Just another guy looking for experienced help

[polly]

I'm not quite sure what you have against removing DRM. It's been turned in to a simple process for B&N, Adobe encryption, and the Kindle formats. Once you remove it, Calibre will convert the book into the format of your choice. Getting a device that can be rooted to Android and then running apps for the different bookstores sounds more difficult and greatly limits your choices.

As you've discovered with the matrix, there are several readers that aren't as well known as the top four. The PocketBook has an enthusiastic fan base and company representatives here at MobileRead. I'm not sure if their latest readers have a Pearl screen.

[OldCrank]

Originally Posted by polly

I'm not quite sure what you have against removing DRM. It's been turned in to a simple process for B&N, Adobe encryption, and the Kindle formats. Once you remove it, Calibre will convert the book into the format of your choice. Getting a device that can be rooted to Android and then running apps for the different bookstores sounds more difficult and greatly limits your choices.

As you've discovered with the matrix, there are several readers that aren't as well known as the top four. The PocketBook has an enthusiastic fan base and company representatives here at MobileRead. I'm not sure if their latest readers have a Pearl screen.

I guess removing DRM (even though I don't like it) is still illegal and even though that doesn't bother me all that much, I just don't really want to get into the whole DRM removal thing. It's similar to gaming where the games all have protection software that installs even if you don't like it. I would use a "No-CD patch", but I wouldn't try to remove the protection software itself. I guess it's all personal preference, or maybe I am just too lazy. If I have to root a reader, then it's a one time deal. If I have to remove DRM from a book, it's an every time deal, over & over again. Huh, I guess I really am lazy...

[vishcompany]

Originally Posted by OldCrank

If I have to root a reader, then it's a one time deal. If I have to remove DRM from a book, it's an every time deal, over & over again. Huh, I guess I really am lazy...

Nothing wrong with being lazy.
You might want to organize your books at some point and then Calibre comes into play.
I buy books from many different shops in all the different file formats. All I need to do after the purchase is to drag&drop the new book into calibre, then connect the reader of choice to the PC and tell calibre to transfer the book onto the reader. That's it.
DRM stripping is done (after installing a few plugins in calbre only once).
File conversion to a format the reader can handle is done as well automatically.
Once set up right, it's the one-stop-shop for your ebook library.

[OldCrank]

Originally Posted by vishcompany

Nothing wrong with being lazy.
You might want to organize your books at some point and then Calibre comes into play.
I buy books from many different shops in all the different file formats. All I need to do after the purchase is to drag&drop the new book into calibre, then connect the reader of choice to the PC and tell calibre to transfer the book onto the reader. That's it.
DRM stripping is done (after installing a few plugins in calbre only once).
File conversion to a format the reader can handle is done as well automatically.
Once set up right, it's the one-stop-shop for your ebook library.

Ok, so Amazon Topaz can be unlocked with this Caliber? There are plug ins for Topaz and others? I read somewhere that Topaz can be "stripped" but it still isn't unlocked because somehow it is actually an image, not text or something like that. It had to be done that way to get publishers to sign onboard with releasing more e-books?

I guess this is a way to get books, but actually I am feeling more like I'm a criminal, so I don't know if I would be able to do it. Somehow it all seems wrong. Wrong that the publishers have to do it and wrong that we have to steal it from ourselves just to use it as WE wish, instead of how THEY demand. It's why I don't download music. I just listen to the radio and if it doesn't have what I want, I don't listen at all.

The kicker to all of it is the hike in e-book pricing. Now that I have really considered doing something like this and started really looking at the prices, the books I want are just too high! It was so much easier just to wait and buy a used paperback or do the Paperback Swap thing. (If only my eyes weren't going) Maybe I just need a good book holder with a full page magnifier.

I appreciate the info about all of this and I will keep doing research about it. Sooner or later I will end up buying some type of reader, but I may wait till all these newer hybrid LCD readers come out. The prices of the e-ink readers may fall sharply if no one wants them any more, so maybe I can get a good one one dirt cheap then.

