Foyles Again - Page 2

luqmaninbmore · 10-31-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you can tell me where I can find a library in the UK which lends out eBooks, I'll be happy to try it for you. Sadly, such services are few and far between here.

I am fortunate in that I have access to two public library systems that offer ebooks for loan. One system uses epub and the other mobipocket. My experience with the latter has brrn much better than with the former. All I had to do was enter my PID in their website and download the books I wanted. It "just worked," With the epub and PDF books it's extremely hit or miss. It used to work but lately I keep getting protected page errors, despite the fact that my purchased content works fine. Besides that, the whole adobe experience is more intrusive because I am required to install their software to even download my books, something which I am not forced to do with either Ereader or Mobipocket. I can even download mobi books using my cell phone, slap the SD in my Gen3, and get to reading. No PC required. If ADOBE had a mobile version that ran on Android, i'd be much happier with their system.

raphaelnonsenso · 10-31-2009, 10:48 PM

Just Joined Windsor & Maidenhead Library. Not bad at all. Or else try Essex County Council Library.

neilmarr · 11-01-2009, 03:18 AM

You must be actually resident in the UK to join an ebook lending library system, Raphael? I've lived outside the country for the past twenty-five years and my library cards are long lost. Cheers. Neil

Mike L · 11-01-2009, 04:23 AM

I used to hang out a lot in Foyles. I'd spend a couple of hours there on a Saturday afternoon, maybe buy a book or two, and sit in Soho Square reading them.

They had a reputation for having the rudest sales staff in London. No matter what question you asked, you were likely get a discourteous response. One of them once got very angry with me, having accused me of putting a book back on the shelf in the wrong place. She wouldn't believe me when I insisted that I has only just walked in the door and hadn't yet picked up any books. Even when another customer came forward to confess to the dastardly crime, the assistant didn't apologise.

Of course, that was all many years ago. I'm sure it's not at all like that nowadays.

neilmarr · 11-01-2009, 04:46 AM

Yep, Mike. I remember the snooty staff being half the fun of an afternoon at Foyles back in the seventies. But, mind you, some of them did know their stuff. Wonder what they're like now. No 'have a nice day', I hope. Slainte. Neil (also of Edinburgh)

tompe · 11-01-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Why so glum? Adobe Digital Editions is free, and it is not hard to remove Adobe DRM.

So they have release the Linux version then?

I thought you needed a Windows machine at least initially and that is not free.

HarryT · 11-01-2009, 05:53 AM

Given that you require a Windows PC or a Mac to read ADE books, whether the normal way, or to remove the DRM, it is a reasonable assumption that a person without such a machine is somewhat unlikely to be shopping at an ADE eBook store

.

tompe · 11-01-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given that you require a Windows PC or a Mac to read ADE books, whether the normal way, or to remove the DRM, it is a reasonable assumption that a person without such a machine is somewhat unlikely to be shopping at an ADE eBook store

.

But if there was no DRM than that would not be needed. The argument that I responded to was that it was free to handle ADE DRM.

jbjb · 11-01-2009, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Yep, Mike. I remember the snooty staff being half the fun of an afternoon at Foyles back in the seventies. But, mind you, some of them did know their stuff. Wonder what they're like now. No 'have a nice day', I hope. Slainte. Neil (also of Edinburgh)

Oh, the memories!

I haven't been to Foyles for ages (decades!), but it always used to be a required stop on my rare visits to London. In these days of internet shopping, the bookshop that has *everything* is no longer the treat that it used to be, but back then it was a real joy. The nearest thing to "L-space" (one for the Pratchett fans) I've come across.

/JB

tompe · 11-01-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbjb

Oh, the memories!

I haven't been to Foyles for ages (decades!), but it always used to be a required stop on my rare visits to London. In these days of internet shopping, the bookshop that has *everything* is no longer the treat that it used to be, but back then it was a real joy. The nearest thing to "L-space" (one for the Pratchett fans) I've come across.

/JB

They have changed a lot. They have started to letting you pay for the books with the same procedure as in any other bookshop. And I am pretty sure that the books are now sorted as is usual and not on publisher as primary sort key.

