I am trying to figure out how viewing chm files might work on
a Mac...

I downloaded "Tubby" and indeed it appears to convert chm files
to (many) html files.

I tried feeding the folder of html files to Acrobat and found that recovering
the "natural" page order is all but impossible if there are many pages.

(page links do work however)

I tried setting the page size to 122x163 mm and saving. When reopening
in Acrobat not much seems to have changed. Opening in Preview and
asking for the original size gives something that looks ok.

My principle machine is a mac but I also have a linux/winxp machine
at home.

Does the Amber CHM converter keep the original page order?

I guess I am going to need a CF card (or two). Today Buy.com
was offering a SanDisk 4GB Ultra II Compact Flash ( a type one card)
for 57.15.


Is that a good price for a 4GB card? Will it work ok in a iLiad?

Any other preparations I can make while awaiting the "arrival"?

Jerry

There is a wiki page: Iliad Memorycards list (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Iliad_Memorycards_list).

You could try importing CHM into MobiPocket Reader on a Windows machine and see if the resulting .prc file is readable (again under Windows). There is also an alpha build of version 6.1, see Mobipockets v6.1 is up in the beta center (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14674) that might have better CHM support.

I tried a couple of large (~5 MB) CHM files with FBReader on the iLiad, and they hung the machine - probably because of memory requirements. Smaller CHMs, with simpler TOCs, worked ok. The big CHMs also failed to import into Windows MobiPocket Reader.

After fiddling around with Acrobat a bit more I finally figured out
how to reduce the page size.

The basic flow:

Doc -> Tubby -> Folder of html files
Folder of html files -> acrobat (1)

1) Choose to import the folder of html files as a web site.
Navigate to the folder and select a file.
Click on the settings
Under General unselect headers and footers
Under Page Layout I set the size to 4.875x6.875

I currently have both scaling items checked this which cause certain
pages to render in landscape mode ( what does the iLiad do in
these cases?

I clicked create and 'letter rip' after awhile the results appear
Click save and see what you have :)

Jerry

I tried setting the page size to 122x163 mm and saving. When reopening
in Acrobat not much seems to have changed. Opening in Preview and
asking for the original size gives something that looks ok.
Jerry

Once page size is set in Acrobat you cannot change it. It will not change the layout and flow of teh content.

You need to start out with your page size defined. Then add you content. Then save.

Things to do while waiting for the iLiad....
10. Go poo
9. Read new posts at MobileRead
8. Watch a movie
7. Do the laundry
6. Make the bed
5. Shower
4. Have a meal
3. Figure out how to make large images in Mobi format
2. Convert some PD or CC books to LRF, Mobi, IMP, FB2 formats
1. Turn on your Sony Reader and start reading
0. And still be waiting after all 10 things are done.

You could download Bert's manifest creator (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10348) & play it a bit with it.
You can create/edit the entries in iLiad's Contentlister with this java app. So directories/files with cover image/title/description will have the look the way you want.

Ha!, At 8:30 *this* morning the UPS man tapped on the door!

The iLiad has landed!

When I unpacked the rascal, it appeared that there were *no* plugs for
the power module. iaeeeee!

It turned out that the plug tips where wedged into the packing and since
I had been up only 15 minutes I was too dazed and after a few minutes
I reached into the package and fished them out.

I hate having to wait 3 hours.

Can I turn the rascal on while it is charging so I can get the MAC address?

It appears that the screen looks a bit bigger than I had expected (that's good)

Do I need to create special name directories on my USB stick to access content
stored on the stick?

Thanks,

Jerry

Whoops,

The Mac address is on the back of the iLiad :)

Jerry

Do I need to create special name directories on my USB stick to access content stored on the stick?

Thanks,

Jerry
No, you don't need "special dirs" on USB Stick.
You can turn on iLiad during charging, of course.