Touch Nook STR Not supporting eReader PDB files?

[user_none]

So I just pre-orded the new Nook. After placing my order I decided to look at the specs. I noticed that under the support formats eReader PDB is not listed. B&N is saying it only supports EPUB and PDF.

I've sent the following email to B&N asking for clarification about B&N sold eReader PDB files.

The new Nook STR has EPUB and PDF listed as the only supported ebook formats. How will I be able to read eReader PDB formatted books distributed by you on this device? Just the other day I purchased Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson and received this book as an eReader PDB file. Will I not be able to read large parts (including this title) of the B&N sold books on the new Nook?

My main concern is B&N is still selling titles in the eReader PDB format and I would like to actually be able to read books I buy from B&N on the device. I'm still ending up with about half the books I buy being in this format. I do only download to my computer and not directly to a Nook if that makes a difference. Anyone have ideas, thoughts, know anything about this.

[AnemicOak]

I didn't know they were still selling books in eReader/PDB. Pretty sure the 'touch' won't support it as the reader appears similar to the 'color' (like maybe they're using the same software) and that doesn't support them.

[user_none]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I didn't know they were still selling books in eReader/PDB.

Yep. They still are.

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Pretty sure the 'touch' won't support it as the reader appears similar to the 'color' (like maybe they're using the same software) and that doesn't support them.

So I'm buying a device from B&N that can't read books sold by B&N...

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by user_none

So I'm buying a device from B&N that can't read books sold by B&N...

I'd be ticked too if I had any PDB's from them. I've got 330 boks in my library there, but none are PDB's.

[Nate the great]

Here's what I was told at the press conference:

If B&N sell it, you will be able to read in on the Nook.

[Jane12]

User_None, are you on a Mac?

As I understand it, B&N is transitioning to EPUB exclusively and anything you previously downloaded as a PDB can be re-downloaded as an EPUB.

What I've heard is that if you're downloading to a PC or a Nook, you already get EPUBs automatically.

But if you're downloading to a Mac, you will often get PDBs because the old eReader for Mac desktop app sometimes has trouble with EPUBs. (However, now that there's a beta version of Nook for Mac desktop app available, Mac users will probably start getting EPUBs instead of PDBs soon.)

To get an EPUB when downloading to a Mac, change the User Agent on your browser to mimic a PC. You can do this in Safari by going to the menu bar, choosing Develop > User Agent, and selecting Firefox for PC or Internet Explorer.

I haven't tried this on every single book that B&N sells, of course, but so far, it works for every single book I've bought from them.

If you're on a Mac, I'd be interested in knowing if your experience is the same as mine -- i.e., downloading to a Mac results in PDBs, but changing the User Agent to mimic a PC results in EPUBs.

[JohnnyRocks]

I'm guessing if you bought it on BandN in PDB format, you can probably re-download it in Epub format, either right now, or in the very near future, as they seem to be transitioning to 100% epub.

If all else fails, a quick, easy Calibre convert should do the trick as well.

[boswd]

nevermind

[user_none]

Originally Posted by Jane12

User_None, are you on a Mac?

Yes I am.

Originally Posted by Jane12

If you're on a Mac, I'd be interested in knowing if your experience is the same as mine -- i.e., downloading to a Mac results in PDBs, but changing the User Agent or downloading directly to a Nook results in EPUBs.

It is. Changing the user agent to IE 8 on Windows and everything downloads as an EPUB. If I don't change my user agent I get PDBs for a large number the titles in my library.

[jedifarfy]

Yep, I was told by the phone customer service (not 1-800-the book peoples) that PDB is no longer supported. Pretty much everything should be ePub. Unfortunately I don't have a Mac so I can't play around and see what you're seeing. Very very odd.

[Jane12]

Just curious -- is there a problem with losing PDB support if all B&N books can be re-downloaded as EPUBs? Is there an advantage to PDBs I'm not aware of?

[user_none]

Originally Posted by Jane12

Just curious -- is there a problem with losing PDB support if all B&N books can be re-downloaded as EPUBs? Is there an advantage to PDBs I'm not aware of?

It's not an issue if I can get the book as an EPUB. However, up until starting this thread I was under the impression that I could only get certain titles as eReader PDB files because that's all B&N would let me download.

[detayls]

Hi!

I have a lot of older eBooks in PDB format tied by ereader.com to my credit card number.

Will I be able to read these with my new Nook Simple Touch?

Thanks.

[user_none]

I got a response from B&N on the issue. The new Nook STR will not read eReader PDB files. They have forwarded support for eReader PDB files as a suggestion to "the
individuals responsible for NOOK Books for consideration."

[kezza]

Originally Posted by Jane12

Just curious -- is there a problem with losing PDB support if all B&N books can be re-downloaded as EPUBs? Is there an advantage to PDBs I'm not aware of?

Yes, there is a problem. Those of us who have troves of books bought through B&N-owned companies like Fictionwise and eReader have no way to read those books on our B&N devices if they ditch PDB. If B&N isn't going to make their wholly-owned subsidiaries switch to EPUB, they really shouldn't be ditching support for PDB.