Delphi Parts Editions - Sanity at last!

[Katsunami]

Many here know the Delphi Classics; either because by their good e-book quality for a very low price, or by the fact that they've crashed their website in such a fashion they lost all user data

The one thing every Delphi Classic buyer also knows, is that their books are HUGE, and (almost) unmanageable affairs, often over 50 MB per book.

Now they've finally seen the light and introduced PARTS EDITIONS:

http://www.delphiclassics.com/parts-edition/

A Parts Edition is basically the same stuff as the original huge file, but it's split into volumes; one volume per book. Everything is wrapped up in a zip-file. Parts Editions are now available for series 1 through 5.

For people who have already bought Louis Stevenson's work, there is a free parts version in their account downloads. For people who bought more than 10 Delphi Classics in the last year, they can buy parts editions at 50% discount. You just need to -only- put parts editions in your cart. Sadly, but expected, the 50% discount does not stack with the current 30% code "Titania" when buying for more than $25.

The parts editions are more expensive than the single file; most single files are $2.99 (which is peanuts for what you get), while the parts editions are $4.99. Still, where can you get something like 50-60 very well made and illustrated ebooks for only $4.99?

I think I'm going to get parts editions for at least my favorites, and possibly create a virtual library for Delphi ebooks alone. I've already got 57 single files, which I use like they're a library on their own; I find the book I want to read, and then split it off from the main file. Having the books split from the get-go is better though.

I *could* split my single files myself, but I'm *NOT* going to split a file into 50-60+ parts by hand. I just won't. It would not be economical to work hours, or maybe days, for a salary/savings of only $2.50; the price of a 50% discounted parts edition.

Thus, while I do need to actually re-buy books, I don't really mind. I like the 50% discount; Delphi seems to be thinking about customer loyalty, and even when combining the total price ($2.99 single file + $2.50 parts edition) it's STILL peanuts for what you get. And, I'm not even taking into account that I got many of my single file Delphi Classics at huge discounts of up to 60%.

What do you think... yay or nay?

edit: The 50% parts editions discount 'only' lasts until end of August.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

For people who have already bought Louis Stevenson's work, there is a free parts version in their account downloads.

SPECIAL OFFER: Buy this eBook now and receive our new Parts Edition of Stevenson for FREE!

That eBook is currently on sale for $1.49 (reg $2.99).

[Katsunami]

So, if you would like to have Stevenson's work, you can now get 60 illustrated ebooks for $1.49. It won't get much better than that

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I *could* split my single files myself, but I'm *NOT* going to split a file into 50-60+ parts by hand. I just won't. It would not be economical to work hours, or maybe days, for a salary/savings of only $2.50; the price of a 50% discounted parts edition.

Although I very much welcome the release of these, I thought it may perhaps be worth noting that it certainly doesn't take "hours or maybe even days" to split an ePub omnibus edition. You can do it in moments with the "ePubSplit" plugin for Calibre.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Although I very much welcome the release of these, I thought it may perhaps be worth noting that it certainly doesn't take "hours or maybe even days" to split an ePub omnibus edition. You can do it in moments with the "ePubSplit" plugin for Calibre.

In the case of the Delphi books, you'll have to fix the TOC, enter the metadata, and all that stuff... also, can you split one book into multiple parts at once, or do you need to split each part off of the main book one by one? If you can split into multiple parts at once, I have missed that feature of the plugin.

Still... the parts editions have the Delphi Classics covers. If you want the books to have their original cover, you'll have to stick in in there yourself.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

That eBook is currently on sale for $1.49 (reg $2.99).

Great! Got it... I never thought I would pay for PD books, but this looks good.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

In the case of the Delphi books, you'll have to fix the TOC, enter the metadata, and all that stuff... also, can you split one book into multiple parts at once, or do you need to split each part off of the main book one by one? If you can split into multiple parts at once, I have missed that feature of the plugin.

The plugin does indeed allow you to split a book into multiple parts at once.

Don't get me wrong - I'm very much welcoming this innovation from Delphi, but it's only currently available for a small number of their books, and for the ones it's not available for, the ePubSplit plugin provides a viable alternative for those who may wish to have separate books rather than an omnibus.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The plugin does indeed allow you to split a book into multiple parts at once.

I've just looked at it... but I can't see it. Maybe I'm missing something, as I can only seem to be able to select files inside the book, and then split them off into their own book. In case of Louis Stevenson, I would need to do 60 splits. (And then fix 60 TOC's.) How can I split into 60 books in one go?

Don't get me wrong - I'm very much welcoming this innovation from Delphi, but it's only currently available for a small number of their books, and for the ones it's not available for, the ePubSplit plugin provides a viable alternative for those who may wish to have separate books rather than an omnibus.

In the e-mail I got yesterday, it says the Parts Editions are now available for all books in the series 1 to 5. It says: "We are delighted to announce the release of our entire Main Series (Series One to Five) in the new Parts Edition."

I hardly think that's a small number of books. The selection is rather huge. It probably is about 75% or so of their entire catalogue

To be honest, I don't even think this is an innovation; the Delphi Classics should have come as parts from the start. (Although, to be fair, it would not have been possible to provide Complete Works through Amazon or Kobo, as you can't post zip files there AFAIK.)

This would actually have been even better if each part had included the correct cover for the book.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I've just looked at it... but I can't see it. Maybe I'm missing something, as I can only seem to be able to select files inside the book, and then split them off into their own book. In case of Louis Stevenson, I would need to do 60 splits. (And then fix 60 TOC's.) How can I split into 60 books in one go?

According to the information page for the plugin:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=178799

New in version 2.1.0 - Select one or more of the offered lines and split each into a separate new book.

Perhaps ask in the plugin thread for more information if you'd find it useful?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

According to the information page for the plugin:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=178799

Perhaps ask in the plugin thread for more information if you'd find it useful?

It does exactly what it says: it splits each line you select into a different book.

[HarryT]

OK, I give up. I was just trying to offer a helpful suggestion .

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

OK, I give up. I was just trying to offer a helpful suggestion .

I know The fact does remain, however, that splitting up a Delphi Classic is no easy task if you have to do each part, one by one and then need to fix metadata, covers, and the TOC.

The Parts Collection doesn't contain any metadata either... and only the default Delphi-type cover. That's a bit disappointing.