Newbie! I read a lot on the road while traveling

[Arkie_VI]

Can get new releases for same price as paperback at Wal-mart? Which reader is best? How do I get started?

Thanks

[Nurhisham Hussein]

You can try here first:

http://www.fictionwise.com

or

http://www.mobipocket.com

ebook versions aren't always released at the same time as the physical books are, and some new releases will not be available (some authors refuse to allow ebook versions).

[Brad Adrian]

Another source is www.ereader.com. You can also find a TON of e-books (many/most in the public domain) at http://esspc-ebooks.com.

[JDTagish]

There are several ebook readers out there, but my favorite is uBook. It can read many file formats, pretty much all formats (except .LIT and encrypted .pdb like from eReader) which gives you many options. There is a small fee ($12) now, although previous versions were free. You can locate them at www.gowerpoint.com. They do have a trial version available so I would encourage your to try them out.

Also, there is eReader. I think about $10 for their pro version and I think they also have a free "lite" version) which reads the .pdb format (exclusively, I think) They require that books you purchase from their site be "unlocked" by entering your credit card used to purchase the book into your PPC as verification. Good for them, but I have heard stories from people who could not remember which card they used and could never unlock their book. This prevents you from "sharing" the file with anyone else, of course, since your user ID or owner info on the device also has to match the one you entered when you purchased the book.
(A side note: what killed eReader for me was that I purchased the Palm version and then a week later switched to a PPC, and they refused to switch my license over...they wanted me to spend the money a week later for the same product...I switched to uBook and never looked back.)


Mobipocket, (not sure, I think there is a "lite" version that is free and a more feature rich version for a fee) which reads .pdb and .prc file formats.

There is also MS Reader which reads only .LIT files, but should already be installed on your device, but if not, is available for free download at Microsofts website. You DO have to activate the reader via an MS Passport account (also free) however.

As stated by previous posters, there are several locations to download contemporary ebooks for a fee, and many for free public domain works (older "classics") including library sites. For more recent works, I suggest that you read through many of the older posts in this topic...I found quite a few resources for cheap to free sources for contemporary books.

Since reading ebooks is the primary way I use my PPC, I hope you enjoy reading ebooks as much as I do!

[SteveHoward999]

There is also MS Reader which reads only .LIT files, but should already be installed on your device, but if not, is available for free download at Microsofts website. You DO have to activate the reader via an MS Passport account (also free) however.



You only have to activate it if you buy DRM-protected books. Many are unprotected.

If you like sci-fi and fantasy, take a look at the Baen free library ... www.baen.com/library - They have about 100 free books, available in numerous formats so you can test out different readers and get a library of free books at the same time :-)

[disconnected]

As far as I know, almost all new books (those available in WalMart, etc. in paper form) are only available with some form of DRM, or not available at all as ebooks. I'd guess that less than 30% of popular books get released as ebooks.

My reader (and source of ebooks) is mainly ereader, mostly because I find its DRM the least objectionable. They also have as many current books as any site that I've found, and they're well organized for finding the most recent books in any category, as well as for specific searches. My only worry is what happens if they go out of business and the reader becomes obsolete; I'd hate to lose my whole library of books. As long as the site exists, however, all the ebooks you buy are available for redownload, with no limits. It makes life easier to always use the same credit card for the ebooks, so you know how to unlock every book. If you do need to change the card, you can update your ereader account, and re-download all of your ebooks so they all use the new card for unlocking. You are able to loan the ebook in a limited way. There is no device-matching check, you just have to know the exact name and number on the credit card. My husband and I share ebooks, and if you want to loan the ebook to someone not that close, you could actually have them hand over their PPC and you could unlock the book -- the credit card number is not actually stored on the PPC.

I find the DRM schemes for Microsoft Lit and Mobipocket to be more cumbersome.

[SteveHoward999]

As far as I know, almost all new books (those available in WalMart, etc. in paper form) are only available with some form of DRM, or not available at all as ebooks.


That's not been my experience - but I think it probably depends on exactly what books you buy.

Plus of course I have found enough resources for free books - like Baen - that the few DRM books I have are no real issue.

