks that are still valuable? Well, someone has been listening, and we have what we've been asking for. Topical, useful, and cheap eBooks that are a no-brainer to buy. No painful DRM5 restrictions, no sky-high price tags, and no cheap marketing fluff packaged as an eBook. And the list below is just the beginning - he looks like he'll be a busy guy, with four new books already slated for a September release. If you want to learn more about your Pocket PC, or have a friend who just got one and needs some good 101 training, point them to the links below. These aren't books that an expert user will need or want - but if you're new to the Pocket PC, these look like excellent resources for you.
� Dreamy Themes: "Today Themes. Have you always wanted to change the look of your Pocket PC? Ever want to learn how to make your own custom themes, or find sites that have themes? In the eBook we show you how! This is the most detailed resource available!" Cost: $5.95 (affiliate link).
� Instant Messaging for the Pocket PC: "Instant Messaging for the Pocket PC. AOL, MSN, ICQ....are all very popular for talking with coworkers and friends. Now learn about each one, where to get them, how to use them and more with the *most* comprehensive resource on Instant messaging for the Pocket PC!" Cost: $5.95 (affiliate link).
� Word Up: "Pocket Word for the Pocket PC. This is the most comprehensive resource on how to get the most out of Pocket Word for the Pocket PC. From tips and tricks, conversion caveats, to using 3rd party applications, to step-by-step guides, this guide is what you've been looking for if you use Microsoft Word, a Pocket PC and Pocket Word!" Cost: $6.95 (affiliate link)
And be sure to check out his wickedly funny pocket parodies.
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08-28-2002, 02:17 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 100
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I dont want to rain on anyone's parade, but are you kidding me?!
$5.95 for a book on how to create themes? ..on how to use Instant Messaging on a pocketpc? .. on how to use Word?!
Doing a simple search on Brighthand will net you tons of specific info for item 1. Ditto for finding an instant messaging client for item 2, and figuring out how to use it is as easy as reading the help text files! Heck, the actual instant messaging clients are typically FREE! How to use pocket word? Just go to pocketpc.com and grab the relevant info!
You've GOT to be kidding me here - $6 each for stuff you can find in 5 minutes or less (and I'd wager you this, if a reader here sees this article, they'd know about Brighthand already) for absolutely FREE info does NOT a healthy ebook market make. Heck, I'm fairly sure he just mined the same places to compile these "books".
Dont get me wrong, I'm all for people making a buck, but this is not much more than a cash grab using the same info people gave of freely.
Heck for roughly two of these "books" you can get a month's subscription at Baen.com for four full novels, with no DRM nothing (html files). Support the REAL ebook providers at the very least.
If you're a real friend, point him/her to brighthand. Trying to make a few bucks of saps is kinda low dontchathink?
Ugh!
Aceze
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08-28-2002, 02:36 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 355
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your ad here
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Originally Posted by Aceze
I dont want to rain on anyone's parade, but are you kidding me?!
$5.95 for a book on how to create themes? ..on how to use Instant Messaging on a pocketpc? .. on how to use Word?!
Doing a simple search on Brighthand will net you tons of specific info for item 1. Ditto for finding an instant messaging client for item 2, and figuring out how to use it is as easy as reading the help text files! Heck, the actual instant messaging clients are typically FREE! How to use pocket word? Just go to pocketpc.com and grab the relevant info!
You've GOT to be kidding me here - $6 each for stuff you can find in 5 minutes or less (and I'd wager you this, if a reader here sees this article, they'd know about Brighthand already) for absolutely FREE info does NOT a healthy ebook market make. Heck, I'm fairly sure he just mined the same places to compile these "books".
Dont get me wrong, I'm all for people making a buck, but this is not much more than a cash grab using the same info people gave of freely.
Heck for roughly two of these "books" you can get a month's subscription at Baen.com for four full novels, with no DRM nothing (html files). Support the REAL ebook providers at the very least.
If you're a real friend, point him/her to brighthand. Trying to make a few bucks of saps is kinda low dontchathink?
Ugh!
Aceze
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i wrote the ebooks, here's the deal...all the stuff on the web about word, themes and instant messaging kinda sucks, it's too short, it's not step by step. these ebooks are really long and cover everything.
but tellya what, i'll take you up on that that bet. i'll bet you $5 there are things in each ebook that you won't find anywhere on the web, print, or in the help files.
cheers,
pt
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08-28-2002, 02:37 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 667
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 I hate to say it, since I'd like to support PPC Thoughts regulars in their ventures, but I have to agree with Aceze. This is nothing I would even consider buying. While these would be attractive prices for the latest Stephen King novel, they are not attractive prices for basic PPC info that you can find all over the Net. This hardly deserves a "finally, affordable ebooks" tag.
