Preferred Store? - Page 3

shootingMaNs · 08-16-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddos

I always convert epub to epub after scrubbing DRM anyway. This way, calibre fixes up suboptimal OEBPS folder layouts, over-generous margins (seriously, who thought 1em margins were a good idea?), possible TOC issues, etc. And with recent versions of Calibre it even automatically saves the original epub in case the conversion didn't turn out well.

And that's assuming I don't open the epub in Sigil and start fixing stuff by hand anyway. So many poorly constructed and formatted epubs out there, so little time!

I didn't know about that. I'll have to try it out. I always thought converting to the same format was just a waste of time. Thanks!

toddos · 08-16-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shootingMaNs

I didn't know about that. I'll have to try it out. I always thought converting to the same format was just a waste of time. Thanks!

Yeah, it's not just a straight no-op ("You want to convert epub to epub? Uh ... okay. <do nothing> Done. Here's your epub"). It actually does reconvert the structure, and may even split files if necessary.

Of course, it can also completely screw up a book, so it's good to keep the original. Thankfully calibre does that for you now, so you don't have to do it yourself.

HarleyB · 08-16-2011, 07:21 PM

I chose Kobo for a number of reasons.
1. I have two Kobos so it's the obvious easiest choice - no need to worry about those "plug ins that can't be named" which have recently given me a bit of trouble with a couple of books from Amazon.
2. The Kobo store knows that I live in Australia and doesn't tease me with books that I can't buy due to geographical restrictions like some other stores do. If it's not available in Australia it's not in the store.
3. Price - although discount coupons were not supposed to be considered they are a fact of life. Even without the coupons Kobo is still one of the cheapest stores and when you have a 30% off code to use they are a clear winner for the books I want to buy.

BeccaAnn · 08-16-2011, 07:43 PM

Since I have a Sony, I shop at the Sony store. However, since some of the books I've wanted weren't available in the Sony store, I have bought at Amazon and stripped the rights.

pidgeon92 · 08-16-2011, 07:55 PM

Amazon by far.

• If the ebook is poorly formatted, returning it is no problem.
• Large selection of contemporary titles.
• Generally the cheapest prices.
• Excellent wishlist function; easy to use with ereaderiq.com
• Easy to download.
• Synching across devices.

Statch · 08-16-2011, 08:24 PM

All things being equal, Fictionwise has a great web site. I really like that they show a synopsis of the book on the search page, so I don't have to click on each book to see what it's about. Unfortunately, things aren't equal since Agency pricing, so I do a lot of shopping at Amazon and Kobo now. I find Amazon easier to use, but I appreciate the Kobo offers discounts on non-Agency books so I try to buy there when there's a choice.

JSWolf · 08-16-2011, 08:56 PM

Can we please have multi-choice?

DiapDealer · 08-16-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can we please have multi-choice?

If the title was "preferred stores," yes.

JSWolf · 08-16-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddos

I always convert epub to epub after scrubbing DRM anyway. This way, calibre fixes up suboptimal OEBPS folder layouts, over-generous margins (seriously, who thought 1em margins were a good idea?), possible TOC issues, etc. And with recent versions of Calibre it even automatically saves the original epub in case the conversion didn't turn out well.

And that's assuming I don't open the epub in Sigil and start fixing stuff by hand anyway. So many poorly constructed and formatted epubs out there, so little time!

ePub > ePub via Calibre rarely turns out well. Sure, there are cases where it does. But in the case of most publisher ePub, it turns out poorly. Better off fixing things by hand.

JSWolf · 08-16-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shootingMaNs

I didn't know about that. I'll have to try it out. I always thought converting to the same format was just a waste of time. Thanks!

It is in the case of most ePub > ePub. It just makes a mess of the ePub unless the original ePub is already a mess. Most publisher ePub is not enough of a mess and when you finish, it is a mess.

Renaldo · 08-16-2011, 10:10 PM

Over the years I spent quite a bit at Fictionwise, mainly for a few of their periodicals. Now that I have a Kindle, I'll still be buying those from Fictionwise because they have a better price than Amazon, especially when you consider they almost always have a coupon going. Also, the choice of multiple formats at Fictionwise is a real winner. If I buy something at Amazon, it's Kindle only. If I buy it at Fictionwise, I can download it later in just about any format I want.

ApK · 08-16-2011, 10:20 PM

Amazon. Even if all else were equal, as specified, because 1) they have always treated me well, 2) I like their shopping experience, and in a distant third place, integration with my Kindle is probably convenient sometimes.
But in reality, all else is not equal and I like Amazon for it's selection and deals.

Bookworm_Girl · 08-16-2011, 10:27 PM

All things being equal, I voted for Sony because I use the Sony software to transfer books to my Sony ereaders. I have a large library there from the pre-EPUB days and even pre-Kindle. Kobo is my other major source, especially like their discounts. I also like their smartphone/tablet apps and their Reading Life stats.

