Non US use of (dis)Connect?

AndiR · 12-25-2006, 04:20 PM

Hi all,

What are non US users ( I know we are a rare breed) doing to order books off connect?

I have had a look through the threads but can't see any definite answers :-(

If Non US readers are not using the connect store, what stores are they buying from to gain access to "new" books as opposed to old classics / rips of books via P2P etc?

Thanks and a merry Christmas from a sunny Barcelona, Andi

ultim8fury · 12-25-2006, 09:38 PM

There are a few members on this board who will purchase gift cards on your behalf which will allow you to use the connect store. Leaping Gnome bought my last one.

Looking on the frappr map there are quite a few people outside of the US with a reader so you're not alone.

NatCh · 12-25-2006, 11:03 PM

There's also Baen's site if you like their sort of scifi.

susall · 12-26-2006, 12:45 PM

Normally, I purchase all my content in Microsoft Reader .lit format, because I can easily convert to the format of my choice. I don't often go out to the Connect store for this reason, even though I am a U.S. user.

HarryT · 12-26-2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndiR

What are non US users ( I know we are a rare breed) ...

Not as rare as you might think. A significant minority of us in this forum live outside the US.

AndiR · 12-26-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susall

Normally, I purchase all my content in Microsoft Reader .lit format, because I can easily convert to the format of my choice. I don't often go out to the Connect store for this reason, even though I am a U.S. user.

What sites would you recomend?

What are you using to convert .lit?( I have ABC Amber on my laptop at the moment)

How do you know if they are DRMed and so cannot be converted?

Thanks AndiR

HarryT · 12-27-2006, 03:36 AM

Andi,

The somewhat unfortunately named "Convert LIT" can convert "protected" LIT files. A Google search will find it for you.

JimCuk · 12-27-2006, 04:56 PM

Hi All joined today,

Just thought I'd tag on this and say Hi as Im Non US too. Ordered mine from the states and im in the UK.

andyj · 12-27-2006, 06:18 PM

Hi started today on low note when I discovered wife's xmas present to me non UK inclusive @ Connect store. Indebted to members for advice and warm welcome to forum. Just need new friendly US buddy's assistance with some purchases??
I have successfully set up account and registered and redeemed $50 spend. Need to top up soonest
Best wishes to and heres hoping to forge link with US buddy!!

jamesoan · 05-03-2007, 06:39 AM

Hi, new to this forum, although have been reading it for last few months looking for updates on when UK will be able to purchase from Connect Store. It is soooo frustrating. I have read all my $50 worth that came with it, and although have downloaded many from the free ebook stores - I would really like to purchase some newer books, for variety.

I got this from Sony this week:
'Unfortunately there is no ETA and we want to thank you for your recent purchase of the Sony Reader. The Sony Reader was designed for you to read all types of materials in multiple formats. Unfortunately, if you are not a resident of the United States you will not be able to purchase Connect eBooks from the Connect eBook store.

This does not mean that you cannot get materials to read on your reader. Since the reader is able to display RTF, TXT, PDF (unsecured), and LRF files there are a huge number of places on the Internet you can go to get reading materials. You might wish to check out the following sites for starters:

- www.gutenberg.org
- www.manybooks.net
- www.baen.com

Any site that sells/delivers unsecured reading materials in the supported formats should be able to be read on the Reader. Also, interesting reading from the Web can be copied and pasted into a word-processing program and then saved as an RTF (without photos) for viewing on the Reader. '

Interesting to see that they are now advertisng other sites!

thetechnogeek · 05-06-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimCuk

Hi All joined today,

Just thought I'd tag on this and say Hi as Im Non US too. Ordered mine from the states and im in the UK.

Me too- except I bought mine in the US (DC) when I was on a visit. A great gadget to take back to the UK!

Great support forum

katania · 05-11-2007, 05:46 PM

Hi all of you , I am also a non us . Some of you have had your Sonyreaders for a while now. Are you able to download new books from somewhere, whithout needing to be a pc expert to convert formats and so on ( I am a very basic pc user, soon to be 50!!)
Grateful for any help,
Trying to decide between the Sony or the iLiad (not easy)

EatingPie · 05-11-2007, 11:12 PM

Hi Katania.

