Ebooks - Do you use them?

[Ed Hansberry]

Ebook readers have been out now for several years and have really failed to take off as much as I would have liked. You still cannot legally read Clancy, Grisham and thousands of others without lugging around paper.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/ebookcollage.jpg" /><br /><br />There are however thousands of ebooks available. Books by Jack Welch, Stephen King, <a href="http://www.peanutpress.com/book.cgi/0740814117">Jeff Kirvin</a> and Michael Crichton just to name a few. Some so old they are in the public domain, others published simultaneously with the hard cover editions. Personally, I have not read a paper book in two years, and I read quite a bit. I am just now more selective since my choices are limited. Still, I've found some gems, books that the book stores wouldn't consider carrying, or bury so far in the stacks you'd never know they existed.<br /><br />So, how about you? Do you prefer to curl up at night with your Pocket PC and read, or do you still prefer paper?

[Don't Panic!]

So far it has been e-books for my sci-fi needs. Baen.com has exactly the right price point for e-books. I still have to buy paperbbacks for some mystery/detective series I've been following but i'm hoping fictionwise will soon fill that void.

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[Take1]

Never bought a paper book since I discovered Peanut Press about 2 years ago.

[b3trio]

One of the main reasons I haven't yet upgraded from my EM-500 is that there is no new Pocket PC that would make a better e-book reader. The screen can't be beat and I like having a jog wheel to change pages.

Having said that, I too have not read a paper book in over a year. I've purchased a few books from peanutpress (great reader), but there are so many great public domain books out there that I haven't read yet. I'm currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo (converted to a .pdb file so I can use the peanutpress reader to read it)

[Brad Adrian]

I don't want to expand this into another digital rights discussion, but it sure seems to me that Peanut Press has a very simple, workable solution to fighting piracy. I'm not about to give the software key -- my credit card number -- to anybody else, so they can feel pretty sure only I will be reading their books.

Their selection is okay, but with tastes as broad as they are, I know it's tough to please everybody. As long as they keep carrying Dave Barry's books, though, I'll be pleased.

[isrjt]

the only paper books that I have read since I bought my jornada are computer geek books. I would love to curl up to a nice book on COM or MFC on my pocket PC , but only fiction....

There is just nothing better then a self lit screen to read without disturbing anyone.

I too wish for more mainstream books.

[Dave Conger]

How about some text books in an ebook format? I had to read the Gospels for one of my classes and having it in an ebook was rather cool. I actually remembered what I had read and the end and my mind didn't wander. Maybe it was the material or that it was on my iPAQ, but I think that being able to get my college textbooks in an ebook for a couple dollars extra would be cool. I would be willing to pay $5 - $10 more to get both a physical book and an ebook version of some text books (specifially non-science/math books).

[ojlittle]

All I read now are ebooks as well. I'm a fluid engineer (translates to working offshore 14 days a month) & I can easily carry all of my books with me. There is nothing more convenient.......

[st63z]

I try do it on many nights. Sometimes I'm so tired, though, I clonk out in the middle of reading something. The next morning it's a mad hunt around and under the bed for the missing PPC...

On the plus side, I've been finding the PPC's beeping alarm to wake me up better than my radio clock (which I've gotten used to sleeping through), especially when it's still there lying next to my ear. Hmm, I think I'm gonna stick a Soundbug on my headboard and see how well that works...

[Tracy Daubenspeck]

I like reading with Reader. It brings me back to my school days when I always had a book in my back pocket. You know, to read during class. The free books are cool, but it's not realistic to expect much more of that unless they are in the public domain. Many current best sellers or just popular books are not available or are more expensive than paper (go figure). I suspect that publishers and distributors are afraid of the loss of market on the paper side. That is a legitimate concern, but eventually, someone is going to decide that they can do OK etailing books with out the big markup and price ebooks at less than paper. I can wait for that, or use the library. Going digital has big market ramifications it is going to take a while to sort it out. The music people are in the same boat.

[Marc Zimmermann]

I've read a few free eBooks with Microsoft Reader but never purchased a commercial title. I simply abhor DRM and believe that if I am supposed to invest into a technology that doesn't guarantee me access to my books in 10 years from now, the books should be considerably cheaper.

[marlof]

I can not vote in this one, as my preference doesn't fit any of the categories. I still prefer paper books ( but then again, I'm a book nut ), but I do read ebooks, and have bought them (only Palm Reader stuff, never DRM5!). There's a time and place for everything. If I want to curl up, I want a paper book. If I want to read a book while travelling, waiting for an appointment, or reading in bed, I prefer an ebook. At one time I even had one book simultaneously, and exchanged ebook reading with paper book reading, depending on the situation I was in. I really liked that!

[eschouten]

I also love using the ebook reader to read digital books. Just finished another title. (Timeline). Eventhough I like collecting paper books.
I did purchase some titles at the ebook sections from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. What I like most is the ability to purchase U.S. magazine titles in PDF of Ebook format.
I was never able to buy PocketPC magazine here in the Netherlands and always brought it back from the USA. But now I can get the latest edition online. (Last week I did find PocketPC mag here in the magazine stores but it was about 11 dollars !!!).

