The Grand Experiment!

daffy4u · 12-18-2009, 11:14 AM

As most of you know I am a 2 Kindle owner (K1 and K2). As a Kindle owner I do not read ePub books and don't really get the big deal about it. I understand and appreciate the need for an ebook format standard but I don't don't understand why ePub is or if it should be that standard.

To get an understanding I have set up for myself a "Grand Experiment", to get to know ePub. I don't like to read on my computer or iPod Touch (though it's nice to have in a pinch), so I needed an ebook reader that reads ePub natively to play with. These days there are many readers that will do the job but I decided to go with a Sony 505 (shock and awe!

). Why?, you may ask:

-I prefer to stick with an e-ink reader and I have no interest in the smaller 5 inch screens.

-I still have my eye set on the Plastic Logic Que but it may be months before I purchase one (if I purchase one).

-There is is a lot of support for the Sony Readers here at MobileRead.

-And the main reason... I know that once the experiment is over, if I decide not to keep the 505, I can sell it on eBay for the same price (or more) I paid for it ($210 + $10 shipping).

I just installed the Reader 3.1 software on my Win 7 Pro 64-bit computer (which was an adventure in itself - 4 tries and a re-boot before it installed). I do not plan to purchase any ePub books but to download the freebies and maybe give the public library a go.

I'll be asking a lot of questions, so get ready Sony and ePub People!

rhadin · 12-18-2009, 11:28 AM

Welcome, Daffy, to the world of wide open reading

. (Only kidding!)

I hope you find your 505 as enjoyable a reading device as I find mine.

daffy4u · 12-18-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

Welcome, Daffy, to the world of wide open reading

. (Only kidding!)

I hope you find your 505 as enjoyable a reading device as I find mine.

You are going to be the first person I bug!

Do you prefer reading ePub books or LRX/LRF?

kwjones · 12-18-2009, 11:34 AM

LRF>LRX>ePub

desertgrandma · 12-18-2009, 11:48 AM

WOW! Good for you, duck.

Congrats on having the courage to learn new things and expand your universe..........

radamo · 12-18-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwjones

LRF>LRX>ePub

I second this ordering...
RA

MickeyC · 12-18-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radamo

I second this ordering...
RA

I third it.

HarryT · 12-18-2009, 01:22 PM

Hmmm. You know that the Sony doesn't actually have terribly good ePub support? It's perhaps not a good choice to find out what "ePub is all about". I'd go for something with a more up-to-date ePub implementation, myself - perhaps the 6" Astak.

Kypt · 12-18-2009, 01:23 PM

Aside from the wonky paging on non-bought ePubs, why is LRF a better option?

daffy4u · 12-18-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Hmmm. You know that the Sony doesn't actually have terribly good ePub support? It's perhaps not a good choice to find out what "ePub is all about". I'd go for something with a more up-to-date ePub implementation, myself - perhaps the 6" Astak.

Too late.

kwjones · 12-18-2009, 01:38 PM

I can't think of a single paper book that I own that does not have full justification. I havn't been able to get past the justification in epub yet.

ArnieNFW · 12-18-2009, 01:38 PM

It would be nice, if you could share your Reader-on-Win7x64 experience with us(me). I purchased the 505 this week for the same reasons you mention, but hasitate to install the software after all I read. Copying them on the SD card works anyhow....

rhadin · 12-18-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

You are going to be the first person I bug!

Do you prefer reading ePub books or LRX/LRF?

I am reading my first book in ePub now, It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis. The page numbers that many MRers complain about are there, but I hadn't noticed them until I got to about page 90, which was a chapter opening page. Then I looked for them on subsequent pages and saw them; then I went back to reading and haven't noticed them since.

The second problem MRers have complained about is the ragged right margin. Yup, this book has them but it isn't annoying. In fact, I don't even notice the margin. However, in this book, paragraphs are indented and there is a nice margin around the page (I like white space).

