Trying to Grok eBooks

FatDog · 11-20-2009, 11:33 PM

Greetings!

I was researching eBooks and discovered this wonderful thread about "Fantasy Authors you (and I) should never read".

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60758

I was shocked and then amazed at how thoughtful and passionate people were about their reading material. Like me, they love books and authors. So I decided I had to sign up and get in on the fun.

Books ... have saved the lives of many people in my life.

I have a rather long commute. I discovered that if I distracted myself with an Audiobook during my drive, I was less likely to visit harm upon clueless left-lane cell-phone users. Their lives have been saved by Terry Pratchett, Janet Evanovich and Steig Larsson.

I also love books and I have to rotate my paperback collection through the garage and storage area. When at the used book store - I have caught myself buying a book I already owned because it was simpler than trying to find the book in storage.

My hope is to convert my beloved collection of Science Fiction, Comedy, etc to electronic form and donate the Treeware to the local library or charity used book store.

Then ... I discovered Sony has one format, Kindle has another, Many books are PDF, HTML, TXT, etc. Some of the readers can handle multiple formats, others not so much. The idea of the Android-backed "Nook" gives me hope that it will be more compatible, but .. well time will tell.

Anyway - I am looking forward to discussing the hardware, software, authors, state of the publishing industry, etc.

PennyPie · 11-21-2009, 04:23 AM

Welcome!!! You'll find a lot of friendly, helpful folks here...and so many recommendations. I'm always hearing about new books/authors here....my 'to read' list is immense & I've collected so many books, I'll never get done!!

But what's Grok?

pdurrant · 11-21-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatDog

Then ... I discovered Sony has one format, Kindle has another, Many books are PDF, HTML, TXT, etc. Some of the readers can handle multiple formats, others not so much. The idea of the Android-backed "Nook" gives me hope that it will be more compatible, but .. well time will tell.

Anyway - I am looking forward to discussing the hardware, software, authors, state of the publishing industry, etc.

Welcome to Mobileread! You'll find lots of good discussions, both about the contents and the containers.

Formats: Yes, lots of formats at the moment. Three look likely to be important in the near future:

PDF: Not reflowable, great for compex fixed formats if you have a large screen.
ePub: The newcomer. Open format. XHTML+CSS2+SVG. Probably most future-proof, but not completely mature.
Mobipocket/Kindle: proprietary wrapping of HTML 3.2. No proper spec of the format, only reverse-engineering. Not as capable as ePub, but the reading software is more mature.

pdurrant · 11-21-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PennyPie

But what's Grok?

It's from Robert A Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grok

MickeyC · 11-21-2009, 07:42 AM

Hi FatDog and welcome to MobileRead. Delighted to learn I am not the only one who has had to buy a book he already owns because he can't find the damn thing!

Lady Blue · 11-21-2009, 10:09 PM

Hello FatDog, and Name: black dog-4.jpg
Views: 248
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to Mobileread.

neilmarr · 11-22-2009, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by PennyPie View Post: But what's Grok?As PDurrant says, from A Stranger in a Strange Land. It mean deep understanding/appreciation and entered to vocabularly (to replace 'dig') among a generation of SF lovers. Some die-hards (lilke me) still sometimes use it to baffle folks. As fun goes, it's finesty kind. Hoots. Neil

Good to have your company FatDog. Good luck. N

Katti's Cat · 11-22-2009, 05:06 AM

Welcome to the Forum. Lots of nice people , unknown (to me authors) and heaps of help.

kacir · 11-22-2009, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatDog

... When at the used book store - I have caught myself buying a book I already owned because it was simpler than trying to find the book in storage.

I have caught myself downloading book I have already downloaded previously, because it was simpler than trying to locate it in the "not yet catalogued" part of my e-hoard somewhere on a disk at work or at home or perhaps on one of my USB memory sticks ... or was it a CD? ;-)

11-20-2009, 11:33 PM	#1
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Trying to Grok eBooks Greetings! I was researching eBooks and discovered this wonderful thread about "Fantasy Authors you (and I) should never read". https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60758 I was shocked and then amazed at how thoughtful and passionate people were about their reading material. Like me, they love books and authors. So I decided I had to sign up and get in on the fun. Books ... have saved the lives of many people in my life. I have a rather long commute. I discovered that if I distracted myself with an Audiobook during my drive, I was less likely to visit harm upon clueless left-lane cell-phone users. Their lives have been saved by Terry Pratchett, Janet Evanovich and Steig Larsson. I also love books and I have to rotate my paperback collection through the garage and storage area. When at the used book store - I have caught myself buying a book I already owned because it was simpler than trying to find the book in storage. My hope is to convert my beloved collection of Science Fiction, Comedy, etc to electronic form and donate the Treeware to the local library or charity used book store. Then ... I discovered Sony has one format, Kindle has another, Many books are PDF, HTML, TXT, etc. Some of the readers can handle multiple formats, others not so much. The idea of the Android-backed "Nook" gives me hope that it will be more compatible, but .. well time will tell. Anyway - I am looking forward to discussing the hardware, software, authors, state of the publishing industry, etc.

11-21-2009, 10:09 PM	#6
Lady Blue the snarky blue one Posts: 6,001 Karma: 3877825 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: deep in the heart Device: PRS500, 505 & 600, PRST1 & T2, Kindle PW, Moto Razr, Galaxy Tab 2-10"	Hello FatDog, and to Mobileread.

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11-21-2009, 04:23 AM	#2
PennyPie Cocoa & Toast...mmmmmm... Posts: 275 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio Device: Sony PRS-700, iPhone	Welcome!!! You'll find a lot of friendly, helpful folks here...and so many recommendations. I'm always hearing about new books/authors here....my 'to read' list is immense & I've collected so many books, I'll never get done!! But what's Grok?

11-21-2009, 07:42 AM	#5
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi FatDog and welcome to MobileRead. Delighted to learn I am not the only one who has had to buy a book he already owns because he can't find the damn thing!

11-22-2009, 04:51 AM	#7
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Originally Posted by PennyPie View Post: But what's Grok?As PDurrant says, from A Stranger in a Strange Land. It mean deep understanding/appreciation and entered to vocabularly (to replace 'dig') among a generation of SF lovers. Some die-hards (lilke me) still sometimes use it to baffle folks. As fun goes, it's finesty kind. Hoots. Neil Good to have your company FatDog. Good luck. N

11-22-2009, 05:06 AM	#8
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,259 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	Welcome to the Forum. Lots of nice people , unknown (to me authors) and heaps of help.

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