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08-28-2002, 02:44 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 355
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your ad here
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Originally Posted by Rob Alexander
I hate to say it, since I'd like to support PPC Thoughts regulars in their ventures, but I have to agree with Aceze. This is nothing I would even consider buying. While these would be attractive prices for the latest Stephen King novel, they are not attractive prices for basic PPC info that you can find all over the Net. This hardly deserves a "finally, affordable ebooks" tag. |
-are you a pocket pc beginner?
-are you sure everything in the ebooks are on the web? they're not, i wrote them, i live on the web, this is all the stuff that you'll never find in one place or even all the the places put together.
cheers,
pt
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08-28-2002, 03:24 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 300
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Re: your ad here
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Originally Posted by pt
-are you a pocket pc beginner?
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I am not a pocket pc beginner, but I was two years ago. typing google.com did the trick every time though.
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Originally Posted by pt
-are you sure everything in the ebooks are on the web? they're not, i wrote them, i live on the web, this is all the stuff that you'll never find in one place or even all the the places put together.
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can you just give me one example of what you mean? I am curious.
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Originally Posted by pt
Available now! Instant Messaging for the Pocket PC. AOL, MSN, ICQ....are all very popular for talking with coworkers and friends. Now learn about each one, where to get them, how to use them and more with the *most* comprehensive resource on Instant messaging for the Pocket PC!
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you mean where to get AIM, ICQ, or MSN is a mystery? it is as simple as putting .com on the end of each of those services. using AIM for your pocketpc is as simple as remembering your screenname and password (same for AOL).
I guess if someone doesn't mind spending the money, then this is a non-issue. but it's a different story when someone is led to believe that they 'need' to buy these ebooks in order to use these simple programs.
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08-28-2002, 03:40 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 78
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A little off topic, but isn't AOL stopping the AIM service for Pocket PC?
DanInNJ
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08-28-2002, 03:45 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 355
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Re: your ad here
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Originally Posted by Paul P
I am not a pocket pc beginner, but I was two years ago. typing google.com did the trick every time though.
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great these aren't for you...also, not everyone is a googler'. i'm not going to call them "pocket pc for dummies" but they are beginner ebooks, and they cover lots of advanced stuff too...
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Originally Posted by Paul P
can you just give me one example of what you mean? I am curious.
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sure. read the toc's..
http://www.pocketpcmagic.com/word.html
http://www.pocketpcmagic.com/theme.html
http://www.pocketpcmagic.com/im.html
if you find one spot on the web that covers all those topics in a way that non-experts (like you, me and most people here) can follow, please post here, i'll add those to my resource section.
you won't find all of this stuff all over, but again-- these aren't for people who want to spend 8 hours on google looking for nuggets of info on 5000 different sites.
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Originally Posted by Paul P
you mean where to get AIM, ICQ, or MSN is a mystery? it is as simple as putting .com on the end of each of those services. using AIM for your pocketpc is as simple as remembering your screenname and password (same for AOL). I guess if someone doesn't mind spending the money, then this is a non-issue. but it's a different story when someone is led to believe that they 'need' to buy these ebooks in order to use these simple programs.
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i answer about 500 messages a week in the newsgroups (or at least it seems that way) many people aren't getting what they need from the applications, the help files, the user manuals, and the web.
you may not need them, in fact, please don't buy them, these might be too basic for you. but there's a large population of people who just want to use their device and need a little help.
i've written lots of regular print books, and yah---most everything is on the web somewhere if you look long enough and hard enough, but for whatever reason people buy books.
cheers,
pt
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08-28-2002, 03:45 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 355
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by DanInNJ
A little off topic, but isn't AOL stopping the AIM service for Pocket PC?
DanInNJ
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that's yahoo (and covered in these ebooks :-] )
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08-28-2002, 03:46 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 667
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Re: your ad here
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Originally Posted by pt
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Originally Posted by Rob Alexander
I hate to say it, since I'd like to support PPC Thoughts regulars in their ventures, but I have to agree with Aceze. This is nothing I would even consider buying. While these would be attractive prices for the latest Stephen King novel, they are not attractive prices for basic PPC info that you can find all over the Net. This hardly deserves a "finally, affordable ebooks" tag. |
-are you a pocket pc beginner?
-are you sure everything in the ebooks are on the web? they're not, i wrote them, i live on the web, this is all the stuff that you'll never find in one place or even all the the places put together. |
Hey, I'm not trying to get down on you, pt. I genuinely wish you the best of luck. I'm skeptical that there's any real market for this and I think the price is too high for what it is, but I hope I'm wrong and that you do very well with it. Nothing ventured nothing gained, eh? The site looks good, BTW.
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