DE Book unreadable on Sony Reader...no options?

mgemmons · 08-03-2008, 02:57 PM

I just purchased Deaths Head from ebooks.com in Adobe DE format for my Sony PRS-505. It's unreadable at the two smallest fonts and way too large at the largest. I've looked for options to convert ebooks to other formats, but it seems DE files can't be converted. Ebooks.com is disinclined to give me the book in another format (wtf?). Am I basically screwed here?

On a side note, I will never purhcase an Adobe DE file again. I would really prefer some positive outcome to this, but if I can't view the file properly on my device and I can't get a refund I'll simply cancel the credit card charge

. And companies wonder why the average user hates DRM so much.

JSWolf · 08-03-2008, 04:26 PM

What is the file extension on this eBook?

wallcraft · 08-03-2008, 04:53 PM

Ebooks.com says:

Quote:

Refunds will be given at the discretion of the Company Management.

However, they really should give a refund for ebooks that don't work.

The real problem, though, is that Adobe DE on the PRS-505 is a limited implementation (e.g. only 3 font sizes), and publishers did not know about these limitations when they produced the ebook. Either Sony/Adobe needs to fix the reader software, or the publisher needs to update the ebook itself. I have seen responses on Mobipocket's forum indicating that a publisher has been asked by MobiPocket to correct an ebook, but I don't know if they ever do. So as a practical matter, it would probably be easier for Adobe to fix the problem (e.g. by allowing a font size override).

mgemmons · 08-05-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What is the file extension on this eBook?

It's an Adobe Digital Editions PDF. It says on the first page of the file that it is formatted for 1024x768. Of course, there wasn't any way to know this before I purchased it. Still no response from ebooks. Guess I'll call my CC company

.

JSWolf · 08-07-2008, 08:39 PM

The problem we are seeing now is a new one. We are getting eBook shops labeling PDF with DRM as Adobe DE format. That is misleading as Adobe DE format is actually just ePub. Just fact that Adobe has switched to using DE to read DRMed PDF is irrelevant. So basically, unless it's ePub, it's not a DE edition and should not be sold as such. And all eBook in ePub format should be sold as being compatible with mobile DE and if not able to be made compatible, then at least labeled as such.

Hadrien · 08-07-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem we are seeing now is a new one. We are getting eBook shops labeling PDF with DRM as Adobe DE format. That is misleading as Adobe DE format is actually just ePub. Just fact that Adobe has switched to using DE to read DRMed PDF is irrelevant. So basically, unless it's ePub, it's not a DE edition and should not be sold as such. And all eBook in ePub format should be sold as being compatible with mobile DE and if not able to be made compatible, then at least labeled as such.

I fully agree with you JSWolf. Companies such as ebooks.com are making all sorts of press releases to say that they're now compatible with the PRS-505. But there's a huge difference between offering PDF files and ePub files for the PRS-505. While PDF reflow is a good solution as a fallback method, when you don't have any other solution, it shouldn't be considered the normal way to read files on the 505. Adobe should be extra careful with this problem, otherwise some people might label Adobe DE with "bad user experience".

JSWolf · 08-07-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadrien

I fully agree with you JSWolf. Companies such as ebooks.com are making all sorts of press releases to say that they're now compatible with the PRS-505. But there's a huge difference between offering PDF files and ePub files for the PRS-505. While PDF reflow is a good solution as a fallback method, when you don't have any other solution, it shouldn't be considered the normal way to read files on the 505. Adobe should be extra careful with this problem, otherwise some people might label Adobe DE with "bad user experience".

I think what we should do is start a thread here that lists all the eBook shops that sell eBooks in "Adobe DE" format and what format it actually is. BooksOnBoard is the only store I know fo right now that sells ePub and is not mislabeling it at all.

ebooks.com no longer labels their PDF as Adobe DE. They have it as just Adobe.

Hadrien · 08-07-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

ebooks.com no longer labels their PDF as Adobe DE. They have it as just Adobe.

Adobe as a label for a book format doesn't make any sense.

JSWolf · 08-07-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadrien

Adobe as a label for a book format doesn't make any sense.

true. But at least it's not Adobe DE any longer. That was an even worse mess.

=X= · 08-07-2008, 09:55 PM

Well it is not really misleading as eBooks. As mislead implies malice or deception. EBooks.com is telling the truth and they are not deceiving their customers. The new firmware update does make it compatible with PDF and ePub. While I do prefer ePub over PDF I have bough secure PDF when that is the only option available.

That said I believe eBooks labeling PDF as DE confuses the customer.

=X=

DaleDe · 08-07-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I think what we should do is start a thread here that lists all the eBook shops that sell eBooks in "Adobe DE" format and what format it actually is. BooksOnBoard is the only store I know fo right now that sells ePub and is not mislabeling it at all.

ebooks.com no longer labels their PDF as Adobe DE. They have it as just Adobe.

Adobe DE is a program that reads eBooks. It is not a format. As it happens the Adobe DE reader will read both ePUB and PDF. Either format can have or not have DRM.

Dale

08-03-2008, 02:57 PM	#1
mgemmons Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	DE Book unreadable on Sony Reader...no options? I just purchased Deaths Head from ebooks.com in Adobe DE format for my Sony PRS-505. It's unreadable at the two smallest fonts and way too large at the largest. I've looked for options to convert ebooks to other formats, but it seems DE files can't be converted. Ebooks.com is disinclined to give me the book in another format (wtf?). Am I basically screwed here? On a side note, I will never purhcase an Adobe DE file again. I would really prefer some positive outcome to this, but if I can't view the file properly on my device and I can't get a refund I'll simply cancel the credit card charge . And companies wonder why the average user hates DRM so much.

08-07-2008, 09:55 PM	#10
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Well it is not really misleading as eBooks. As mislead implies malice or deception. EBooks.com is telling the truth and they are not deceiving their customers. The new firmware update does make it compatible with PDF and ePub. While I do prefer ePub over PDF I have bough secure PDF when that is the only option available. That said I believe eBooks labeling PDF as DE confuses the customer. =X= Last edited by =X=; 08-08-2008 at 02:43 AM. Reason: Updated last sentence

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08-03-2008, 04:26 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,015 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What is the file extension on this eBook?

08-07-2008, 08:39 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,015 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The problem we are seeing now is a new one. We are getting eBook shops labeling PDF with DRM as Adobe DE format. That is misleading as Adobe DE format is actually just ePub. Just fact that Adobe has switched to using DE to read DRMed PDF is irrelevant. So basically, unless it's ePub, it's not a DE edition and should not be sold as such. And all eBook in ePub format should be sold as being compatible with mobile DE and if not able to be made compatible, then at least labeled as such.

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