And there are always ways to de-DRM the books, but we are not allowed to talk about them here ;-)

--

[MariEmerald]

Since reading ebooks is the primary way I use my PPC, I hope you enjoy reading ebooks as much as I do!

I actually use my PCC for most of its Outlook functions, which is why I initially bought it, but since I discovered ebooks (last weekend) I've decided I am NOT going back to paperbooks! I read so many different books at once and wait so long at traffic lights or eat lunch with boring company that I find my PPC is an excellent companion!

Since reading is what you use your PPC for mostly, how much do you think the average person would pay for an e-reading device? I find people enjoy their paperbacks the most...but still wonder why the ebook industry has been so slow to grow. What are your thoughts?

[JDTagish]

[/quote]Since reading is what you use your PPC for mostly, how much do you think the average person would pay for an e-reading device? I find people enjoy their paperbacks the most...but still wonder why the ebook industry has been so slow to grow. What are your thoughts?[/quote]

The one thing I have come to learn about PPC software, of whatever variety, is that no 2 people prioritize the same way. If I think any "normal" person would spend say, $15 for an ebook reader, there would quickly be a dozen posts from people who think that reading ebooks is not the primary function for a PPC and would not actually pay for software to do something outside of a business function. That would be rebutted by those people who find that downtime while traveling can be spent in recreational pursuits like reading and would pay something for a program, but not as much as they might for a productvity app.

That being said, I don't think any reader software costs more than $20, and most have a free option. I love uBook, and when they switched to a fee for the program, I bought immediately, despite the fact that my free version would continue to work. But, I wanted to support the developer, since I use his product every day, it seemed a small price to pay. BUT, if they were charging say, 100 for the program, I think I would have kept the free version, and looked for a lower priced option.

The great thing about PPC users is that since no 2 people think the same way, there are TONS of opinions out there to go along with the TONS of applications. That's what makes forums like this one so great...everyone has input with a different point of view.

From what I understand, the ebook industry is slower growing because there are so many ways around the DRM protections, and so publishers/authors feel they do not want to release their product that way so they can ensure more profits.

I don't know if that is the "truth" and I suspect that there are many additional layers of reasons.

I do know that there are many locations that you can get modern releases of ebooks for free. This doesn't mean that they are "legal" to own however, and each person has to come to terms with what that means for them, and what they are willing to do about it.

Reading is by no means the only thing I use my PPC for, but I do read every single day, without fail, so I guess that makes reading the thing I do most with my PPC.

I hope that answers your question!

[jthinker]

Good for them, but I have heard stories from people who could not remember which card they used and could never unlock their book. This prevents you from "sharing" the file with anyone else, of course, since your user ID or owner info on the device also has to match the one you entered when you purchased the book.
(A side note: what killed eReader for me was that I purchased the Palm version and then a week later switched to a PPC, and they refused to switch my license over...they wanted me to spend the money a week later for the same product...I switched to uBook and never looked back.)



You can actually go back to the site, login with your a/c and re-generate the book with your new credit card no, down the book again and unlock it.

As for palm version of the book, you don't have to request for the PPC version, just copy the pdc file for the palm version to your PPC and the PPC version of eReader will open it.

I have done both the above recently when i switch from Palm to PPC.

[Jorgen]

All eReader books can be read on both Palm and PPC. I think he means that they refused to switch his eReader program from Palm to PPC - I am not surprised as that is normal practice.

Jorgen

[JDTagish]

As for palm version of the book, you don't have to request for the PPC version, just copy the pdc file for the palm version to your PPC and the PPC version of eReader will open it.

I have done both the above recently when i switch from Palm to PPC.

I was not speaking about the books, but the reader itself. I had paid for the pro version for Palm, and they would not switch the license to PPC, even tho it had been purchased 2 days before. Within their rights I'm sure, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I chose not to continute to support them by giving them any more of my money.

[Arkie_VI]

Thanks guys!!! I'm trying ereader.

[JDTagish]

All eReader books can be read on both Palm and PPC. I think he means that they refused to switch his eReader program from Palm to PPC - I am not surprised as that is normal practice.