I found this site with Calibre instructions for DRM removal. It doesn't look too easy to me;
[EDIT: Removed link to explicit instructions on DRM removal. Marc - Moderator]

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by OldCrank

Ok, so Amazon Topaz can be unlocked with this Caliber? There are plug ins for Topaz and others? I read somewhere that Topaz can be "stripped" but it still isn't unlocked because somehow it is actually an image, not text or something like that. It had to be done that way to get publishers to sign onboard with releasing more e-books?

There are plugins, but the actual tools that do the unlocking are kept separate from Calibre and you will have to obtain them separately.

Topaz is actually a combination of images and (often very bad) OCR. It's kind of like the PDF of Amazon formats, and it's an older format which isn't popular. The main reason why it got used was that it was very cheap for the publishers to pay Amazon to make instead of creating a "real" text-based e-book that someone would have to go through and proofread; also it was useful for some books with fancy formatting and image layouts which couldn't be properly represented with Mobi.

Topaz books can be converted, but they're usually a mess that needs to be cleaned up (unless you don't mind reading a lot of typos).

Originally Posted by OldCrank

I guess this is a way to get books, but actually I am feeling more like I'm a criminal, so I don't know if I would be able to do it. Somehow it all seems wrong. Wrong that the publishers have to do it and wrong that we have to steal it from ourselves just to use it as WE wish, instead of how THEY demand. It's why I don't download music. I just listen to the radio and if it doesn't have what I want, I don't listen at all.

It's perfectly okay if you're not comfortable with doing it. Perhaps your best bet would be to start trying books from publishers and sources which sell them DRM-free and that way the issue would simply never arise.

If you like science-fiction and fantasy, there are several good options, with Baen's Webscription being the main one (they offer not only their own books, but also from several other publishers' sf/fantasy imprints) and they have a very helpful Free Library of promotional first-in-series books which they let you try out at no charge.

You can buy directly from some authors, such as via the BookViewCafé, which is a consortium of print authors banding together to sell e-books of their out-of-print works, or the authors' individual websites.

For mystery and other categories, you can try Fictionwise's MultiFormat selections, which are DRM-free. They occasionally offer good discount coupons which usually show up in the Deals forum here, and they carry books from imprints like Belgrave House and e-Reads, which reprint backlist works by established authors in many genres.

Computer books and romance also have decent selections of DRM-free books. Unfortunately, if you're looking for specialty non-fiction or New York Times bestseller-type material, then you'd be out of luck, because those are almost always DRMed.

[speakingtohe]

Why not just buy an ereader from a store with a good return policy and try it out.

Something that you can download books from the local library or mobile reads is probably best as you can read a book or two without additional cost.

Whether you strip DRM or not is up to you, same as whether you buy or access DRMed products.

My 85 year old mother loves her ereader and has no idea what DRM is.

Life is short. If I had waited for the perfect computer, the perfect mattress or the perfect mousetrap, I would still be waiting, sleeping on the floor with mice watching me while pointing and giggling and no way of posting this response.

Helen

[OldCrank]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Why not just buy an ereader from a store with a good return policy and try it out.

Something that you can download books from the local library or mobile reads is probably best as you can read a book or two without additional cost.

Whether you strip DRM or not is up to you, same as whether you buy or access DRMed products.

My 85 year old mother loves her ereader and has no idea what DRM is.

Life is short. If I had waited for the perfect computer, the perfect mattress or the perfect mousetrap, I would still be waiting, sleeping on the floor with mice watching me while pointing and giggling and no way of posting this response.

Helen

Uh, I do sleep on the floor (how did You know!), but I don't have mice. The cat kills them

I figure I will borrow one sooner or later. I am not in a hurry. As I said, I am only interested in books I can't read due to very small font or new books that don't go paperback, so there's no real hurry. I spent about a year of research before getting my first computer and ended up with a better model in doing so. I didn't loose anything by waiting, since way back then, there wasn't much you could do with one anyhow.

