Tor - Page 2

JSWolf · 05-19-2008, 09:59 AM

I have to agree. It is unfair for Tor to send out eBooks in formats we can either use as is or easily convert to use and then say that unless you have a Kindle, screw you for the rest of the series. The problem is that the Kindle is not the only device out there.

If any Kindle owners read this, please do not purchase any eBooks from Tor from Amazon. This will hopefully send them a message.

HarryT · 05-19-2008, 10:20 AM

Unfair? It's an advertising campaign, pure and simple! You don't think that they're giving away books out of the goodness of their hearts, do you?

JSWolf · 05-19-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfair? It's an advertising campaign, pure and simple? You don't think that they're giving away books out of the goodness of their hearts, do you?

I know what they are doing. Giving away book 1 in a series so we'll read book 1 and then want to read the others in the series. BUT, they don't make the others available except to Kindle owners (as eBooks). This is where is becomes unfair. There are more people out there with eBook display devices who do not have a Kindle then there are Kindle owners. So what Tor is doing is shooting themselves in the foot by pissing off a lot of people. And this will effect not only eBooks, but pBooks as well.

Greg Anos · 05-19-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfair? It's an advertising campaign, pure and simple? You don't think that they're giving away books out of the goodness of their hearts, do you?

Correct! And at the end of the 12 week advertising campaign, they are going to open a fancy new website. Call me Pollyanna, but I don't believe that all this expense is being done just to build up a new website with nothing to buy...

Taylor514ce · 05-19-2008, 10:30 AM

HarryT, we're not talking about the giveaway. That's fine, I understand it. The giveaway made me want to read the others in the series. Specifically, the book "The Ghost Brigades". Tor has published this as an e-book, but only as a Kindle Edition.

There is now a situation where in order to buy a published ebook, I would have to own a Kindle and buy the book from Amazon and Amazon only.

TOR is refusing to have me as a customer. That's their right, certainly. It doesn't make me particularly friendly towards TOR, and will affect my future buying decisions.

Taylor514ce · 05-19-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Link please?

Sorry, there is confusion here. By "it", I mean the publisher Nate referred to, not the specific book. Again, the book I want is only available as a Kindle edition (or a printed version).

Taylor514ce · 05-19-2008, 10:42 AM

Moreover, where is their email contact address? Their contact us page doesn't have an email address, except for employment opportunities and webmaster issues. The "Email" link upper right is to email the contact us page to a buddy. Useless.

So in order to talk to TOR about electronic book publishing, I have to write a physical letter. That is icing on the cake.

JSWolf · 05-19-2008, 10:52 AM

You can write the email address used to send you the email about the free eBook. I did when the first one came out in PDF only and did get a reply.

Ramen · 05-19-2008, 10:52 AM

Aye, I'm pissed as well. Especially since I live in Switzerland and thus not in a "Kindle Supported Country".

As for non-Kindle Tor ebooks I've found, they were either in mobi or eReader format. I don't like mobi but I could live with it. The same can not be said for the eReader format.

Pair this with the affront of only selling hardbacks for a year and I'm royally pissed. I don't really care about the price, even if it is hefty. What bothers me is the physical format of hardbacks:

They fit very badly into backpacks (dimensions)
They are too heavy and too cumbersome to read in bed or on a sofa
They take too much space on a shelf
The letters are too large with too large a margin at the edges
The format breaks up the collection unless I only buy hardbacks...

DixieGal · 05-19-2008, 10:57 AM

I agree with all of the gripes. I just sent this:

Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 9:55 AM
To: 'press.inquiries@macmillanusa.com'
Subject: Concerns regarding TOR free e-editions

To Whom It May Concern:

I want to begin by saying “Thank You” for providing free e-editions for readers using electronic reading devices. It is widely understood that the e-editions are part 1 volumes of multi-volume series. However, there is a problem: Your e-edition reading customers can not purchase subsequent volumes in any format except for the Kindle. There are many different e-devices and Kindle has not cornered the market, although their marketing department would like to make it appear to be so.

Please refer to this link https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=24067&page=2 for a list of complaints regarding this inability to purchase TOR books. While there, also please click the link for the website’s wiki for a good overview of the e-device formats.

There is a growing market for e-editions, and I hope TOR will take a leading role in making content available.

