Very Happy with Baen (no longer disappointed) - Page 2

igorsk · 03-18-2008, 08:18 AM

lit2lrf uses information from the .opf file to determine TOC entries and metadata, so it doesn't need to guess. It also has some tweaks specifically for Baen files.

astra · 03-18-2008, 08:21 AM

Thanks.
Very useful info.

wmrawls · 03-18-2008, 08:54 AM

WOW...I am surprised that my comments stirred the emotions so greatly. Let me "splain" my disappointment.
1. I am a long time subscriber to Baen, in fact I would venture to say I am one of the very first to start downloading from them and have conversations with Eric Flint and Jim (before his death of course) regarding how great a job they were doing in presenting things for free and without the DRM like some of the early competitors were doing. So I know the history and the rationale for their business plan and the desire to please the fan base...or at least I did.

2. I very well understand about downloading other formats. When I buy a book from Baen I am free to download it in as many formats as they offer and as often as I like. I always download as MS Lit,RTF and what ever other format strikes my fancy at any given time. So I do have it available to play with as I see fit.

3.If Baen has chosen to present books in the Kindle format why not the Sony? As has been mentioned the Sony format will keep the integrity of the graphics, and maps and drawings will show up quite well in black and white, other images are just for fun viewing but some of the maps are things I want to study in more detail...thats just me.

So bottom line is yes I know all about the ways to convert books, the advantages of RTF in certain cases all the other minutia that has been mentioned......but and its a big but, why can't they offer it in the LRF format? Kindle has been out only a short time compared to the Sony....I rest my case....thanks for all the discussion, its interesting to get the feedback........

astra · 03-18-2008, 09:13 AM

Do you mean that if you buy ebook from Baen you can download it in more than one format? Say, the book is available in mobipocket, lit and pdf formats. Could you download all of them or should you pick only one most suitable for your needs format?

JSWolf · 03-18-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmrawls

So bottom line is yes I know all about the ways to convert books, the advantages of RTF in certain cases all the other minutia that has been mentioned......but and its a big but, why can't they offer it in the LRF format? Kindle has been out only a short time compared to the Sony....I rest my case....thanks for all the discussion, its interesting to get the feedback........

The reason Baen supports the Kindle is that the Kindle came out already knowing how to handle DRM free Mobipocket eBooks which Baen was supporting long before there was a Kindle. Baen didn't do anything special to add Kindle support. It was just there from day one of the Kindle's release.

As for LRF, there are no programs currently available to convert from LRF any other format. You'd have to convert from LRF to LRS and then message the LRS in order to be able to convert. So if Baen only allows one format download on purchased content then you'd have an LRF that's not easy to convert to something else should you desire to. But with LIT or RTF, or HTML, you can convert to something else larter on when you want.

wmrawls · 03-18-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Do you mean that if you buy ebook from Baen you can download it in more than one format? Say, the book is available in mobipocket, lit and pdf formats. Could you download all of them or should you pick only one most suitable for your needs format?

Yes you can download in as many formats as you wish once you buy it. And it stays in your bought books account and you can download it again at any time.

pilotbob · 03-18-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

As for LRF, there are no programs currently available to convert from LRF any other format.

True... but it also seems that Baen could very simply support .LRF by using the great lit2lrf writen by MobileRead's own Kovid. I think this is what Fictionwise is doing.

I always wonder why when customers make suggestions, others always jump on them... I also would prefer to be able to download the .LRF that has been done by the store.

BOb

PS: Also, if you prefer RTF, fine download that. If I prefer LRF I will download that. Although I think someone above said you could download a book you buy in any or all of the formats they have.

igorsk · 03-18-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

As for LRF, there are no programs currently available to convert from LRF any other format. You'd have to convert from LRF to LRS and then message the LRS in order to be able to convert. So if Baen only allows one format download on purchased content then you'd have an LRF that's not easy to convert to something else should you desire to. But with LIT or RTF, or HTML, you can convert to something else larter on when you want.

Actually, the latest libprs500 does have an lrf2html utility.

JSWolf · 03-18-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

Actually, the latest libprs500 does have an lrf2html utility.

