News flash! Barnes & Noble buys Fictionwise for $15.7 million - Page 13

lilac_jive · 03-05-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Gak.

I wonder if this is the end of the good discounts at Fictionwise.

Not yet, for a while at least. They're letting the site run as is for a while.

Donnageddon · 03-06-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And speaking of iPods, don't ever get one. Because then you'll be stuck with iTunes which is the worst piece of shite I've ever had the displeasure to use.

One comment of clarification, I have had several iPods, and have very rarely purchased any music from iTunes. It handles mp3's bought elsewhere just fine.

Now you do have to use iTunes to transfer the music, and it is a problematic software to use. BUT, if you have ever used the Sony Connect Music Store (now defunct) you would never make that statement. Sony's Connect was the ABSOLUTE shiteiest software to use I have ever encountered.

Aside from some database programs I use at work...

DesiLinguist · 03-06-2009, 12:32 AM

If you'd like to use something else to transfer music onto your iPod, check out the recently released DoubleTwist. I haven't tried it because the iPod/iPhone support is currently Windows only but I have read reports that it works well.

HarryT · 03-06-2009, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Now you do have to use iTunes to transfer the music, and it is a problematic software to use.

No you don't - there's a whole mini-industry of "iPod File Managers" out there to replace iTunes. What do you find "problematic" about iTunes? I think it's a fabulous piece of software personally.

pdurrant · 03-06-2009, 05:29 AM

Check your spam filters. I find customer service to be responsive to specific complaints, especially if you ask for a particular course of action. Use the form found by following links Help/Online Datavase; Contact Customer Support/Suggestions and Feedback/Get More Help. Although do check FAQs first.

I sent an email to fictionwise yesterday at 12:13 GMT, complaining about the book "Flatlander: The collected tales of Gil 'The Arm' Hamilton" in mobipocket format, which was severely messed up (six chapters repeated and others in the wrong order).

I got a refund back just twelve and a half hours later.

Similarly, I submitted a support ticket on another matter at 09:52 GMT on 4th March, and got a response at 00:57 on 5th March.

Admittedly, the time before that that I complained about an ebook, it did take over six days to get a response. But that was from 30th December to 5th January.

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtjester

Well I would be happy if their customer service didn't just ignore you. Bought a book with horrible formatting with hundreds of words broken up into 2 parts and they never answered back.

JSWolf · 03-06-2009, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

There's a trojan going around at the moment that masquerades as a DRM-enabler for movies. Can't remember what the name of it is, but you're right, all it takes is a couple of those to get out into the wild and the whole thing will be seen as a disaster by both the publishing companies and the public.

DRM is the virus infecting most of our legally purchased content.

GeoffC · 03-06-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

DRM is the virus infecting most of our legally purchased content.

pfffft .....

JSWolf · 03-06-2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

One comment of clarification, I have had several iPods, and have very rarely purchased any music from iTunes. It handles mp3's bought elsewhere just fine.

Now you do have to use iTunes to transfer the music, and it is a problematic software to use. BUT, if you have ever used the Sony Connect Music Store (now defunct) you would never make that statement. Sony's Connect was the ABSOLUTE shiteiest software to use I have ever encountered.

Aside from some database programs I use at work...

We installed a fresh iTunes on my wife's computer. And the dammed thing decided that the iPod was not authorized and started deleting content from the iPod. And iTunes did not even give the option to do this. It just did it.

JSWolf · 03-06-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesiLinguist

If you'd like to use something else to transfer music onto your iPod, check out the recently released DoubleTwist. I haven't tried it because the iPod/iPhone support is currently Windows only but I have read reports that it works well.

Currently, the Windows versions is private beta and there is only a MAC version.

ChrisM12743 · 03-06-2009, 08:40 AM

Let's hope B&N does'nt run Fictionwise like their brick and mortar stores, because if they
do, so much for any discount! This could be disastrous for all, Don't forget B&N as well as Borders put ALL the small bookstores out of business, the same could happen here! Be afraid, be very afraid, let us hope that this beast remains locked up!

GeoffC · 03-06-2009, 08:41 AM

Early indications suggest not - but only time will tell - disturbing that FW has not emailed the situation to customers, relying solely on a web-page entry.

BlackVoid · 03-06-2009, 09:34 AM

Another large monopoly acquiring the competition. BAD. BAD. BAD.

HarryT · 03-06-2009, 10:20 AM

B&N is not a "monopoly". Other bookstores exist.

ChrisM12743 · 03-06-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

Another large monopoly acquiring the competition. BAD. BAD. BAD.

I fear that once B&N gets their hands on Fictionwise, the rest will fall
like dominoes. When that happens, there will be no price difference
between paper and ebooks. This could put the ebook readers like us
out to pasture and hurt the sales of new readers.!

ChrisM12743 · 03-06-2009, 10:25 AM

There are two bookstore chains in operation at this time, Borders and Barnes & Noble. The acquisition of Fictionwise could be very bad for ereaders.

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03-06-2009, 12:32 AM	#183
DesiLinguist Computational Linguist Posts: 110 Karma: 100 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: iLiad BE, iPhone, Kindle DX	If you'd like to use something else to transfer music onto your iPod, check out the recently released DoubleTwist. I haven't tried it because the iPod/iPhone support is currently Windows only but I have read reports that it works well.

03-06-2009, 08:40 AM	#190
ChrisM12743 ChrisM Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: bookeen cybook gen3	Let's hope B&N does'nt run Fictionwise like their brick and mortar stores, because if they do, so much for any discount! This could be disastrous for all, Don't forget B&N as well as Borders put ALL the small bookstores out of business, the same could happen here! Be afraid, be very afraid, let us hope that this beast remains locked up!

03-06-2009, 08:41 AM	#191
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Early indications suggest not - but only time will tell - disturbing that FW has not emailed the situation to customers, relying solely on a web-page entry.

03-06-2009, 09:34 AM	#192
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	Another large monopoly acquiring the competition. BAD. BAD. BAD.

03-06-2009, 10:20 AM	#193
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	B&N is not a "monopoly". Other bookstores exist.

03-06-2009, 10:25 AM	#195
ChrisM12743 ChrisM Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: bookeen cybook gen3	There are two bookstore chains in operation at this time, Borders and Barnes & Noble. The acquisition of Fictionwise could be very bad for ereaders.