"Friction" is why e-books adoption is slow

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

However, it's simple enough to convert content bought through iTunes to another format -- I believe converting to MP3 is an option in the iTunes desktop app. (Don't currently have it installed and can't check.)

I remember looking all over iTunes for an MP3 conversion tool, and never found one. I had to do it the manual way... play the song, while I had other music SW open to record the feed in MP3 format. (Similar to copying an e-book into RTF to transfer it to another format!)

Not what I'd call frictionless.

This is why I'm holding out hope (but not my breath) for ePub, whatever Sony or Adobe decide to do.

On JSWolf's purchasing observation: I agree, it would be best to be able to simply download an e-book directly into your reader (and every bookstore ought to have people available to show newbies how to do it). But if you're caught out and about without your reader, you either want an e-book to be e-mailed to you... or, if your e-mail is not accessible (travelling) or you don't have e-mail (it can happen!), a paper card with the encoded file is a good alternative.

See, the card eases the friction of no available reader, no available internet access, and absolutely no net access. It's not for everyone, but it makes life easier for those who can use it.

[NatCh]

Options! That's the ticket: we must have options! But they all have to be compatible options, too, in the sense of not being mutually exclusive.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Well, adopting a standardized format will make compatible options much easier to achieve, by removing most of the digital complication that's caused by multiple formats, and multiple readers that handle files in multiple ways.

This will also make it easier for publishers to standardize operations, and for bookstores to standardize customer service around e-book purchasing and loading. No one expects every bookstore to have their own Geek Squad, and they shouldn't have to. Just someone who can look at your reader and say, "Right, you've paid for the book, now just open your reader... press that button... and you've got your book! Happy reading!"

Of course, after ePub (or something similar) is adopted, the various readers must adopt themselves to convert the software to their own format fairly seamlessly. And if bookstores feature downloading systems, the readers must make that pushbutton-easy, too. Someone (either e-reader, or publisher) needs to work up some specifications for an in-house wired or wireless download system, publish the specs, and get everyone else dedicated to using it, or something compatible.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by radleyp

I found it convenient to have a book with me all the time, but I could have carried a paperback too (the Sony ads now appearing in magazines keep telling the reader that he/she can now carry 80 books at a time, which is just idiotic, since no one, not even students, needs to, so no wonder this thing does not resonate with a bang).

Here's a scenario I think a lot of people have come against...

You have a book you are enjoying reading and want to finish it. You are close to finishing it. You take it with you not realizing how close to finishing it you are. You sit on public transportation and finish your book. Now you have nothing else to read.

Now if you had a Sony Reader.. you'd have just switched to another book and read. Problem solved.

I do use our public transportation and I do see a lot of people reading books. And some are reading nice big heavy hardcover books. That means they have to lug it around with them. It's not all that light depending on the book. And it take up extra room in his/her bag. Most of the time I see women reading the hardcover books. They'd be much better off with a nice eink reader to carry around.

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I agree. I'm a big Vlad Taltos fan, and have the recent ones in hardcover.

I'm less of a fan of the Khaavren stuff -- Brust is doing pastiches of Dumas, and while I like Dumas, they don't go down as well as the Taltos books.

I have to admit I don't like them as well as the Taltos books myself, though it was interesting to get some backplot about Morrolan and Zerika and the Interregnum. I like the Viscount books better than the first two.

Did you know he's finished writing the first draft of Vlad #11, Jhegaala, and has even started Iorich? Looks like Jhegaala may take place out East, between Phoenix and Athyra. I can't wait! That's one I'd probably pay the US$15 for the eARC. I have no idea when Iorich is set. You really never know with Vlad....

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I remember looking all over iTunes for an MP3 conversion tool, and never found one...

Just right-click and choose 'Convert selection to MP3'; obviously, if you're trying to strip out the DRM (tsk, tsk) from iTunes Store-bought audio, you have to revert to third-party apps. Allegedly.

On JSWolf's purchasing observation: I agree, it would be best to be able to simply download an e-book directly into your reader...

But can you imagine the potential number of readers each bookshop would have to support? Everything from dedicated readers (and legacy dedicated readers) to PDAs, palmtops to web tablets, smartphones etc.. etc.. Sounds like a tech-support nightmare in the making.

