Google eBookStore Online Now

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by OrcaBlue

Here is the link to list of free ebooks on Google's ebookstore.

http://books.google.com/ebooks?hl=en..._webstore_home

I get a total of 1 book(s). And when I try to get to the next page, I get "This bookshelf is still empty"...

[OrcaBlue]

Hmmm...strange. I got the 7 pages of free ebook listing. I added two to my basket and got two bring now. Can you download them to your reader or only read via the web?

[Logseman]

Does the Android app link work? I have tried both scanning the QR code or downloading, and it gives me a nice 404.

[luqmaninbmore]

Originally Posted by Logseman

Does the Android app link work? I have tried both scanning the QR code or downloading, and it gives me a nice 404.

It's in the Android Market Place.

[Logseman]

Not here (I am in Spain).

[Catlady]

I went ahead and gambled $10 to buy a book. I was able to click on "read on device" and had a choice of downloading pdf or epub--though actually I was able to download both. On my book at least (Phantom Lady by William Irish), there is no DRM. The epub file is just a poor, unproofed conversion from the pdf--unacceptable. The pdf is unreadable on my JBL--font is tiny and I can't adjust it sufficiently to make it readable. I've requested a refund.

[Dulin's Books]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm completely confused. I found a book I want that is not available elsewhere [Phantom Lady by William Irish (Cornell Woolrich)] as an e-book. There's a notation that it's "Better for larger screens." There's a sample. There's a "Buy Now" button. If I click it, I go to the Google checkout.

But ... what am I buying?

When I looked at the free book section, it seemed to be straightforward enough, with a choice to download epub or pdf. But here, am I just buying online access?

you're buying a non re-flowable version which can be downloaded or viewed with their app. however if you download it , because of the scanned size and depending on the device, it may not make for very good reading.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Catlady

On my book at least (Phantom Lady by William Irish), there is no DRM. The epub file is just a poor, unproofed conversion from the pdf--unacceptable.

If what they are selling is simply the output of their OCR software, I think they are going to see a big backlash from people expecting actual produced eBooks, like they would get from Amazon or others.

[abookreader]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

you're buying a non re-flowable version which can be downloaded or viewed with their app. however if you download it , because of the scanned size and depending on the device, it may not make for very good reading.

It sounds a little like Topaz, only worse.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by abookreader

But that is exactly my point - convenient. Putting restrictions on the buyer is about as far from convenient as it gets.

How is it more convenient to let Google keep the only viewable copy of the book.

If I buy that Stieg Larsson book from Google I pay nearly $10 and I can read it when I can fire up a browser (not on airplanes, not at the lake beach I go to, not sitting in my Mom Mobile outside the school waiting for my kid's practice, not on my commute into work...)

Or I can go to Amazon, Barnes etc etc etc and pay the same $10 (actually I believe much less but let's pretend) and download a copy to my reading device. Then I can read it EVERYWHERE, whether I have internet or not.

That's why this thing isn't working for me. It would be one thing if Google had a dramatically lower price for the book, but they don't.

I agree 100%. There is no way I am buying an online book when I can buy a book that's available for me to read where I want and how I want.

[Logseman]

Actually, I'd daresay they would let you put books into a "cache", so you wouldn't need the file in order to read offline.

[phenomshel]

I had high hopes for Google Books (the bookstore, I mean), in that I had hoped to be able to get things in ebook format that are not currently available, such as Charlotte MacLeod and the rest of the Virginia Rich mysteries. No such luck. I'm VERY glad about the downloadable aspect for Sony Readers, though. I wonder how you find out which authors/publishers opted out?

[Dulin's Books]

The Google Books mobile apps do allow for it being cached for off line reading- the desk top app does not currently

http://books.google.com/support/bin/...answer=1063705

[murraypaul]

However some publishers will not let you download/cache their books.

[Dulin's Books]

Originally Posted by abookreader View Post

How is it more convenient to let Google keep the only viewable copy of the book.

If I buy that Stieg Larsson book from Google I pay nearly $10 and I can read it when I can fire up a browser (not on airplanes, not at the lake beach I go to, not sitting in my Mom Mobile outside the school waiting for my kid's practice, not on my commute into work...)

Or I can go to Amazon, Barnes etc etc etc and pay the same $10 (actually I believe much less but let's pretend) and download a copy to my reading device. Then I can read it EVERYWHERE, whether I have internet or not..

your missing the fact that for most books from Google eBooks you can download the epub or pdf and side load it to your device. Yes that Stieg Larsen you cannot right now but its probably just the publisher using it as a way to judge the market. His other book you can download.