Since Foyle have changed and most of the second hand bookshops at Charing Cross have disappeared a visit to London is not what it used to be.

DawnFalcon · 11-01-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

You must be actually resident in the UK to join an ebook lending library system, Raphael? I've lived outside the country for the past twenty-five years and my library cards are long lost. Cheers. Neil

At least for the Essex one, I checked for my parents and yes you do need to be a member of one of their libraries. They live in Southend which is a seperate system, grrrrr.

neilmarr · 11-02-2009, 02:47 AM

Thanks, Dawn. I wasn't holding my breath. UK lending libraries are still largely supported by local authority rates (habitation tax), I think, so I guess it would be unfair to extend the all-but free service to non-residents of a borough or region ... unless there was a foreign guest membership fee, of course. Wonder if any cash-strapped library has considered that possibility of extra revenue. Cheers. Neil

HarryT · 11-02-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Thanks, Dawn. I wasn't holding my breath. UK lending libraries are still largely supported by local authority rates (habitation tax), I think, so I guess it would be unfair to extend the all-but free service to non-residents of a borough or region ... unless there was a foreign guest membership fee, of course. Wonder if any cash-strapped library has considered that possibility of extra revenue. Cheers. Neil

Interestingly, only the other day I was reading a news item saying that there is a project currently underway in the UK to "link up" all the different libraries, so that anyone will be able to borrow books from any library, and the usual requirement that you live or work in a place in order to borrow books from the library there will be removed. Hopefully this will apply to eBooks, too!

neilmarr · 11-02-2009, 03:11 AM

***Hopefully this will apply to eBooks, too! ***

Perhaps the new scheme was even prompted by ebook lending potential, Harry. It would make sense to have a central data base and tech/administration for ebooks, I guess. Cheers. Neil

10-31-2009, 10:48 PM	#17
raphaelnonsenso Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 104 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Berkshire,UK Device: Sony Touch, K3	Just Joined Windsor & Maidenhead Library. Not bad at all. Or else try Essex County Council Library.

11-01-2009, 03:18 AM	#18
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	You must be actually resident in the UK to join an ebook lending library system, Raphael? I've lived outside the country for the past twenty-five years and my library cards are long lost. Cheers. Neil

11-01-2009, 04:23 AM	#19
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	I used to hang out a lot in Foyles. I'd spend a couple of hours there on a Saturday afternoon, maybe buy a book or two, and sit in Soho Square reading them. They had a reputation for having the rudest sales staff in London. No matter what question you asked, you were likely get a discourteous response. One of them once got very angry with me, having accused me of putting a book back on the shelf in the wrong place. She wouldn't believe me when I insisted that I has only just walked in the door and hadn't yet picked up any books. Even when another customer came forward to confess to the dastardly crime, the assistant didn't apologise. Of course, that was all many years ago. I'm sure it's not at all like that nowadays.

11-01-2009, 04:46 AM	#20
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Yep, Mike. I remember the snooty staff being half the fun of an afternoon at Foyles back in the seventies. But, mind you, some of them did know their stuff. Wonder what they're like now. No 'have a nice day', I hope. Slainte. Neil (also of Edinburgh)

11-01-2009, 05:53 AM	#22
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Given that you require a Windows PC or a Mac to read ADE books, whether the normal way, or to remove the DRM, it is a reasonable assumption that a person without such a machine is somewhat unlikely to be shopping at an ADE eBook store .

11-02-2009, 02:47 AM	#27
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Thanks, Dawn. I wasn't holding my breath. UK lending libraries are still largely supported by local authority rates (habitation tax), I think, so I guess it would be unfair to extend the all-but free service to non-residents of a borough or region ... unless there was a foreign guest membership fee, of course. Wonder if any cash-strapped library has considered that possibility of extra revenue. Cheers. Neil

11-02-2009, 03:11 AM	#29
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	*Hopefully this will apply to eBooks, too! * Perhaps the new scheme was even prompted by ebook lending potential, Harry. It would make sense to have a central data base and tech/administration for ebooks, I guess. Cheers. Neil

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