Thank you,

Ramen · 05-19-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can write the email address used to send you the email about the free eBook. I did when the first one came out in PDF only and did get a reply.

At the very beginning, I asked them privacy related questions and got an authoritative answer very quickly.

DixieGal · 05-19-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramen

At the very beginning, I asked them privacy related questions and got an authoritative answer very quickly.

And what, pray tell, was the answer?

Taylor514ce · 05-19-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can write the email address used to send you the email about the free eBook. I did when the first one came out in PDF only and did get a reply.

Thanks: questions@tor.com, just for the record.

DixieGal · 05-19-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

Thanks: questions@tor.com, just for the record.

Thanks! I'll forward my letter to that address also.

To all: Feel free to copy, edit, and email any part of my letter that you like. Maybe Tor needs to hear from more than just one or two voices.

Ramen · 05-19-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

And what, pray tell, was the answer?

Their privacy statement for the free ebook sign-up was pretty well done but it lacked references to EU Data Protection Laws and the US Safe Harbor Agreement. So, I asked them what would happen if I demanded/requested the deletion of all personal identifiable information. The response was that all such data would be deleted. The privacy statement already prohibited passing along my data.

However, the point of my post was that emailing them works, as opposed to emailing bookeen.

05-19-2008, 10:52 AM	#24
Ramen Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 800 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Device: Kindle 3, BeBook	Aye, I'm pissed as well. Especially since I live in Switzerland and thus not in a "Kindle Supported Country". As for non-Kindle Tor ebooks I've found, they were either in mobi or eReader format. I don't like mobi but I could live with it. The same can not be said for the eReader format. Pair this with the affront of only selling hardbacks for a year and I'm royally pissed. I don't really care about the price, even if it is hefty. What bothers me is the physical format of hardbacks: They fit very badly into backpacks (dimensions) They are too heavy and too cumbersome to read in bed or on a sofa They take too much space on a shelf The letters are too large with too large a margin at the edges The format breaks up the collection unless I only buy hardbacks... Last edited by Ramen; 05-19-2008 at 11:00 AM. Reason: Edit: removed a part and reformatted

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05-19-2008, 09:59 AM	#16
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,545 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I have to agree. It is unfair for Tor to send out eBooks in formats we can either use as is or easily convert to use and then say that unless you have a Kindle, screw you for the rest of the series. The problem is that the Kindle is not the only device out there. If any Kindle owners read this, please do not purchase any eBooks from Tor from Amazon. This will hopefully send them a message.

05-19-2008, 10:20 AM	#17
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Unfair? It's an advertising campaign, pure and simple! You don't think that they're giving away books out of the goodness of their hearts, do you?

05-19-2008, 10:30 AM	#20
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	HarryT, we're not talking about the giveaway. That's fine, I understand it. The giveaway made me want to read the others in the series. Specifically, the book "The Ghost Brigades". Tor has published this as an e-book, but only as a Kindle Edition. There is now a situation where in order to buy a published ebook, I would have to own a Kindle and buy the book from Amazon and Amazon only. TOR is refusing to have me as a customer. That's their right, certainly. It doesn't make me particularly friendly towards TOR, and will affect my future buying decisions.

05-19-2008, 10:42 AM	#22
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Moreover, where is their email contact address? Their contact us page doesn't have an email address, except for employment opportunities and webmaster issues. The "Email" link upper right is to email the contact us page to a buddy. Useless. So in order to talk to TOR about electronic book publishing, I have to write a physical letter. That is icing on the cake.

05-19-2008, 10:57 AM	#25
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I agree with all of the gripes. I just sent this: Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 9:55 AM To: 'press.inquiries@macmillanusa.com' Subject: Concerns regarding TOR free e-editions To Whom It May Concern: I want to begin by saying “Thank You” for providing free e-editions for readers using electronic reading devices. It is widely understood that the e-editions are part 1 volumes of multi-volume series. However, there is a problem: Your e-edition reading customers can not purchase subsequent volumes in any format except for the Kindle. There are many different e-devices and Kindle has not cornered the market, although their marketing department would like to make it appear to be so. Please refer to this link https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=24067&page=2 for a list of complaints regarding this inability to purchase TOR books. While there, also please click the link for the website’s wiki for a good overview of the e-device formats. There is a growing market for e-editions, and I hope TOR will take a leading role in making content available. Thank you,

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