12-09-2010, 05:26 PM | #91 |
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I may be wrong, but if you buy a book, you are able to then read it in multiple formats, I believe.. if that is true, then i am extremely happy. I own a Sony Reader and I love it to pieces, but I've been torn about moving to the Kindle for a while now. I like my epubs, and I've been trying to stay faithful to sony, but I feel like the Kindle is really starting to get ahead. I mostly read from my Sony at home, and occasionally in a pinch read off my iphone during lunch or at a waiting room, etc. outside of my home. This means that when I buy books off of booksonboard, typically where I get my epubs, I can't read them easily off of the iphone (i believe there is an app.. bluefire or something like that that can handle DRM'ed epubs, but i haven't tried it out). If I'm able to access a book I bought in different formats = win, since I won't have to agonize over whether I'll lose any books I bought if/when I move to the Kindle.
I am also definitely concerned about reports of errors. Nothing irks me more than buying an ebook and then finding it full of errors, or missing scene breaks, etc. It really totally ruins the reading experience. I *prefer* ebooks to paper books. It's more convenient and comfortable. But I don't want to sacrifice quality for that.. not to the extent that some poorly copied/formatted ebooks make me do after paying good money. anyways just my quick thoughts. i may be completely off base, i only just heard about this and did a little bit of research on the site before posting here. Last edited by seajewel; 12-09-2010 at 05:33 PM. |
12-09-2010, 05:36 PM | #92 | |
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I agree, especially since the current state of copyright law is the result of a corporation's fixing the legislative process. Who has more clout these days, Google or Disney? |
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12-09-2010, 05:47 PM | #93 | |
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Copyright law reform needs an advocate like Google to go to Congress (or hell, the UN) and say, "look at all the shiny new toys and commerce and research and education and communication you *could* be having... if our hands weren't tied by this law that's not benefiting anybody but corporate lawyers." (I don't mean "copyright law;" I mean the aspects of it that deal with orphan works; I mean the lack of coherent rules about fair use; I mean the broken DCMA that doesn't allow for easy prosecution of false claims.) |
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12-09-2010, 06:30 PM | #94 | ||
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I believe you can read your book on the Kindle using the web browser, but only when you're connected via WiFi or 3G. (Edit to add: the only other option, as far as I know, would be to download the EPUB version if available, strip the DRM, if it's present, then convert the EPUB to MOBI format and side load it onto your Kindle.) Sorry... Last edited by DMSmillie; 12-09-2010 at 06:33 PM. |
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12-09-2010, 06:59 PM | #95 | |
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as an .acsm (ADE link to the .epub) which Google describes as an EPUB. It turned out ok, but as it stands now I will only consider Google as a last resort for a really hard to find ebook. If any other distributor had products that demonstrated such poor quality control, they would not survive very long. They will never be considered the the "Newegg" of ebook retailing, not if they have results as reflected in this thread. Luck; Ken |
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12-09-2010, 09:40 PM | #96 | |
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It all just seems hit or miss. While Google was thankfully very prompt in issuing a refund, I imagine if I try again, get a messy file, and ask for another refund, they might well be less accommodating. And I couldn't find books that interested me, anyway--no Marjorie Morningstar, no Forever Amber, no Shirley Jackson beyond the one volume every other store has. |
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12-09-2010, 11:02 PM | #97 |
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Every retailer needs to differentiate themselves from every other retailer offering the
same type of merchandise. They can be the store with the best selection, or the store with the best quality, or the store with the lowest price, there has to be some thought as what position in the marketplace the store is striving to take. It would be interesting to see what they were/are aiming for with this eBookstore endeavor, perhaps it was mentioned in the press release for the launch? What does Google think they are bringing to the marketplace that would make it the customer's preferred place to buy ebooks? There must have been something that was presented to the company's directors that formed the basis for the approval to undertake this move. Luck; Ken |
12-10-2010, 09:55 AM | #98 | ||
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My only fear is that it might be too late. If Google gets Congress to change laws allowing them (or anyone) to publish orphaned works then there will be screaming. The claim will be be that big evil Google is buying off Congress and getting Congress to give them the rights to millions of author's works. It won't matter if Congress is giving "everyone" access to orphaned works while insuring authors are still compensated. The narrative will be that Google is buying Congress and getting them to do what Google couldn't get done through the courts. |
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12-10-2010, 11:28 AM | #99 | |
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OK, this is the weekend, someone please come up with a lighter topic... |
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12-10-2010, 11:58 AM | #100 | |
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12-10-2010, 02:28 PM | #101 | |
Kate
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Yeah, well, the screaming hasn't bothered Disney. If Google wants to take this on, I'd buy all my books from them, OCR errors and all. |
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