Cheers,
Eric

[MyPaq]

I love the e-Book, can't live without it.
:idea:Here is a thought I have...
How about publishing your forum messages and articles monthly as an e-Book in addition to your web site. This woud be an alternative to AvantGo and co, and we would be able to take the PocketPCThoughts anywhere anytime....
Is it possible to convert the html code to the lit format?

(the alternative would be an mht file - but no PocketPC can read that format as far as I know)

[bjornkeizers]

Ohhhh giddy! My favorite topic!

I'm an avid Ebook reader; and I read about 200 pages every-single-night. I haven't touched a paper book in over five years

I'm not only an avid reader; but I evern dabble in publishing. This was from way back when I still used a PalmPilot Pro and docreader to read them. Oh those were the days my friends!

Today, I mostly produce my own books, especially Sci Fi. I get a web page, copy & paste to word, save as a text file, and then convert it with .. I think it's called readerworks. Really nice.

Oh should you be interested in some of my published works.. Here's my site:

http://www.geocities.com/bjornkeizers/

I find the Ebook format very liberating and envigerating; it just.. adds that extra touch to reading. IMHO.

Anyway. I'm surprised that people actually *buy* ebooks on the net. You can practically get everything for free if you look hard enough [or ask for my private stock :wink: :wink: ]

I have a pretty nice collection of Star Trek Ebooks, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter etc. [/b]

[Kevin Daly]

Pocket PCs are great for cramming a lot of books into one space, but for recreational reading I think the form factor is a problem (it's frustrating having such a small page size). I'm really looking forward to trying out MS Reader on a Tablet PC.
One other thing is that while I love to curl up in bed with a good book I can't see myself taking my Jornada to bed with me (contrary to those damnable rumours).

[marlof]

Anyway. I'm surprised that people actually *buy* ebooks on the net. You can practically get everything for free if you look hard enough [or ask for my private stock


I'm not surprised that some people still uphold the law.

Are you surprised that anyone buys software, when warez collections exist? Are you surprised that anyone buys a car, when you can steal one too?

Paying for an ebook that was the product of someones energy and skill is the only right way to me. Sometimes, when there are no longer rights of the author or distributer to take into consideration, you can get an ebook for free. But when those rights are still in effect, using scanned texts of something you never paid a dime for is theft to me.

And to the law as well. Each may have his own moral viewpoint, but to everyone the law applies. :)

[jsjxyz]

The reasons I buy ebook is because it can bypass import duty and no shipping and handling cost.
I have lot of faith for ebook success for several reasons, but the DRM5 is trying to limiting its potential growth of ebooks.
Publishers think by implementing DRM5 ebooks it will erase piracy, they just simply wrong, there are many ebooks in FTPz sites which are not based on original illegal ebooks but as a result for scanning version from the printed books.
Jerry
Pocket PC eBooks Watch
http://cebooks.blogspot.com

[Marc Zimmermann]

Just finished another title. (Timeline).


Especially this one showed me the limitation of the eBook-Format. The few pictures embedded in the text were simply not legible on the Pocket PC due to their small size.

[Bruno]

Ohhhh giddy! My favorite topic!

I'm an avid Ebook reader; and I read about 200 pages every-single-night. I haven't touched a paper book in over five years

I'm not only an avid reader; but I evern dabble in publishing. This was from way back when I still used a PalmPilot Pro and docreader to read them. Oh those were the days my friends!

Today, I mostly produce my own books, especially Sci Fi. I get a web page, copy & paste to word, save as a text file, and then convert it with .. I think it's called readerworks. Really nice.



ditto...

BUT

I clean up the text!! Every text found out there on the internet has errors in them that simply make me mad. So I have made a method of clening up texts including a nifty Word macro that hunts for errors.
In this manner I put 2-5 hours of work into every book i convert into LIT format. Finaly I add the book graphics after have copied them from AMAZON.COM :D

I would gladly pay for theese books that i convert to get rid of the hassle of cleaning them, but they are just not for sale in e-book format. So today I have a really great collection of SF classics (Asimov, Henlein, Clarke ...)

I´m upp to 200+ converted books.

And of course I have not read a paper book for the last 2 years.

[Ken Mattern]

Even though I publish as frequently as I can I still do read paper books. I just finished reading the two volume set on Roosevelt and then one on the Panama Canal. When it is not possible to get the book in a non DRM-5 format or it simply is not available in an eBook format I'll read the paper bound volume.

I do tend to read many more eBooks than not, however. And I love reading in bed. I haven't felt quite safe with a baggie in the bath tub, yet.

I do have over 400 volumes for free at my web site. Once the Pocket PC Summit is passed I'll begin publishing some books that are very recent and not available anywhere else.

Ken

PS Ed, Thanks for including my logo in the collage!

