Kindle Reader for Windows just announced

[DawnFalcon]

I used to read LIT files on my stylistic 1200. I - and I can't remember if this was a native capacity or something I did myself, I admit - was able to run microsoft reader portrait without rotating the entire screen in windows (which never worked right on my 1200).

[=X=]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Okay, I sit corrected. I've seen two folks thus far chime in to say they use it.


And that's the main reason I know that most folks grab LIT files by preference: easy to strip DRM and convert to something else as desired.

The reason this site is called MobileRead, that is because there is a strong bias for reading devices that are portable. It is also why there is such a strong bias against formats that are not device portable friendly. I think it's a mistake in logic to assume that because only 2 people in a group of thousands responded that LIT is not popular.
Do you recall that survey that ran here a few months back showed that 60% of the people that buy eBooks read on the PC. Most members here where flabbergasted to hear that statistic, I know I was. Which also explains why PDF is also a perfected eBook format, because PDF are great to read on a PC.

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

And that's the main reason I know that most folks grab LIT files by preference: easy to strip DRM and convert to something else as desired.

That was why I started buying LIT to be exact, but then I found out it provided other great benefits that PDF and LRF did not have.

=X=

[volwrath]

Originally Posted by Elsi

And so has Sony. Do you think Sony is going to allow me to replace all the .lrx books I've purchased from them with ePub versions?

I was under the impression that the answer to this question was yes

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by volwrath

I was under the impression that the answer to this question was yes

Absolutely right; Sony have stated that you will be able to re-download all the books you've bought in the Sony store in ePub format.

[dweller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Absolutely right; Sony have stated that you will be able to re-download all the books you've bought in the Sony store in ePub format.

Any idea when this is meant to happen? I doubt my next device will be a Sony.

Would be nice to be able to get ePub versions of the LRX books I've bought from the sony store lately

[HarryT]

They said "by the end of the year".

[geneven]

Microsoft Reader works especially well with TTS, I've read many books on it. I think that one of the best ways of reading is with your eyes and ears at the same time.

Does this new development mean we'll be reading Kindle books on our laptops -- in black and white, or gray? I hope not. It would be nice to be able to see some of those charts, maps, and pictures with a good display.

Amazon stock went way up on the news, I made a bunch and am wondering if I should sell.

I hope you don't have to be connected to the net while you're reading, just when you first get the book.

[Jack Tingle]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Yes, Microsoft Reader has been around for almost ten years. But who actually uses it to read ebooks?

Well, most anyone who reads ebooks on either a laptop, a PocketPC, a Windows Mobile PDA, or a smartphone, uses it from time to time. It's still one of my 3 primary ereading applications on those platforms.

A lot of folks simply aren't comfortable reading extensively on a PC screen. One reason dedicated readers are popular is the eInk screen.

You are aware of the fact that the most popular ebook reader on earth is a PC of some kind, aren't you? Most people have no problem with it. Second most popular is probably whatever portable/converged device they have in thier pocket. Dedicated readers, some of which have eInk screens, are third. Since _Mobile_Read is about the second and third categories, we tend to forget about the first category.

While I think a PC reader for Kindle books is a good idea, I don't see it being many people's primary reader.

You mean the people who currently read on a PC will suddenly stop? I doubt it.

For instance, my primary reader is a Palm OS PDA, with eBooks in Plucker, MobiPocker, PDF, eReader, and a couple of other formats. Because FBReader handles Plucker and Mobipocket files (and ePub), most of my ebook library is also on my notebook which triple boots Wion2K and two flavors of Linux. My master repository is on my desktop PC, with software that will let me read any ebook I possess, but I almost never use it for that.

You might want to tune up your imagination. Other people read differently. In most cases, a lot differently.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

[wallflower75]

Is this Kindle for Windows app just going to be for Windows 7? Or are those of us who are content with an older version of Windows going to be able to get it as well? Because I was looking forward to this, but I read an article on Yahoo that made me think it's only for Windows 7.

[alism]

The Kindle page says it is for XP, Vista and Windows 7

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by wallflower75

Is this Kindle for Windows app just going to be for Windows 7? Or are those of us who are content with an older version of Windows going to be able to get it as well? Because I was looking forward to this, but I read an article on Yahoo that made me think it's only for Windows 7.

Windows XP ok. I suspect this is just a warmed over copy of Mobipocket for the PC. It will have upgraded DRM for Amazon books, TPZ support and likely disabled for mobipocket DRM (stupid by the way). This is a pretty good reader with the ability to manage your library which is sorely needed for the Kindle. It can also convert several other formats like PDF and ePUB.

Dale

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by geneven

Does this new development mean we'll be reading Kindle books on our laptops -- in black and white, or gray? I hope not. It would be nice to be able to see some of those charts, maps, and pictures with a good display.

Well, the demo video I saw did display the book covers in color. I would hope any color images in the ebooks would be in color too.

BOb

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by geneven

Amazon stock went way up on the news, I made a bunch and am wondering if I should sell.

I'd sell, but don't look to me for financial advice-if my advice was good then I'd be rich & I'm not. But, with that caveat, I'd point out that stock that goes high quickly usually also comes down-if not immediately, then eventually. So if it were me, I'd sell while it's still high.

Originally Posted by geneven

I hope you don't have to be connected to the net while you're reading, just when you first get the book.

I don't see how WhisperSync could work if you're not-but if you don't use WhisperSync then that's a good question.

BTW, I thought WhisperSync sounded like a good idea when I read about it, but a friend pointed out some potential privacy issues. Mostly it's a matter of what Amazon does with the information that you send.

One thing that was mentioned, which I think might be good, is that they could tell what books you quit reading before finishing-that might lead to more accurate 'ratings'. ('Best seller' means a lot of people bought it-it says nothing about how many people read it.)

But, consider that the information goes to your account. By definition that means it's personally identified. Depending on how they mine it, they could turn up a *lot* of information about your reading habits.

OTOH I do trust Amazon, as much as I trust any organization, I think. Sure, they're out for my money but they do seem to understand that in the long run they'll get more of it by respecting me than by treating me as just a 'resource'.

[BenG]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Well, the demo video I saw did display the book covers in color. I would hope any color images in the ebooks would be in color too.

BOb

The kindle reader for the ipod Touch has color covers, but they mostly have the same crappy generic covers as for the Kindle so it doesn't matter much.

[SpiderMatt]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Well, the demo video I saw did display the book covers in color. I would hope any color images in the ebooks would be in color too.

BOb

Kindle books are exactly the same as the mobipocket books. Amazon doesn't make anything gray scale. I strip the DRM off all my books from Amazon and have seen that they all still have color. And as someone mentioned, the iPhone shows color in the books, as well. It's clear Amazon was thinking about providing content for other devices and thinking about a future technology in ebook readers.