Actually, the research is much more fun than the purchase (for me) and no matter what I get, I won't be happy with it anyway. I am a natural born perfectionist & pessimist, so nothing is ever really right & I know it won't be right.

Oh, Give your 85 year old mother a hug for me. Anyone that makes it that far can always use another hug.

[boswd]

Honestly I would just buy a nook touch or one of the new Sony's. the locking up problem I haven't heard it being a widespread problem, I wouldn't let that sway you. Every electronic products will have a batch of lemons. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

they both accept epub so you can shop at Google books, Kobo books etc. Epub is where you'll find most if not all the top authorss and novels from the major publishers.

the kindle fans usually tend to leave out when telling you, you aren't locked in with Amazon because of Project Guttneburg and other that sell in non drm mobi is they tend to be sites selling out of copyright books, which are also available anywhere in ePub and are usually more obscure titles and authors etc. So if you are looking for that new Stephen King or Dan Brown book etc, you won't find it there.

The Nook STR has the advantage of a much better books store than Sony but the Sony's tend to have more customization, if that's your thing, in terms of importing different font's , more advanced PDF rendering if you read many books that have graphs, maps etc.

but if you are just a basic reader, buy a book, read a book rinse and repeat. I would go with the nook str. Great User Interface, excellent book store and reads ePub as well.

[OldCrank]

Originally Posted by boswd

Honestly I would just buy a nook touch or one of the new Sony's. the locking up problem I haven't heard it being a widespread problem, I wouldn't let that sway you. Every electronic products will have a batch of lemons. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

they both accept epub so you can shop at Google books, Kobo books etc. Epub is where you'll find most if not all the top authorss and novels from the major publishers.

the kindle fans usually tend to leave out when telling you, you aren't locked in with Amazon because of Project Guttneburg and other that sell in non drm mobi is they tend to be sites selling out of copyright books, which are also available anywhere in ePub and are usually more obscure titles and authors etc. So if you are looking for that new Stephen King or Dan Brown book etc, you won't find it there.

The Nook STR has the advantage of a much better books store than Sony but the Sony's tend to have more customization, if that's your thing, in terms of importing different font's , more advanced PDF rendering if you read many books that have graphs, maps etc.

but if you are just a basic reader, buy a book, read a book rinse and repeat. I would go with the nook str. Great User Interface, excellent book store and reads ePub as well.

Well, here's the reason I will not buy a nook. http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/...up/td-p/437560 and here's a Google search for it http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid...w=1024&bih=659

This is the Nook Touch. I didn't check the Color Nook, since I don't want color. I'm finding plenty of articles and posts like this one. Actually I don't want Touch either. I don't think I will buy a Nook.

Actually I don't think I will buy a reader till maybe, maybe next year sometime. If everyone (including Amazon) is going to color tablets, then I won't be getting a reader. Seems that E-ink is dying on the vine, pushed by marketing to distribute what everyone really wants (Tablets). The older I get, the less I like Technology because you are forced to a "no choice" point by some geek with a cocaine habit and too much idle time on his hands. There's no sense to buy an e-ink model if they aren't going to support it and that seems to be the trend when they switch to something totally different. As I keep reading, e-readers are dead and multi-use tablets are the push. One thing that does everything and does nothing well. No thanks...

Sorry, since my stroke I run my mouth before thinking, because thinking is not there any more, but that's life...

[geertm]

Originally Posted by OldCrank

Well, here's the reason I will not buy a nook. http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/...up/td-p/437560 and here's a Google search for it http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid...w=1024&bih=659

This is the Nook Touch. I didn't check the Color Nook, since I don't want color. I'm finding plenty of articles and posts like this one. Actually I don't want Touch either. I don't think I will buy a Nook.

Actually I don't think I will buy a reader till maybe, maybe next year sometime. If everyone (including Amazon) is going to color tablets, then I won't be getting a reader. Seems that E-ink is dying on the vine, pushed by marketing to distribute what everyone really wants (Tablets). The older I get, the less I like Technology because you are forced to a "no choice" point by some geek with a cocaine habit and too much idle time on his hands. There's no sense to buy an e-ink model if they aren't going to support it and that seems to be the trend when they switch to something totally different. As I keep reading, e-readers are dead and multi-use tablets are the push. One thing that does everything and does nothing well. No thanks...