I'm saying all this because the real answer to your question is that I have no preference. If the ePub is done correctly, I find it as easy to read as LRF/LRX. Similarly, poorly done LRF/LRX is as difficult to read (again, to me) as ePub is to those MRers who dislike the page numbers and ragged right margins. Bottom line: it depends on how well the book creator did his/her job.

Sorry I can't be more definitive, but I am much more bothered by poor editing than I am about substellar formatting. the books I read on my 505 are fiction and not books I intend to keep once read. (Having said that, I do plan to keep my first edition pbook of It Can't Happen Here, just not the ebook version.)

daffy4u · 12-18-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArnieNFW

It would be nice, if you could share your Reader-on-Win7x64 experience with us(me). I purchased the 505 this week for the same reasons you mention, but hasitate to install the software after all I read. Copying them on the SD card works anyhow....

I shall.

I assume ('cuz I don't really know), that if the Reader software fails I can use Calibre to get content on to the reader.

HarryT · 12-18-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I shall.

I assume ('cuz I don't really know), that if the Reader software fails I can use Calibre to get content on to the reader.

Yes, or, come to that, you can just use Windows Explorer. No need for any special software unless you're dealing with DRM-encrypted files.

12-18-2009, 11:14 AM	#1
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	The Grand Experiment! As most of you know I am a 2 Kindle owner (K1 and K2). As a Kindle owner I do not read ePub books and don't really get the big deal about it. I understand and appreciate the need for an ebook format standard but I don't don't understand why ePub is or if it should be that standard. To get an understanding I have set up for myself a "Grand Experiment", to get to know ePub. I don't like to read on my computer or iPod Touch (though it's nice to have in a pinch), so I needed an ebook reader that reads ePub natively to play with. These days there are many readers that will do the job but I decided to go with a Sony 505 (shock and awe! ). Why?, you may ask: -I prefer to stick with an e-ink reader and I have no interest in the smaller 5 inch screens. -I still have my eye set on the Plastic Logic Que but it may be months before I purchase one (if I purchase one). -There is is a lot of support for the Sony Readers here at MobileRead. -And the main reason... I know that once the experiment is over, if I decide not to keep the 505, I can sell it on eBay for the same price (or more) I paid for it ($210 + $10 shipping). I just installed the Reader 3.1 software on my Win 7 Pro 64-bit computer (which was an adventure in itself - 4 tries and a re-boot before it installed). I do not plan to purchase any ePub books but to download the freebies and maybe give the public library a go. I'll be asking a lot of questions, so get ready Sony and ePub People!

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12-18-2009, 11:28 AM	#2
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	Welcome, Daffy, to the world of wide open reading . (Only kidding!) I hope you find your 505 as enjoyable a reading device as I find mine.

12-18-2009, 11:34 AM	#4
kwjones Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rising Sun, MD Device: Sony PRS-505; Motorola Droid	LRF>LRX>ePub

12-18-2009, 11:48 AM	#5
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	WOW! Good for you, duck. Congrats on having the courage to learn new things and expand your universe..........

12-18-2009, 01:22 PM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Hmmm. You know that the Sony doesn't actually have terribly good ePub support? It's perhaps not a good choice to find out what "ePub is all about". I'd go for something with a more up-to-date ePub implementation, myself - perhaps the 6" Astak.

12-18-2009, 01:23 PM	#9
Kypt Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 30 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: nook, Kindle 3	Aside from the wonky paging on non-bought ePubs, why is LRF a better option?

12-18-2009, 01:38 PM	#11
kwjones Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rising Sun, MD Device: Sony PRS-505; Motorola Droid	I can't think of a single paper book that I own that does not have full justification. I havn't been able to get past the justification in epub yet.

12-18-2009, 01:38 PM	#12
ArnieNFW Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: SONY PRS-505C	It would be nice, if you could share your Reader-on-Win7x64 experience with us(me). I purchased the 505 this week for the same reasons you mention, but hasitate to install the software after all I read. Copying them on the SD card works anyhow....

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