There goes that idea. Now there is no reason for Baen not to support LRF as a DRM free format.

kovidgoyal · 03-18-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

Actually, the latest libprs500 does have an lrf2html utility.

It isn't complete yet

HarryT · 03-18-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmrawls

So bottom line is yes I know all about the ways to convert books, the advantages of RTF in certain cases all the other minutia that has been mentioned......but and its a big but, why can't they offer it in the LRF format? Kindle has been out only a short time compared to the Sony....I rest my case....thanks for all the discussion, its interesting to get the feedback........

Simply because they had to do no work to support the Kindle, other than change the file extension from ".prc" to ".azw". The Kindle books are MobiPocket books with a different file extension.

tsgreer · 03-18-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

I personally have read through most of their Free e-books on my Sony Reader, and when I go shopping for some serious hardcore military Sci-Fi they are my first choice.

They have THE best format for Sony Reader.
Nice, plain, well formated rtf file *without* the DRM crap.
You see, the Reader can - unlike Kindle - read txt or rtf of pdf files directly, without conversion.
You can load rtf file directly to you reader, or, even better, you can load it into OpenOffice.org Writer or other word processor (like MS Word), format it to your taste and save as rtf file. That is what *I* personally like to do.

Just a minor correction: Kindle CAN read txt files directly. I have used this feature myself. No fancy formatting because it's a .txt file after all, but text reads fine on the kindle without any conversion. Just drag it on the kindle...

HarryT · 03-19-2008, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So if Baen only allows one format download on purchased content then you'd have an LRF that's not easy to convert to something else should you desire to.

But they don't - they allow you do download in as many formats as you wish.

I always download Baen books in two formats - RTF for long-term storage, and Mobi to read.

JSWolf · 03-19-2008, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

But they don't - they allow you do download in as many formats as you wish.

I always download Baen books in two formats - RTF for long-term storage, and Mobi to read.

I still don't understand why Baen will not support LRF. There are a LOT of people who will be disappointed with the RTF version on a Sony Reader and it may cause them to lose customers. Also, not everyone knows how to convert. So downloading an already made LRF would help a lot in those cases. Just because there is no DRM does not mean it will be an easy conversion for everyone.

HarryT · 03-19-2008, 05:13 AM

I agree with you entirely, Jon.

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03-18-2008, 08:18 AM	#16
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	lit2lrf uses information from the .opf file to determine TOC entries and metadata, so it doesn't need to guess. It also has some tweaks specifically for Baen files.

03-18-2008, 08:21 AM	#17
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Thanks. Very useful info.

03-18-2008, 08:54 AM	#18
wmrawls Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 20 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rock Hill,SC Device: Sony PRS 505, Dell Axim X50V	WOW...I am surprised that my comments stirred the emotions so greatly. Let me "splain" my disappointment. 1. I am a long time subscriber to Baen, in fact I would venture to say I am one of the very first to start downloading from them and have conversations with Eric Flint and Jim (before his death of course) regarding how great a job they were doing in presenting things for free and without the DRM like some of the early competitors were doing. So I know the history and the rationale for their business plan and the desire to please the fan base...or at least I did. 2. I very well understand about downloading other formats. When I buy a book from Baen I am free to download it in as many formats as they offer and as often as I like. I always download as MS Lit,RTF and what ever other format strikes my fancy at any given time. So I do have it available to play with as I see fit. 3.If Baen has chosen to present books in the Kindle format why not the Sony? As has been mentioned the Sony format will keep the integrity of the graphics, and maps and drawings will show up quite well in black and white, other images are just for fun viewing but some of the maps are things I want to study in more detail...thats just me. So bottom line is yes I know all about the ways to convert books, the advantages of RTF in certain cases all the other minutia that has been mentioned......but and its a big but, why can't they offer it in the LRF format? Kindle has been out only a short time compared to the Sony....I rest my case....thanks for all the discussion, its interesting to get the feedback........

03-18-2008, 09:13 AM	#19
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Do you mean that if you buy ebook from Baen you can download it in more than one format? Say, the book is available in mobipocket, lit and pdf formats. Could you download all of them or should you pick only one most suitable for your needs format?

03-19-2008, 05:13 AM	#30
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I agree with you entirely, Jon.