MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Why do many e-books cost more than paperback?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 06-26-2007, 10:39 PM

That's why I recommend XHTML as the format sold to customers by all booksellers.

The OEBPS or EPub format (what Adobe DE supports besides PDF) is essentially a package of very standardized XHTML and ASCII-based style sheets and descriptive files, all of which can be read and formatted as desired by simple conversion programs (like the free programs I use to convert my e-book formats). It's safe to say that any number of conversion programs will be able to read XHTML for the foreseeable future, and use it for conversion to the preferred format.

If you buy the EPub format, and your reader can convert it for its own display, you have a DRM-free original document. If you buy a new reader, simply feed it the EPub document, and it will convert it. If you want to buy the converted format, so be it, but the bookseller should send you the EPub package as well as the converted format. That's the way it should... and can... work.

I believe that, once booksellers finally give up on DRMed formats, that is exactly what will happen (maybe not immediately, but over time and through customer demand).

06-26-2007, 10:39 PM	#93
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	That's why I recommend XHTML as the format sold to customers by all booksellers. The OEBPS or EPub format (what Adobe DE supports besides PDF) is essentially a package of very standardized XHTML and ASCII-based style sheets and descriptive files, all of which can be read and formatted as desired by simple conversion programs (like the free programs I use to convert my e-book formats). It's safe to say that any number of conversion programs will be able to read XHTML for the foreseeable future, and use it for conversion to the preferred format. If you buy the EPub format, and your reader can convert it for its own display, you have a DRM-free original document. If you buy a new reader, simply feed it the EPub document, and it will convert it. If you want to buy the converted format, so be it, but the bookseller should send you the EPub package as well as the converted format. That's the way it should... and can... work. I believe that, once booksellers finally give up on DRMed formats, that is exactly what will happen (maybe not immediately, but over time and through customer demand). Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 06-26-2007 at 10:42 PM.