I'm in the US, but I will opine about formats.

The Sony Reader uses its own format, LRF/BBeB, and I find it very natural and readable. I appreciate it more and more as time goes on. The reader also supports RTF and PDF. While I have not used many RTF books, PDF is... let me see how to put this... an unmitigated disaster. I cannot stand reading PDFs on the Reader -- even the Reader's Manual!

If you do decide on the Reader, I consider converson to Sony's LRF/BBeB format imperative. And since the Sony Store and ManyBooks.net are the only places that I've found supporting this format without conversion, you're somewhat limited.

I have no experience with the Iliad. I'd ask how PDFs look on that -- though I don't imagine them looking better, since it's the same e-Ink all around (maybe they have better software?).

Maybe somebody else can give their feelings on RTF as well.

But for me, it's become Sony's format or nothing... so much so I wrote a program just for this purpose!

-Pie

HarryT · 05-12-2007, 03:46 AM

RTF works just fine for books that you just want to read through from start to end, and don't need things like a table of contents, or pictures. All you have to do, to make an RTF book nicely readable on the Reader, is to bump up the font size to around 16pt, which is very easy to do in a word processor like "Word".

Eg, with RTFs downloaded from Baen, all I do is:

1. Load the book into "Word".
2. Select the "Edit/Select All" menu item.
3. Press "Ctrl+Shift+>" twice. This increases the size of everything by 4pt, so the basic text becomes 16pt rather than 12pt.
4. Select "File/Properties" and fill in the "Title" and "Author" fields in the dialog.
5. Re-Save the file.

I now have a book which will display nicely on the Reader.

That takes perhaps 1 minute. If I decide it's a good book, and one which I'll want to re-read, I'll then spend the 10 minutes it takes to convert it into a nice-looking LRF file with "Book Designer".

Moonraker · 05-12-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

1. Load the book into "Word".
2. Select the "Edit/Select All" menu item.
3. Press "Ctrl+Shift+>" twice. This increases the size of everything by 4pt, so the basic text becomes 16pt rather than 12pt.
4. Select "File/Properties" and fill in the "Title" and "Author" fields in the dialog.
5. Re-Save the file.

Thank you Harry -- it's a brilliant tip. I have been using Word for years and didn't know about this shortcut.

12-25-2006, 04:20 PM	#1
AndiR Rather interested Posts: 104 Karma: 677 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maidenhead Device: Kindle, Sony Ereader, Ipad & iPhone	Non US use of (dis)Connect? Hi all, What are non US users ( I know we are a rare breed) doing to order books off connect? I have had a look through the threads but can't see any definite answers :-( If Non US readers are not using the connect store, what stores are they buying from to gain access to "new" books as opposed to old classics / rips of books via P2P etc? Thanks and a merry Christmas from a sunny Barcelona, Andi

12-25-2006, 09:38 PM	#2
ultim8fury Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 368 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Device: PRS500, Looking at 700	There are a few members on this board who will purchase gift cards on your behalf which will allow you to use the connect store. Leaping Gnome bought my last one. Looking on the frappr map there are quite a few people outside of the US with a reader so you're not alone. Last edited by ultim8fury; 12-25-2006 at 09:41 PM.

05-11-2007, 11:12 PM	#13
EatingPie Blueberry! Posts: 888 Karma: 133343 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500 (RIP); PRS-600 (Good Riddance); PRS-505; PRS-650; PRS-350	Hi Katania. I'm in the US, but I will opine about formats. The Sony Reader uses its own format, LRF/BBeB, and I find it very natural and readable. I appreciate it more and more as time goes on. The reader also supports RTF and PDF. While I have not used many RTF books, PDF is... let me see how to put this... an unmitigated disaster. I cannot stand reading PDFs on the Reader -- even the Reader's Manual! If you do decide on the Reader, I consider converson to Sony's LRF/BBeB format imperative. And since the Sony Store and ManyBooks.net are the only places that I've found supporting this format without conversion, you're somewhat limited. I have no experience with the Iliad. I'd ask how PDFs look on that -- though I don't imagine them looking better, since it's the same e-Ink all around (maybe they have better software?). Maybe somebody else can give their feelings on RTF as well. But for me, it's become Sony's format or nothing... so much so I wrote a program just for this purpose! -Pie Last edited by EatingPie; 05-11-2007 at 11:14 PM.