So yes, I think I'd agree that distribution through a physical medium may work, if only as an interim measure until standards are sorted out - so anytime this century, then..?

Best, Pete.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by petermillard

But can you imagine the potential number of readers each bookshop would have to support? Everything from dedicated readers (and legacy dedicated readers) to PDAs, palmtops to web tablets, smartphones etc.. etc.. Sounds like a tech-support nightmare in the making.

That's why I mentioned standardized download specifications, meaning wired and/or wireless file transfer protocols that every bookstore and reader must accept and build into their systems. As far as the bookstore is concerned, therefore, if the reader does not accept the protocol, it will be the clerk's job to apologize, smile, and hand you a card with your book loaded on it, for you to load into your reader at home.

Originally Posted by petermillard

So yes, I think I'd agree that distribution through a physical medium may work, if only as an interim measure until standards are sorted out - so anytime this century, then..?

Actually, I think that even after those standards are worked out, there will still be some advantages to having book cards (gifts, for example, or for those moments when you're caught without your reader) to make them a common book medium.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by petermillard

Just right-click and choose 'Convert selection to MP3'; obviously, if you're trying to strip out the DRM (tsk, tsk) from iTunes Store-bought audio, you have to revert to third-party apps. Allegedly.



But can you imagine the potential number of readers each bookshop would have to support? Everything from dedicated readers (and legacy dedicated readers) to PDAs, palmtops to web tablets, smartphones etc.. etc.. Sounds like a tech-support nightmare in the making.

So yes, I think I'd agree that distribution through a physical medium may work, if only as an interim measure until standards are sorted out - so anytime this century, then..?

Best, Pete.

Most of the portable reading devices are already supported under Windows. So it should not be too hard for a kiosk to support all these various devices.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by petermillard

Just right-click and choose 'Convert selection to MP3'; obviously, if you're trying to strip out the DRM (tsk, tsk) from iTunes Store-bought audio, you have to revert to third-party apps. Allegedly.

That's probably why it didn't work for me: I wasn't loading it onto an iPod, but a different brand's MP3 player, and iTunes won't play well with others.

(For the record, my MP3 player is made by Cowon, I love it, and I don't care if I never own an iPod. Not that I hate them, but I love the look of my MP3 player more, and the feature set's better.)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

That's probably why it didn't work for me: I wasn't loading it onto an iPod, but a different brand's MP3 player, and iTunes won't play well with others.

iTunes is an excellent "Librarian" and format converter even if you don't own an iPod. Simply load your music into the iTunes library, and then you can convert it as Pete describes. Once converted, copy it from the Library onto your player.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Most of the portable reading devices are already supported under Windows. So it should not be too hard for a kiosk to support all these various devices.

Agreed. USB and WiFi are also pretty widely supported protocols, including under Windows. Put those together, and you should have a fairly comprehensive transfer protocol specification that every reader or handheld device can use.

[Bob Russell]

As people think about the different protocols and formats that might reduce friction, how about this for a crazy twist. What if we standardized by storing the e-books on paper. Paper vs e-book could take on a whole new meaning! (See https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7689)

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

I'd forgotten about that! (It's a shame the original link is dead.) As long as the process of scanning the data into a reader isn't too byzantine, I don't see why it can't work. And if each card looks like modern art, imagine how popular they'll be at the supermarket endcaps!

[Bob Russell]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I'd forgotten about that! (It's a shame the original link is dead.) As long as the process of scanning the data into a reader isn't too byzantine, I don't see why it can't work. And if each card looks like modern art, imagine how popular they'll be at the supermarket endcaps!

I've added some (still working) links with more info to my original post for those that are interested.
(https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7689)

[RWood]

One area that we all seem to overlook is the way we read vs. the way we view a computer screen. How many people sit in a chair and raise their head straight ahead to read? The more natural act is to look down at a book in our hand or on the desk in front of us. It may well be a generation or more before reading on a vertical screen is accepted.

The portable readers (like the Sony Reader) are able to recapture this natural (read what we have always done) environment for reading. Sure in the future the page turns will be faster, the letters will be crisper, and the graphics will be in color.