I fully realize they were within their rights. It was ultimately my responsibility that I decided to switch devices 2 days after the purchase. BUT, it would have been excellent customer service to make an allowance under that circumstance. Their flat out refusal, and really, their treatment of me was the issue for me. They were rude and condescending at the mere thought of being asked.

On the flip side of that, I had purchased an Astraware game bundle about a month before, and contacted them with the same request. They could not switch either, but the offered my a significant discount to repurchase the software, and offered a free title as well. (OK the freebie was something I never heard of before, one of their lesser known games, but still...)

Comparing the 2 experiences, while Astraware was unable to give me exactly what I asked for, for the same reason as eReader, they recognized my value as on ONGOING customer and did everything they could to let me know that by offering the discount and free title.

So, I have never spent another dime with eReader and buy my books from other sources. Astraware however has gotten hundreds of dollars from me with ongoing purchases.

It's really a matter of customer service. I feel that eReader should have realized that I would spend far more in books than the cost of the reader and made it possible for me to feel good about doing business with them, rather than trying to make me feel stupid for buying a program and then deciding to switch platforms.

Just my opinion tho...it really has no bearing on the quality of the reader or their books.

[dMores]

i purchased "palm ebook studio" for mac a while ago.
and i found out the books created with this program weren't readable on my p900 using handybook. (it supports .pdb, but not the encrypted kind)

i mailed them and told them about my problem, and they refunded the money.
i was amazed, because i thought i had blown 20 bucks for nothing.

[Jorgen]

JDTagish, I agree that flexibility is the way to go for any company that wants our money and they most certainly should not be rude. On the other hand: many of us have both Palm and PPCs (I do so myself), so they are not likely to change their practice.

Now you have made me curious: I assume you were a sworn Palm aficionado when you bought that program two days before: so what made you make change from Palm to PPC?

Jorgen

[JDTagish]

Now you have made me curious: I assume you were a sworn Palm aficionado when you bought that program two days before: so what made you make change from Palm to PPC?

Jorgen

Well, I wasn't really a "sworn" anything at that point. I had decided a couple of months before to get my bery first PDA, and bought a Palm T/E. I thought it was fun, but then got caught up in "more power!" So, thanks to Staples 14 day try out period, I worked my way through the T/E, Zire 72 and then the T3, which was then the top model. I was trying to get the devices to hook up with Outlook, and sync at home and work. The work was the key, and I had a bunch of sub folders and things that their regular conduit could not handle, and I bought a few programs to help with that.

Then, I had a really simple problem trying to register the T3. I called Palm One and asked for help. Their customer service people (in India or SriLanka or somewhere like that) were so completely unfamiliar with the devices AND the language, they actually told me the device would need service and I had to PAY for it, when my problem was with a registration code! I had nightmares about the device ACTUALLY needing service or needding help with something. So, I decided to return the Palm, and bought an iPaq 4355 instead.

The first night, I hated the iPaq. Everything seemed so unfamiliar. The next day however, I discovered how intuitive the Windows Mobile platform really is, and how easily it syncs with Outlook. I was in love from that moment on, and have never given a Palm a second thought.

Again, it's about the customer service. I might never have needed to contact Palm One again, but the way a simple call was handled really scared me for a time when I might really need help and couldn't get it.

HP was a familiar brand, as I own HP computers and printers. They are usually pretty good about repairs...not to say they are perfect or anything, but nowhere near as bad as that one call to Palm could ever be.

So, I became a dedicated Windows Mobile user. The 4355 is retired, and I have an e805 now. Which I love...it really seems to me to be THE perfect device. I am planning to pick up a few more of them when people start selling off their WM03SE devices, so I can stick with it! I might pick up a WM5 device sometime as well, but I think I will wait a bit for that.

[Jorgen]

Fair enough. Good to hear that a company is paying for their outsourcing by losing customers!

I stopped buying Palm after a l-o-n-g discussion in which they denied there was a bug in the Tungsten T (Palm US gave in in the end after tons of emails, Palm UK never did) and they didn't feel that they should give some sort compensation in the form of for example a cheaper upgrade to those who complained about the problem. Not that I think that many PPC manufacturers would do so.

I remember that HP offered all hp-548 owners their money back when it became evident that the machine had 12-bit and not 16-bit graphics.

Jorgen