Quote:
Originally Posted by astra
Well.
Maybe people still read on the PCs/laptops/netbooks whatever.
PDF is unreadable on 6"(8" with 3-4 fonts size changes etc. for comfort) ebook reader, thus do not represent a useable ebook format.
I voted for epub because I hope it has a chance to be a good format in the future but as of now, my quite big ebook library consists mostly of HTML(sometimes LIT/RTF) books that can be converted into any(hopefully) format my current and future reader will support.
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According to a
market research survey of 36,000 book buyers last year, 48% of ebook consumers "still" read on a PC or laptop. PDFs read on a laptop are the norm. How they display on devices designed for reflowable formats is not the measure for whether they're "a useable ebook format." While efforts will probably continue to make them more workable on dedicated devices, the issue isn't that PDFs are a bad format for ebooks, but that existing devices are ill-suited to displaying actual books.
Even for straight-text novels, a lot of readers prefer the fidelity of PDFs to the print sources, and have more confidence in the quality of an ebook that directly emulates the print edition. I suspect the market will stay divided between those for whom adjustable print and low maintenance are priorities and those who find fidelity and being able to display the widest range of texts are more important. Lifestyle and workflow are also going to vary and have a big impact on whether a dedicated but limited device makes sense.