Top 10 Myths about Ebooks - Page 2

carlobee · 11-25-2009, 01:53 AM

nice. that was quite a good read.

Bald Eagle · 11-25-2009, 04:17 AM

However
'2. "You can't back up your files" / "If you lose or break your e-reader or if a new e-reader comes out you lose all your books"'
is actually true for DRMed books.

lene1949 · 11-25-2009, 04:30 AM

All my books are backed up on my computer... I haven't read Pbooks for 5 years... and I never will again... I love being able to carry all my books in a small unit...

weedfreak · 11-25-2009, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

However
'2. "You can't back up your files" / "If you lose or break your e-reader or if a new e-reader comes out you lose all your books"'
is actually true for DRMed books.

This is totally not true, there are many options for backing up files, and who in their right minds leaves DRM on ebooks. The first thing I do with any ebook that I get that has DRM is to remove it. I then have all the chance I need to backup the ebook as well as being able to read it when and where I want.

igorsk · 11-25-2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

My second point was that e-ink is relatively low resolution and low contrast and with only the rarest (and still unavailable) exceptions fixed to a glass substrate which is glossy and full of glare compared to most printed paper (excepting photo paper and some glossy magazines).

FYI, the glass substrate is on the bottom of the panel (it holds the circuitry) and doesn't contribute to glare. The outer covering is (usually?) clear plastic.

LDBoblo · 11-25-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

If you live in Taichung like me and locally you have a but tiny selections of classics in English only (all of which are free for an ereader anyway), then you would have to pay international shipping rates for English and German books. So an ereader pays for itself very quickly. And my house, even though bigger than most, is already full of pbooks, anyway. Additionally I travel 40% of the time.

Don't forget, even many Americans, Canadians, Australians, etc all live off the beaten path and the situation is similar. Ever calculated gas or transit tickets to go to the book store? In many cases ebooks are already cheaper, and they will become much cheaper as more people buy them. Can't stop this Tsunami.

Is ebook just like paper? It is like paperback paper, not like high quality print.

It's not even like paperback paper. It's more like an etch-a-sketch or a calculator display.

And I don't see what your point about book availability and cost for foreigners is. It does not change the fact whatsoever that people very frequently promote ebook prices by comparing them to hardcover prices.

Sure, ebooks are cool in some ways, but that doesn't change anything about the 2 myths I posted.

LDBoblo · 11-25-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

FYI, the glass substrate is on the bottom of the panel (it holds the circuitry) and doesn't contribute to glare. The outer covering is (usually?) clear plastic.

Yeah you're right, the top layer is a polyester (PET) coat. My bad there.

nboshart · 11-25-2009, 11:19 AM

Re: eBooks being green.
The BookSeller posted this article yesterday about a publisher who says that people forget about the environmental impact of datafarms:

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/10...publisher.html

It's true, there's a large impact, but as I was typing this post, I remembered the impact of pulp mills. Anyone know of a direct study that's been done?

KarenH · 11-25-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Don't forget, even many Americans, Canadians, Australians, etc all live off the beaten path and the situation is similar. Ever calculated gas or transit tickets to go to the book store? In many cases ebooks are already cheaper, and they will become much cheaper as more people buy them. Can't stop this Tsunami.

Is ebook just like paper? It is like paperback paper, not like high quality print.

Exactly! I live about 25 miles from the nearest bookstore, and over 60 miles from the nearest library from which I can check out pbooks. With ebooks I can purchase or borrow without spending the $6-$12 per trip for gas.

And while it's true that price comparisons are often given comparing ebook prices to hardcovers, I have also found that except in rare occasions (only one that I can think of right now) when a book is released in paperback, the ebook price drops accordingly so the ebook is still cheaper than the pbook. Granted, this is just my personal experience and applies to mostly general fiction. Also, if you shop for the deals (which I do!) you can pay a LOT less than paperback prices (free is a great price!

).

calvin-c · 11-25-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weedfreak

This is totally not true, there are many options for backing up files, and who in their right minds leaves DRM on ebooks. The first thing I do with any ebook that I get that has DRM is to remove it. I then have all the chance I need to backup the ebook as well as being able to read it when and where I want.

And part of this (about stripping DRM) is irrelevant to the 'myth'. What is false about the myth is that a DRM'd book cannot be backed up. DRM or not, an ebook is just a file and files can be backed up. (There might be eReaders out there that hide their files, and I'm sure if there are somebody will post that fact, but most of them allow their ebook files to be backed up.)

What is true about the myth is that the backed up file may not be readable until it's restored to the device from which it was backed up. I.e. DRM can make an ebook non-transferable, as a book. But it is transferable, in every case I've seen, as a file.

HansTWN · 11-26-2009, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

It's not even like paperback paper. It's more like an etch-a-sketch or a calculator display.

Seems you and Ahi are pretty much alone with that point of view! This sounds so bad and so different from what I am experiencing that I am starting to believe there is something wrong with your unit.

I have even made the test, covered the bezel of the Sony and had a number of people look at a paperback and the screen for comparison. Nobody felt it was any worse.

kindlekitten · 11-26-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Seems you and Ahi are pretty much alone with that point of view! This sounds so bad and so different from what I am experiencing that I am starting to believe there is something wrong with your unit.

I have even made the test, covered the bezel of the Sony and had a number of people look at a paperback and the screen for comparison. Nobody felt it was any worse.

there are just some people who thrive on negativity. you kind of have to treat the behaviour like a bad auto accident, try not to stare too hard and keep on going

ardeegee · 11-26-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

there are just some people who thrive on negativity. you kind of have to treat the behaviour like a bad auto accident, try not to stare too hard and keep on going

There is an acronym in computer tech support that seems fitting: EBKAC. Google it. :-)

mrscoach · 11-26-2009, 11:34 AM

I had always heard it as pbkac, but either would fit those situations. Yeah, I first heard that from Apple when I had the iMac problems. Idiots.

igorsk · 11-27-2009, 11:21 AM

PRS-300 vs. book vs. white paper.

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11-25-2009, 01:53 AM	#16
carlobee Fanatic Posts: 535 Karma: 972 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: The new iPad	nice. that was quite a good read.

11-25-2009, 04:17 AM	#17
Bald Eagle Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 1228255 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Aura H2O, Aura One, Libra Colour	However '2. "You can't back up your files" / "If you lose or break your e-reader or if a new e-reader comes out you lose all your books"' is actually true for DRMed books.

11-25-2009, 04:30 AM	#18
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	All my books are backed up on my computer... I haven't read Pbooks for 5 years... and I never will again... I love being able to carry all my books in a small unit...

11-25-2009, 11:19 AM	#23
nboshart Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 456 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo	Re: eBooks being green. The BookSeller posted this article yesterday about a publisher who says that people forget about the environmental impact of datafarms: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/10...publisher.html It's true, there's a large impact, but as I was typing this post, I remembered the impact of pulp mills. Anyone know of a direct study that's been done?

11-26-2009, 11:34 AM	#29
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	I had always heard it as pbkac, but either would fit those situations. Yeah, I first heard that from Apple when I had the iMac problems. Idiots.

11-27-2009, 11:21 AM	#30
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	PRS-300 vs. book vs. white paper.