I used to buy more from booksonboard and fictionwise but not so much since agency pricing. I almost never purchase from B&N because of their DRM, just freebies and samples. I only buy from Amazon when I can't find the book in EPUB format or if the price difference is drastically cheaper than the other options.

GreenMonkey · 08-16-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

ePub > ePub via Calibre rarely turns out well. Sure, there are cases where it does. But in the case of most publisher ePub, it turns out poorly. Better off fixing things by hand.

I agree. Last time I tried it, it was causing the chapter header pictures in one of George R R Martin's books to become non-centered for some reason.

Install Sigil and learn it (it's not too difficult IMO). I tweak with Sigil. I run the epub->epub only when I absolutely have to (generally to remove excess blank lines throughout the whole book...normally the result of someone else using Calibre to convert using default settings, honestly).

I voted B&N. Personally I don't buy DRM books very often, but when I do it tends to be for history books for school, and Amazon has some of those in Topaz (can normally figure that out, but it takes effort).

I'd LIKE to vote Smashwords, but I've only bought two books there.

theducks · 08-16-2011, 11:10 PM

Baen Webscriptions because they NEVER had all the DRM and proprietary stuff. They just want to sell books

View Poll Results: Preferred Store?
Amazon	69	44.23%
Barnes and Noble	18	11.54%
Kobo	21	13.46%
Sony	13	8.33%
Smashwords	10	6.41%
Fictionwise	4	2.56%
Other (Specify in comments)	19	12.18%
iBooks	1	0.64%
Google Books	1	0.64%
Voters: 156. You may not vote on this poll

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08-16-2011, 07:21 PM	#33
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	I chose Kobo for a number of reasons. 1. I have two Kobos so it's the obvious easiest choice - no need to worry about those "plug ins that can't be named" which have recently given me a bit of trouble with a couple of books from Amazon. 2. The Kobo store knows that I live in Australia and doesn't tease me with books that I can't buy due to geographical restrictions like some other stores do. If it's not available in Australia it's not in the store. 3. Price - although discount coupons were not supposed to be considered they are a fact of life. Even without the coupons Kobo is still one of the cheapest stores and when you have a 30% off code to use they are a clear winner for the books I want to buy.

08-16-2011, 07:43 PM	#34
BeccaAnn Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 660 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Spearfish, SD, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	Since I have a Sony, I shop at the Sony store. However, since some of the books I've wanted weren't available in the Sony store, I have bought at Amazon and stripped the rights.

08-16-2011, 07:55 PM	#35
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	Amazon by far. • If the ebook is poorly formatted, returning it is no problem. • Large selection of contemporary titles. • Generally the cheapest prices. • Excellent wishlist function; easy to use with ereaderiq.com • Easy to download. • Synching across devices.

08-16-2011, 08:24 PM	#36
Statch Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 2084 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle PW2, Samsung Galaxy 3, Kindle Fire HD	All things being equal, Fictionwise has a great web site. I really like that they show a synopsis of the book on the search page, so I don't have to click on each book to see what it's about. Unfortunately, things aren't equal since Agency pricing, so I do a lot of shopping at Amazon and Kobo now. I find Amazon easier to use, but I appreciate the Kobo offers discounts on non-Agency books so I try to buy there when there's a choice.

08-16-2011, 08:56 PM	#37
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,786 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Can we please have multi-choice?

08-16-2011, 10:10 PM	#41
Renaldo Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 250590 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Great Pacific Northwest Device: Kindle 3G + WiFi	Over the years I spent quite a bit at Fictionwise, mainly for a few of their periodicals. Now that I have a Kindle, I'll still be buying those from Fictionwise because they have a better price than Amazon, especially when you consider they almost always have a coupon going. Also, the choice of multiple formats at Fictionwise is a real winner. If I buy something at Amazon, it's Kindle only. If I buy it at Fictionwise, I can download it later in just about any format I want.

08-16-2011, 10:20 PM	#42
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,389 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	Amazon. Even if all else were equal, as specified, because 1) they have always treated me well, 2) I like their shopping experience, and in a distant third place, integration with my Kindle is probably convenient sometimes. But in reality, all else is not equal and I like Amazon for it's selection and deals.

08-16-2011, 10:27 PM	#43
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	All things being equal, I voted for Sony because I use the Sony software to transfer books to my Sony ereaders. I have a large library there from the pre-EPUB days and even pre-Kindle. Kobo is my other major source, especially like their discounts. I also like their smartphone/tablet apps and their Reading Life stats. I used to buy more from booksonboard and fictionwise but not so much since agency pricing. I almost never purchase from B&N because of their DRM, just freebies and samples. I only buy from Amazon when I can't find the book in EPUB format or if the price difference is drastically cheaper than the other options.

08-16-2011, 11:10 PM	#45
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,068 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Baen Webscriptions because they NEVER had all the DRM and proprietary stuff. They just want to sell books

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