[Sparky]

I haven't bought a fiction book in over a year. I'm a huge fan of Peanut (urk, I mean Palm) Press and thier collection. I'm mainly a fan of the Star Trek genre, but I do occationally dable in other Sci-Fi. I must go though a novel a week, reading for 30-60 minutes a night in bed.

To echo another posters comments, if it's not available at Palm Press, I'll wait until it is. If it only available in Microsoft Reader format, I'll buy paper. Not to hop on a soapbox here, but M$ is doing everying possible to kill this incredible media.

Palm Press hasn't had to go to any extraordinary lengths to develop a copyright protection stategy that seems to be full-proof. I hope their library continues to grow.

Current Book Tally:
Paperback Books - over 1000, but haven't bought one in a year
eBooks - 300+ and growing!

[dochall]

Actually this article and some comments by Beth as the London User Group made me think I will have another look.

So I found a book that I actually wanted to read - This i find a real problem with some authors works only being available on some retailers.

Having not used Pocket reader I needed to activate it. Okay. Go to the activation site. I need to sign in. WTF I am already signed to passport. Anyway enter my passport details and it bounces me back to the same screen.

Check passport. Sign in to www.microsoft.com - no problem, have a look at passport.com no problems.

Back to the activation site, same problems.

Finally I thought about it and went to peanut press. Found the same book ($3 cheaper) and downloaded from there instead.

If MS is going to use activation they need to be make it more reliable than it is.

[brntcrsp]

... Is it possible to convert the html code to the lit format? ...


Oh verily! I recently converted a text file to HTML and then used microsoft's reader plugin for word to create the .lit. If memory serves correctly, lit is basically a slightly different rendered version of HTML. I took a 200 page txt file, cleaned it up a bit in Word with a little search and replace, saved as WordHTML, and VOILA! My own copy of a lit.

The plugin is found here:http://www.microsoft.com/ebooks/tools/make_your_own.asp

[jpzr]

I haven't bought a fiction book in over a year. I'm a huge fan of Peanut (urk, I mean Palm)...
Palm Press hasn't had to go to any extraordinary lengths to develop a copyright protection stategy that seems to be full-proof. I hope their library continues to grow.


http://www.fictionwise.com is the answer for PocketPC owner,
because Palm Press is NOT delivering eBooks in Microsoft Reader formt.

[Ed Hansberry]

http://www.fictionwise.com is the answer for PocketPC owner,
because Palm Press is NOT delivering eBooks in Microsoft Reader formt.

Palm Digital Media has a fantastic free reader for Pocket PC's called Palm Reader. It supports cleartype. 100% of Peanut Press content is available for Pocket PC's and even older Palm-sized PC's. They also have a $10 reader that adds dictionary support and right text justification.

Just go to www.peanutpress.com and select your region. Then click the WinCE/Pocket PC reader link in the upper left side.

[jpzr]

They also have a $10 reader that adds dictionary support and right text justification.


I prefer to use 1 reader for everything.
I don't like to pay $10 for something that I already have in Microsoft Reader.

[Jeff Kirvin]

http://www.fictionwise.com is the answer for PocketPC owner,
because Palm Press is NOT delivering eBooks in Microsoft Reader formt.

I love Fictionwise, but I still download even their books in PalmDoc format to read in Palm Reader Pro on my Jornada. Palm Reader is a better reader than Microsoft's on the Pocket PC, full justification, no "pagination memory leak", and you can read in whatever TrueType font you want. (I find 10pt Tahoma a little more comfortable than Frutiger Linotype.)

[Ed Hansberry]

Palm Reader is a better reader than Microsoft's on the Pocket PC, full justification, no "pagination memory leak", and you can read in whatever TrueType font you want.
I tend to like Palm Reader better too. I like the battery meter, the unobtrusive progress indicator, lack of perpetual pagination and ability to turn ClearType on or off if desired.

The problem with Palm Reader tough is lack of a good compiler for personal ebooks. Dropbook.exe is next to worthless IMHO. I hear a good compiler is on the way though. :-)

That having been said, the margin of Palm Reader over MS Reader 2.0 for me is about 51:49.

[bjornkeizers]

Anyway. I'm surprised that people actually *buy* ebooks on the net. You can practically get everything for free if you look hard enough [or ask for my private stock


I'm not surprised that some people still uphold the law.

Are you surprised that anyone buys software, when warez collections exist? Are you surprised that anyone buys a car, when you can steal one too?


Please, try not to rip my words out of context here. I never mentioned the word warez [that's another discussion for another day] What I mean was: Why buy a book that you can only read on one device, that is heavily encrypted, that limits your rights etc. And that at a price equal to, if not exceeding that of a paperback.

The reason I don't buy them is because I don't like my rights limited, and therefore I make my own damn books.

[bjornkeizers]

including a nifty Word macro that hunts for errors.


Cute! Is that for 98 or 2000/2? Might be interesting to have one..


Finaly I add the book graphics after have copied them from AMAZON.COM :D


You the MAN! I think I'll do that... Might be nice. Add that "finishing touch" to my home grown stock :D I love the internet!

Long live the home publishers! :D