Comments on: 2008 Holiday EBook Reading Buying Guide, Part I

By: Rob Preece, BooksForABuck.com

Rob Preece, BooksForABuck.com — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:20:30 +0000

Thanks for the helpful run-down on reading devices. I thought I’d mention that I often read my eBookWise in bright sunlight and I’ve never experienced the fade-out you mention. For the money, I think the eBookWise is a great product. I’d love the convenience of wireless downloads, but the eBookWise gets the job done. As I spend a lot of time on the train, a small device is the perfect solution to reading submissions as well as fun reading.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

By: Holiday tips on e-book readers—and book-capable gizmos like the PSP | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:13:40 +0000

[...] has been running a useful series on e-book readers and book-capable devices, and now here are more tips—in MP3, from the Writing [...]

By: eBook-Review » eBook Buying guide – Dear Author blog

eBook-Review » eBook Buying guide – Dear Author blog — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:47:24 +0000

[...] Jane at the Dear Author blog compiled a nice summary of the top sellers and their features, and the pros and cons of both the [...]

By: TerryS

TerryS — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:29:36 +0000

When I read today that Sony is layiing off workers, it reminded me of yet another reason I personally did not consider a Sony Reader for my ebooks. Unfortunately, Sony has a long history of abandoning products (BetaMax, Clie, etc) and markets. To my way of thinking when they abandon a product they are also abandoning their loyal customers. I have a Clie. I even have a back up Clie for when my Clie finally dies a natural death. But I will never again purchase any Sony product. It is really too bad because their products are excellent and most of the time superior to like products. But I need to look further than the upfront cost of a product. In that respect Sony is not reliable. I am fervently hoping for the sake of all those customers of the Sony Ebook Reader. that Sony continues to support the product well into the future.

By: Romance Vagabonds » Blog Archive » I Heart My Kindle

Romance Vagabonds » Blog Archive » I Heart My Kindle — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:16:23 +0000

[...] the Kindle and other ereaders, Dear Author has posted their annual holiday ereader buying guides: Part 1 and Part [...]

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:31:00 +0000

@Amy: Yes, stripping the DRM of a secure book (i.e., one bought from NY publisher) is necessary to convert from one format to another.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:27:41 +0000

Jane, Thanks for the quick reply. I’m a bit illiterate when it comes to tech language. Is it your understanding that stripping DRM is a necessary part of the conversion process from one format to another? In other words, did I interpret what I read on those conversion sites correctly? This is a bit frustrating. I only planned to convert formats of books I actually purchase(d) from a legit source, including ones I already own (for reading on my laptop). Clearly I should have figured all this out before I purchased the ereader!

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:13:28 +0000

@Amy: According to the DMCA, it appears that stripping the DRM is not legal. Time shifting has been deemed appropriate by the Supreme Court but it has not considered consumer format shifting. So you’ll have to make the decision yourself whether you feel comfortable with stripping DRM.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:03:22 +0000

by Midknyt November 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 am:

As for conversion on the Sony for you to get deals elsewhere (I like Books on Board), download ConvertLIT GUI and Calibre. Buy your books in Microsoft Reader format (.lit), which is a really common format to find books in. Open it in ConvertLIT GUI and hit downconvert. Then open the new downconverted in Calibre and hit convert, then put the new book on your reader. Viola, books that you can read with about 15 seconds of effort.

Thank you for the conversion tips! I have been considering an eReader for months, and my desire to get one increases each time Jane blogs about the subject. I went back and forth on Sony and the Kindle, and I finally ordered a Sony 505 (as DH’s Xmas gift to me) last week. I can’t wait to receive it!

Question about using conversion software such as ConvertLIT and calibre to convert files so the 505 can read them: I just looked at the ConvertLIT home page and it sounds as if the conversion works by stripping the DRM protection from the .lit files. Is that correct? If so, is this legal? (Same question for those who convert file formats for other readers.) [Off topic here: I ask because DH and I have been discussing whether we could/should try some of the software available on the Internet to convert some movies we own on DVD onto a format his iTouch will read. The DVDs in question has the built-in codes that prohibit copying. I read various forums and I'm still confused about the legality of removing the encryption codes -- not sure if I'm using the terminology correctly. DH is convinced such conversions are illegal so he refuses to do it.]

By: A $1,495 Kindle—plus some holiday buying tips | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:34:00 +0000

[...] Parts I and II of an e-book-gizmo buying guide from DearAuthor.com. The first part deals with dedicated [...]