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12-25-2006, 11:03 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	There's also Baen's site if you like their sort of scifi.

12-26-2006, 12:45 PM	#4
susall Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2005	Normally, I purchase all my content in Microsoft Reader .lit format, because I can easily convert to the format of my choice. I don't often go out to the Connect store for this reason, even though I am a U.S. user.

12-27-2006, 03:36 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Andi, The somewhat unfortunately named "Convert LIT" can convert "protected" LIT files. A Google search will find it for you.

12-27-2006, 04:56 PM	#8
JimCuk Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 18 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Prs-500	Hi All joined today, Just thought I'd tag on this and say Hi as Im Non US too. Ordered mine from the states and im in the UK.

12-27-2006, 06:18 PM	#9
andyj UK Outlander Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lancashire UK Device: sony prs500	Hi started today on low note when I discovered wife's xmas present to me non UK inclusive @ Connect store. Indebted to members for advice and warm welcome to forum. Just need new friendly US buddy's assistance with some purchases?? I have successfully set up account and registered and redeemed $50 spend. Need to top up soonest Best wishes to and heres hoping to forge link with US buddy!!

05-03-2007, 06:39 AM	#10
jamesoan Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	Hi, new to this forum, although have been reading it for last few months looking for updates on when UK will be able to purchase from Connect Store. It is soooo frustrating. I have read all my $50 worth that came with it, and although have downloaded many from the free ebook stores - I would really like to purchase some newer books, for variety. I got this from Sony this week: 'Unfortunately there is no ETA and we want to thank you for your recent purchase of the Sony Reader. The Sony Reader was designed for you to read all types of materials in multiple formats. Unfortunately, if you are not a resident of the United States you will not be able to purchase Connect eBooks from the Connect eBook store. This does not mean that you cannot get materials to read on your reader. Since the reader is able to display RTF, TXT, PDF (unsecured), and LRF files there are a huge number of places on the Internet you can go to get reading materials. You might wish to check out the following sites for starters: - www.gutenberg.org - www.manybooks.net - www.baen.com Any site that sells/delivers unsecured reading materials in the supported formats should be able to be read on the Reader. Also, interesting reading from the Web can be copied and pasted into a word-processing program and then saved as an RTF (without photos) for viewing on the Reader. ' Interesting to see that they are now advertisng other sites!

05-11-2007, 05:46 PM	#12
katania Member Posts: 22 Karma: 153 Join Date: May 2007	Hi all of you , I am also a non us . Some of you have had your Sonyreaders for a while now. Are you able to download new books from somewhere, whithout needing to be a pc expert to convert formats and so on ( I am a very basic pc user, soon to be 50!!) Grateful for any help, Trying to decide between the Sony or the iLiad (not easy)

05-12-2007, 03:46 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	RTF works just fine for books that you just want to read through from start to end, and don't need things like a table of contents, or pictures. All you have to do, to make an RTF book nicely readable on the Reader, is to bump up the font size to around 16pt, which is very easy to do in a word processor like "Word". Eg, with RTFs downloaded from Baen, all I do is: 1. Load the book into "Word". 2. Select the "Edit/Select All" menu item. 3. Press "Ctrl+Shift+>" twice. This increases the size of everything by 4pt, so the basic text becomes 16pt rather than 12pt. 4. Select "File/Properties" and fill in the "Title" and "Author" fields in the dialog. 5. Re-Save the file. I now have a book which will display nicely on the Reader. That takes perhaps 1 minute. If I decide it's a good book, and one which I'll want to re-read, I'll then spend the 10 minutes it takes to convert it into a nice-looking LRF file with "Book Designer".

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