Sorry, since my stroke I run my mouth before thinking, because thinking is not there any more, but that's life...

The B&N thread you link to is about the first Nook ereader, not the Nook Touch.
There was a problem with a small number of Nook Touch ereaders not responding to the touchscreen (simply solved by rebooting the device). This was solved for most (all?) users by the recent 1.0.1 update.
If you look at the Nook Touch reviews at for example amazon.com you will see no recent complaints about the device not responding.
The Nook Color reviews are just as good.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by OldCrank

Well, here's the reason I will not buy a nook. http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/...up/td-p/437560 and here's a Google search for it http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid...w=1024&bih=659

This is the Nook Touch. I didn't check the Color Nook, since I don't want color. I'm finding plenty of articles and posts like this one. Actually I don't want Touch either. I don't think I will buy a Nook.

Actually I don't think I will buy a reader till maybe, maybe next year sometime. If everyone (including Amazon) is going to color tablets, then I won't be getting a reader. Seems that E-ink is dying on the vine, pushed by marketing to distribute what everyone really wants (Tablets). The older I get, the less I like Technology because you are forced to a "no choice" point by some geek with a cocaine habit and too much idle time on his hands. There's no sense to buy an e-ink model if they aren't going to support it and that seems to be the trend when they switch to something totally different. As I keep reading, e-readers are dead and multi-use tablets are the push. One thing that does everything and does nothing well. No thanks...

Sorry, since my stroke I run my mouth before thinking, because thinking is not there any more, but that's life...

Umm did you notice the dates on those posts? They are from 2009, that's the original nook classic that was full of bugs on it's first release. They have all been ironed out and the nook classic is a wonderful device. but that's besides the point. but yeah they aren't the same device.

and also you can google any device and you'll find multiple sites about problems and issues

for example Kindle locked up

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=...w=1920&bih=904


but on your worry about eink going away and not being supported, well I wouldn't worry, eink is going to be around for quite awhile. Despite Barnes and Noble having great success with it's nook color it STILL recently came out with it's latest eink device. Sony is releasing their new line of eink and I would be shocked if Amazon abandoned eink.

No worries eink will be around for quite some time.

[beppe]

This site can be of help in comparing different prices of ebooks.
The image tells the preferences of the people on MR

[boswd]

Originally Posted by beppe

This site can be of help in comparing different prices of ebooks.
The image tells the preferences of the people on MR
Attachment 76196

How in Sam Hill does the amount of views of each subforum tell you which one is better than the other? Just because one is more popular that doesn't make it better.

an iPod shuffle will outsell the SanDisk Sansa clip+ by probably 10 to 1 if not higher. But there is no sane mind on this earth who will compare the two for audio quality, formats supported and features will say the iPod Shuffle is even in the same league as Sansa clip +

following the sheep doesn't always bring you to the greener pasture

[beppe]

Originally Posted by boswd

How in Sam Hill does the amount of views of each subforum tell you which one is better than the other? Just because one is more popular that doesn't make it better.

an iPod shuffle will outsell the SanDisk Sansa clip+ by probably 10 to 1 if not higher. But there is no sane mind on this earth who will compare the two for audio quality, formats supported and features will say the iPod Shuffle is even in the same league as Sansa clip +

following the sheep doesn't always bring you to the greener pasture

thank you for your kind words.
After your comment I feel much better.

The figure I attached gives a "measure" of what people have chosen. In average they have a certain level of competence, a certain kind of exigencies, financial easiness, and all sort of other parameters.
Average.
That is why your comment makes me feel so much better. Because I can estimate how much margin I have before they close me up.

[ebusinesstutor]

Sadly, there doesn't appear to be any e-ink readers running Android yet. Like you, I prefer Android as I can install the reader apps I want instead of being tied to anything proprietary.

But all the Android ereaders are not e-ink.