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zeppo · 12-06-2010, 07:03 PM

I am exploring the idea of buying a dedicated ereader-- specifically, I have been looking into just how easy it is to find the books I want. Easy you think? Nope.

It has been extremely frustrating and time consuming actually. The reason this is so comes down to the fact that when you find a book on line by the publisher you like, you would expect that when there is a link to download the e-version, it would be the same publisher? Am I crazy? Is that not what you would expect?

Well, of course that would make life simple, and there is no need for that. Much better that the websites just direct it so you download a completely different mystery version-- let it be a surprise! Now, I can download the preview so I am not doling out cash first, but still, it remains a surprise until you are able to open it. How fun!

Let me take my sarcasm a little further when I express the joy of downloading the sample version, and still often having no clue which version it is because all references to the publisher are missing.

Specifically, what it boils down to folks is there is a lot of foreign literature I am interested in reading and that means I am interested in who does the translation. So far I guess my best game plan is to go to a book store an take a snapshot of a few pages with my ipod touch of each version, so that when I do go to download I can compare with what I have snapshotted with my ipod and determine which version I am looking at on my download.

So anyway, are there any of you out there who have shared my frustration and have found ways of dealing with it?

What's the best source of feedback as to which downloads are well done in terms of features, formatting, etc. Very frustrating to find out that websites that have reader reviews available such as Amazon and B&N do not distinguish the publisher or version. So when you are dealing with classic literature that has multiple publishers, all reviews are lumped together. Coupled with the fact that most reviewers don't even realize this, and you can't always tell which translation the reviews are about.

12-06-2010, 07:03 PM	#1
zeppo Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 26 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	translated literature I am exploring the idea of buying a dedicated ereader-- specifically, I have been looking into just how easy it is to find the books I want. Easy you think? Nope. It has been extremely frustrating and time consuming actually. The reason this is so comes down to the fact that when you find a book on line by the publisher you like, you would expect that when there is a link to download the e-version, it would be the same publisher? Am I crazy? Is that not what you would expect? Well, of course that would make life simple, and there is no need for that. Much better that the websites just direct it so you download a completely different mystery version-- let it be a surprise! Now, I can download the preview so I am not doling out cash first, but still, it remains a surprise until you are able to open it. How fun! Let me take my sarcasm a little further when I express the joy of downloading the sample version, and still often having no clue which version it is because all references to the publisher are missing. Specifically, what it boils down to folks is there is a lot of foreign literature I am interested in reading and that means I am interested in who does the translation. So far I guess my best game plan is to go to a book store an take a snapshot of a few pages with my ipod touch of each version, so that when I do go to download I can compare with what I have snapshotted with my ipod and determine which version I am looking at on my download. So anyway, are there any of you out there who have shared my frustration and have found ways of dealing with it? What's the best source of feedback as to which downloads are well done in terms of features, formatting, etc. Very frustrating to find out that websites that have reader reviews available such as Amazon and B&N do not distinguish the publisher or version. So when you are dealing with classic literature that has multiple publishers, all reviews are lumped together. Coupled with the fact that most reviewers don't even realize this, and you can't always tell which translation the reviews are about.