Oops - Wrong E-book

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tompe

Actually they call the format "Secure Palm Reader" and not "Secure eReader". And then they get different terms for the format and the reading program wich is a good thing.

But when you get the list of available formats in the description of a particular book, there it's called "Secure eReader". Eg, see:

http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook54251.htm?cache

That's where the confusion could perhaps arise with people who think that the Sony Reader is called the "eReader".

[JSWolf]

That is why I tend to point this out when I see the term eReader applied incorrectly. It can and did (in this case) lead to an incorrect purchase. It may sound like a broken record to some, but you cannot be sure everyone will have already read every thread where this is mentioned.

[dcalder]

On Fictionwise, you also run into this problem right in the titles:

Dragon's Fire [A Pern Novel] [Secure eReader (recommended)/Mobipocket/Microsoft Reader]

Then, within the book's details, it repeats:

Available eBook Formats [Secure eReader (recommended)/Mobipocket/Microsoft Reader - What's this?]: OEBFF Format (IMP) [661 KB], SECURE MOBIPOCKET FORMAT (314 KB], SECURE MICROSOFT READER FORMAT (463 KB] - Requires Microsoft Reader 2.1.1 for PCs, or Microsoft Reader 2.2.2 on Pocket PC 2002 handheld devices. Some older Pocket PCs can be upgraded. Learn More., SECURE EREADER (RECOMMENDED) FORMAT (289 KB]

and

Microsoft Reader ISBN, MobiPocket Reader ISBN, eReader (recommended) ISBN: 9780345493828

So, not only is there room for confusion regarding exactly what "secure eReader" may be, there's the added problem that the site is saying that it's "recommended" - even if you're signed-in, have other devices registered with them (Mobipocket: laptop, Cybook; IMP: eBookwise-1150), have purchased other formats (multi-format, Mobipocket, Microsoft Reader) in the past, and have specified which formats you're interested in (in the communication settings). For any customer, but especially for someone who's new to ebook purchasing, it's extremely counter-intuitive to purchase something other than the "recommended" format. After all, why would a site that you've registered at and given detailed information to "recommend" something other than what you should actually buy?

[HarryT]

I'm not at all sure what "recommended" actually does mean! Anyone know?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not at all sure what "recommended" actually does mean! Anyone know?

It means "We've just purchased the eReader site and want you to purchase eBooks in eReader format so we can justify having made this purchase."

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It means "We've just purchased the eReader site and want you to purchase eBooks in eReader format so we can justify having made this purchase."

Exactly.

[dcalder]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It means "We've just purchased the eReader site and want you to purchase eBooks in eReader format so we can justify having made this purchase."

*Bzzt.* Wrong - they've had that "recommended" message on there regarding eReader format as far back as I can remember, which goes back to... hmm, three or four years ago, I guess... when I bought my eBookwise-1150 and started buying from eBookwise & Fictionwise. I remember so clearly because of the fact that I very nearly ended up with a whole cart full of "oops" purchases at the time but was sufficiently paranoid to go back and double-check exactly which formats the eB-1150 supported, then Google to cross-reference against this "eReader" format that was being "recommended". I never could figure out why it was a "recommended" format.

[AnemicOak]

Up until a few days before they announced buying eReader it said eReader (formerly Palm), not recommended. I even emailed them to ask about why it had changed the day before the announcement.