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Old 10-22-2009, 07:55 PM   #31
desertgrandma
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Originally Posted by BBRags View Post
I own a Sony 505 and download books from several libraries all the time. The Kindle's got let me do that at the very least before I'll consider buying one.
Actually, you can.

Download mobipocket library ebook to your computer, like normal.

Run kindlefix script. Upload book to your Kindle.

Book closes at end of loan period, just like normal.
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Old 10-22-2009, 08:49 PM   #32
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Quote:
Download mobipocket library ebook to your computer, like normal.
desertgrandma, thanks for the reminder about mobipocket. I'd forgotten about that format.

This could be a thread on its own: I find that there are more books in PDF that I want to read than in mobi. I download from the Sacramento and San Francisco libraries. Sac often has a title in both formats, but the SF seems to have more PDF titles.

Also, the standard for web documents is PDF. Are there conversion programs for PDF->Mobi? I'd expect there are. They wouldn't convert the library downloads, but would be good for web docs.

My conclusion: the Kindle must add PDF.
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Old 10-22-2009, 09:31 PM   #33
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Me too, no reason to keep two product lines going that are basically the same.
Yep, mine was from the last batch.
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Old 10-22-2009, 11:35 PM   #34
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Originally Posted by desertgrandma View Post
Actually, you can.

Download mobipocket library ebook to your computer, like normal.

Run kindlefix script. Upload book to your Kindle.

Book closes at end of loan period, just like normal.
I've been trying to do this forever!
I know about the kindlefix script but how exactly do you "run" the script? Is there a mobi to azw for dummies manual out there?
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Old 10-23-2009, 12:00 AM   #35
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I actually think that the entire ebook bn store will go through a revamp before the release of the nook. Someone on the B&N help forum had said "that they are converting to epub downloads with the launch of the nook as well. That will be a major change for the store and maybe more content and better pricing will come along with that change." That could be one of the reasons they're waiting till Nov 30th to start shipping. Furthermore they haven't announced what newspapers and magazines will be offered as well as a host of other content related information so there's still a lot in the works. I highly doubt BN is turning a blind eye to the pricing issue and they did say during the press conference that their intention was to be competitive with ebook pricing so they have acknowledged it. That may just be me being hopeful though... If not, Kindle 2 here I come.

Last edited by juj1n; 10-23-2009 at 12:07 AM.
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Old 10-23-2009, 02:24 AM   #36
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wow that was rather audacious of her! I'd have to be sharing an awful lot more than office space with someone to share my Kindle account (or pretty much any type of account requiring a password)
I know. We have lunch sometimes, I've never socialized with her outside of the office except that occasionally, some of us will have dinner & drinks after work (usually a big group). She knows that I share a Sony account with my ex-roommate. But Sony bookstore is a separate entity from the online SonyStyle Store. Even that was a big inconvenience; she managed to charge my credit card accidentally at least 6 times. Of course, she paid for the books when I brought it up, funnily she never seemed to notice until I pointed it out! Anyway, we still share that account but I've since removed my credit information since I no longer buy books from Sony (have not bought any books from them Since Sept 2008). Not because of prices but because I can't liberate their LRX books they sell on their website. I realize I don't have a brand loyalty and that I will buy the reader that best suit my needs, so now I try to stay away from books that I can't liberate!
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Old 10-23-2009, 06:57 AM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desertgrandma View Post
Actually, you can.

Download mobipocket library ebook to your computer, like normal.

Run kindlefix script. Upload book to your Kindle.

Book closes at end of loan period, just like normal.
Can I say I love the guys that are looking out for us!!!!

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Old 10-23-2009, 08:38 PM   #38
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I agree! Thanks for all the behind the scenes help everyone!

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Can I say I love the guys that are looking out for us!!!!

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Old 10-23-2009, 11:31 PM   #39
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I've been wanting an eReader for a long time, but have been holding off as I have watched the market.

The eBook market is at a critical juncture right now. The timing is comparable to other junctures in other technology markets, such as Betamax vs. VHS, Windows vs. Mac, HD format vs. Bluray.

I am watching the next six weeks closely and will be making my decision based upon the events in the next six weeks. There are some critical issues, both at Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

Without a doubt, from a technology standpoint alone, the Nook is positioned as the premier technology for an eReader. Basing it on Android was a good move, and adding a dual screen with one as a touch screen positions it as the highest tech eReader on the market.

Technology alone never wins these battles, though, as any Betamax or Mac proponent can tell you.

The next moves by both Amazon and B&N will drive the direction of the eBook market for the next five years.

Nook has three major issues:

1) Gift certificates cannot currently be used for eBooks. This is a huge issue and must be addressed before launch or the Nook will fail.

2) B&N is touting over 1 million titles, however, 500,000 of these are free titles from Google books. The free content from Google can be easily converted to Amazon's proprietary format so this is not a big selling point. The rest of the promise is currently vaporous. Doing a search on authors, etc., I find more titles currently available on Amazon than on B&N. This is a huge issue which must be addressed before launch or else Nook will fail.

3) Pricing is a major factor against Nook. Looking at current costs of eBooks alone on B&N and Amazon, there are a few titles where cost is identical but overall, B&N is priced anywhere between 11% and 150% higher than Amazon depending upon the title. This is a huge factor that must be addressed before launch or else Nook will fail.

From Amazon's viewpoint, there are several issues and they are all related to technology.

1) A wider set of format support exists on Nook. The open EPUB format is supported by Nook but is not really supported by Amazon, especially where DRM is involved. This is a factor that plays against the current market leader.

