Disappointed with range of eBooks

tommy still · 07-08-2009, 02:18 PM

I finally took the plunge a few weeks ago and bought a Sony PRS 505, as the UK price went down to £169. It's my first eBook reader and I am extremely pleased with the device. My only bugbear at the moment is not being able to get some of the book's I want. I realise not all printed book's are in electronic format and newer book's are more likely to be available, but the range of book's still seems to be relatively limited. I am searching for a copy of Ted Simons 'Jupiters Travels' which I read years ago and would dearly love to read on my new device. But despite searching all the sites I know and Googling multiple times, I am unable to locate this book. If anyone knows where I may be able to get a copy I would be extremely grateful.

wallcraft · 07-08-2009, 02:52 PM

The availability of ebooks is still hit and miss, particularly for titles even a few years old. I recommend ebookprice.info for ebook searches, but for Jupiter's Travels : Four Years Around The World On A Triumph all it finds is a Kindle ebook. This appears to be in the TOPAZ format, which typically means that the paper version has been scanned and OCRed by Amazon and converted to an ebook for the Kindle only. Some ebooks start out as TOPAZ (Kindle-only) but eventually also appear as standard ebooks (digitized by the publisher), so there is still hope.

Elsi · 07-08-2009, 02:55 PM

Since this appears to be a self-published book -- Amazon says: Publisher: Jupitalia Productions (July 15, 2005) -- perhaps you should contact the author/publisher at his web site (http://www.jupitalia.com/) and suggest that he republish the book as an eBook.

new · 07-08-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The availability of ebooks is still hit and miss, particularly for titles even a few years old. I recommend ebookprice.info for ebook searches, but for Jupiter's Travels : Four Years Around The World On A Triumph all it finds is a Kindle ebook. This appears to be in the TOPAZ format, which typically means that the paper version has been scanned and OCRed by Amazon and converted to an ebook for the Kindle only. Some ebooks start out as TOPAZ (Kindle-only) but eventually also appear as standard ebooks (digitized by the publisher), so there is still hope.

Can Kindle only books be converted to Sony books? That would help a great deal. It is frustrating to find a book that is Kindle only and you have a Sony.

wallcraft · 07-08-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new

Can Kindle only books be converted to Sony books? That would help a great deal. It is frustrating to find a book that is Kindle only and you have a Sony.

Kindle ebooks come in two flavors, the majority are AZW which is Amazon's name for MOBI but others are TOPAZ.

TOPAZ is Kindle-specific, and since Amazon creates TOPAZ ebooks (with the publishers permission), there often isn't any other version available. TOPAZ ebooks are often of poor quality, but on the other hand there is usually no alternative. No one outside Amazon knows how to decrypt TOPAZ ebooks or how to format shift them to other formats. Note that there is an iPhone app for Kindle ebooks (including TOPAZ), and this can be used outside the US (Buying Kindle books for the iPhone in Australia - a success story).

There are self-published AZW ebooks in the Kindle store, but when a major publisher releases an AZW ebook they usually also make available a MOBI (in many ebook stores) and often other formats too.

Elfwreck · 07-08-2009, 05:35 PM

Non-TOPAZ Kindle books can be converted; the usual problem is that Kindle books can only be purchased by someone with a Kindle. (Or iPhone.)

tommy still · 07-10-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The availability of ebooks is still hit and miss, particularly for titles even a few years old. I recommend ebookprice.info for ebook searches, but for Jupiter's Travels : Four Years Around The World On A Triumph all it finds is a Kindle ebook. This appears to be in the TOPAZ format, which typically means that the paper version has been scanned and OCRed by Amazon and converted to an ebook for the Kindle only. Some ebooks start out as TOPAZ (Kindle-only) but eventually also appear as standard ebooks (digitized by the publisher), so there is still hope.

Thanks for that, will check out ebookprice.

Phil

tommy still · 07-10-2009, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

Since this appears to be a self-published book -- Amazon says: Publisher: Jupitalia Productions (July 15, 2005) -- perhaps you should contact the author/publisher at his web site (http://www.jupitalia.com/) and suggest that he republish the book as an eBook.

Not a bad idea, will try that to see what response I get, thanks.

Phil

HarryT · 07-10-2009, 06:55 AM

You're asking "is every book that I'd like to read available as an eBook?". I prefer to ask a slightly different question: "are there sufficient books which interest me available for my device?". The answer to that latter question is that for me personally, there are many lifetimes' worth of book available that I want to read. The books which are not available as eBooks, I continue to buy as paper books.

astra · 07-10-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're asking "is every book that I'd like to read available as an eBook?". I prefer to ask a slightly different question: "are there sufficient books which interest me available for my device?"

You are limiting yourself, or you ebook reader of your choice limits you.

tommy still
If you cannot buy it, look for it in the dark zone.

07-08-2009, 02:18 PM	#1
tommy still Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 139 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bridgend, South Wales Device: iPhone and Sony PRS 505	Disappointed with range of eBooks I finally took the plunge a few weeks ago and bought a Sony PRS 505, as the UK price went down to £169. It's my first eBook reader and I am extremely pleased with the device. My only bugbear at the moment is not being able to get some of the book's I want. I realise not all printed book's are in electronic format and newer book's are more likely to be available, but the range of book's still seems to be relatively limited. I am searching for a copy of Ted Simons 'Jupiters Travels' which I read years ago and would dearly love to read on my new device. But despite searching all the sites I know and Googling multiple times, I am unable to locate this book. If anyone knows where I may be able to get a copy I would be extremely grateful.

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07-08-2009, 02:52 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The availability of ebooks is still hit and miss, particularly for titles even a few years old. I recommend ebookprice.info for ebook searches, but for Jupiter's Travels : Four Years Around The World On A Triumph all it finds is a Kindle ebook. This appears to be in the TOPAZ format, which typically means that the paper version has been scanned and OCRed by Amazon and converted to an ebook for the Kindle only. Some ebooks start out as TOPAZ (Kindle-only) but eventually also appear as standard ebooks (digitized by the publisher), so there is still hope.

07-08-2009, 02:55 PM	#3
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	Since this appears to be a self-published book -- Amazon says: Publisher: Jupitalia Productions (July 15, 2005) -- perhaps you should contact the author/publisher at his web site (http://www.jupitalia.com/) and suggest that he republish the book as an eBook.

07-08-2009, 05:35 PM	#6
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,187 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	Non-TOPAZ Kindle books can be converted; the usual problem is that Kindle books can only be purchased by someone with a Kindle. (Or iPhone.)

07-10-2009, 06:55 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You're asking "is every book that I'd like to read available as an eBook?". I prefer to ask a slightly different question: "are there sufficient books which interest me available for my device?". The answer to that latter question is that for me personally, there are many lifetimes' worth of book available that I want to read. The books which are not available as eBooks, I continue to buy as paper books.

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