2) Android as the base OS of the device gives the Nook an advantage over the Kindle for flexibility and ease of upgrades as well as future application support. This must be addressed in the next year or else Amazon risks their market leading position.

3) The wireless features of the Nook exceed those of the Kindle. Amazon should address this in the next version or risk their competitive advantage.

The "loan a book" feature of the Nook is more hype than reality currently. You can only loan a book once for 14 days, and then can never loan it again. Furthermore, publishers and authors can deny this functionality, so not all books will be loanable. It's a niche that nobody has addressed yet and could become a competitive advantage for B&N in the future, but right now it's not a major concern.

For the future I see many possibilities, but there are some key actions required of both B&N and Amazon if they are to really compete.

For B&N, they must get gift certificate application to eBooks in place in the next 37 days. They must insure their claims of 1 million titles are realized, including 500,000 titles for sale. They must reduce the cost of eBooks across the board and should position themselves 10% lower than current Amazon eBook pricing if they expect to have a real impact. Technology alone will not and cannot win this war, and make no mistake, this is a war for the eBook space.

For Amazon, they can buy themselves a year by lowering all eBook prices by 20% across the board standard for the foreseeable future. From there, they have to address the technological advantages of the Nook. They can kill any competitive advantage the Nook could gain from Christmas sales by targeting price drops of eBooks further through JAnuary and heavily advertising the fact that gift certificate purchases will be able to buy eBooks at 25-50% off through the end of January, thus quickly moving that money off the books in 2010.

That's how I see it, any way. I'll be purchasing a device by December 12, depending upon how the two players act. I discount Sony completely based upon how they;ve acted in the marketplace and the current cost of content.

Last edited by Xyxox; 10-23-2009 at 11:41 PM.
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Old 10-24-2009, 12:22 AM   #40
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Originally Posted by veeboo View Post
I've been trying to do this forever!
I know about the kindlefix script but how exactly do you "run" the script? Is there a mobi to azw for dummies manual out there?
We used to have step by step instruction on how to do it on our Wiki. But, Amazon sent us a DMCA take down notice. While, pretty much no one believed it was a violation Alex and the moderators decided it was best to remove the information and keep Amazon as a friend.

Sorry. Perhaps you can find it in the Internet Archive or something.

BOb
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Old 10-24-2009, 04:52 AM   #41
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I discount Sony completely based upon how they;ve acted in the marketplace and the current cost of content.
I own a 505, and am surprised Sony have not been more prescient in their technology upgrades and library expansion. Sony IS a giant technology company with more resources than either Amazon or BN at their disposal. To see them outdone at this critical stage in the game is just embarrassing since they've been making readers for several years. Sony's eReader group had better get moving and innovating.
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Old 10-24-2009, 09:19 AM   #42
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Originally Posted by Xyxox View Post
2) Android as the base OS of the device gives the Nook an advantage over the Kindle for flexibility and ease of upgrades as well as future application support. This must be addressed in the next year or else Amazon risks their market leading position.

3) The wireless features of the Nook exceed those of the Kindle. Amazon should address this in the next version or risk their competitive advantage.
I don't understand why Android should provide a technological advantage over Unix as the base OS and I'd appreciate if someone explained this.

I disagree that the wireless features of the Nook exceed those of the Kindle. With the Kindle I can access the Wikipedia which is useful and public domain Web sites like Feedbooks which is even more useful. I also have a primitive Web browser. With the nook I have WiFi as well but I can only use it to access the B&N store. Until some hacks to access public domain sites come along I think the Kindle has an advantage.

To meet the nook challenge, I think that Amazon has to provide reflowable pdf and must support sideloaded open ePub. With that any current nook format advantage would disappear.
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Old 10-24-2009, 10:27 AM   #43
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Actually, the way B&N is blowing what should have been a great new device, Amazon may not have to do anything to combat B&N. B&N is shooting itself in the head.
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Old 10-24-2009, 11:09 AM   #44
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Actually, the way B&N is blowing what should have been a great new device, Amazon may not have to do anything to combat B&N. B&N is shooting itself in the head.
Huh? Why would you say that?

Seems to me they've done just about everything right with the possible exception of the misleading 'lending' thing.
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Old 10-24-2009, 11:23 AM   #45
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I don't understand why Android should provide a technological advantage over Unix as the base OS and I'd appreciate if someone explained this.

I disagree that the wireless features of the Nook exceed those of the Kindle. With the Kindle I can access the Wikipedia which is useful and public domain Web sites like Feedbooks which is even more useful. I also have a primitive Web browser. With the nook I have WiFi as well but I can only use it to access the B&N store. Until some hacks to access public domain sites come along I think the Kindle has an advantage.

To meet the nook challenge, I think that Amazon has to provide reflowable pdf and must support sideloaded open ePub. With that any current nook format advantage would disappear.
First is development of new apps for the device, including a web browser. You can expect that within six months of launch.

The wireless feature will work at any hotspot. Currently, it's only for acccessing the B&N site as well as the Google books site, but that will change as new apps are introduced.

Combining the two features, updates will be asy to push to the device and the capabilities of the device will expand dramtically. Plus it will open up a new revenue stream for B&N in apps delivered, such as folders etc.

Finally, there is a strong potential for the release of an SDK which will further expand the capabilities of the device.

OF course, none of this means anything if B&N doesn't immediately address the cost differential of eBooks when compared to the AMZ format because first and foremost, the device is used to read eBooks. Without that key component, the Nook will fail and fail miserably.
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