Format or eReader?

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by kennyc

This wasn't about winning. You said that no one except techies were aware of format differences. I corrected you.

Fair enough, maybe techies was too specific a term.

I'll just toss that out and say more generally that--"People who are acutely aware of format differences will have little to no impact on which format wins. Just like they haven't in past format wars in other areas."

Though I'm still not sure it was really specific. Do you think most iPod owners know the difference between AAC and MP3 given the majority just buy from iTunes, synch their iPod and never put more thought into it?

The average consumer is about as intelligent and informed as a slug. They just buy whatever becomes the hot, must have item through a well designed marketing campaign. And that will decide the e-book format wars just like it has other wars.

[MaggieScratch]

Originally Posted by Book Depository

I would love to know how everyone decides how they buy their eBooks regardless of being free or paid for.

A few questions:

• When buying/searching for eBooks do you search by format or by eReader?
• Do you know what format/s your eReader can read when searching or do you expect all eBooks to be read by your eReader?
• Before you bought your eReader did you know about software to convert a format to your eReaders format? If you didn't would you have liked to have been informed by the retailer?

Thanks

1. I look for the title first, then the format. If my format of choice is not available (or is way more $$$), I yell at the computer and wave my fists around, and go away disappointed. If the book is non-DRMed, all is well: I just download and do a format-shift with calibre.

2. I tend to stick to stores and providers that I know sell books in my preferred formats.

3. Before I bought my first device, the format-shifting software available was pretty fragmented and a pain to use. calibre is wonderful, however. I tell everyone who is getting into ebooks about it.

[kelly1010]

Originally Posted by Book Depository

I would love to know how everyone decides how they buy their eBooks regardless of being free or paid for.

A few questions:

• When buying/searching for eBooks do you search by format or by eReader?
  I learned early on where I can buy books for my sony. I pretty much shop at 2 or 3 websites and can usually find the books I'm looking for on either of those.
• Do you know what format/s your eReader can read when searching or do you expect all eBooks to be read by your eReader? This was probably the first thing I learned. And also which stores to avoid.
• Before you bought your eReader did you know about software to convert a format to your eReaders format? If you didn't would you have liked to have been informed by the retailer? Nope, I didn't really know anything about ebooks or ebook readers. I STILL don't know very much about them. I thought Sony and the Kindle were the only two ebook readers on the market. I had never heard of Calibre before (I've never used it either). never really knew what DRM was either, but I caught onto that pretty quick because I download music and burn cds all the time. As far as formats go, I choose to buy a format that is compatible with my reader so I don't have to do any conversion. I think I tried to do some conversion once and it didn't go well.

Thanks

Here are my answers!

[pmjames]

I am truly a newbie. Re:GhostHawk's reply: Hopefully, this reply is mostly relevant. I have been looking at the Ectaco Jetbook for my 1st ever e-reader device and you seem to find it handles a number of formats easily. Is there additional software you would recommend for even more functionality?
Re: original question; After the title I would assume for my needs that format is next. I sure would like to be able to just "purchase and read"(mainly current fiction and medical handbooks). What are the ebook "stores" that you mentioned you use?
Thank you, Patricia

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by Book Depository

I would love to know how everyone decides how they buy their eBooks regardless of being free or paid for.

A few questions:

• When buying/searching for eBooks do you search by format or by eReader?
• Do you know what format/s your eReader can read when searching or do you expect all eBooks to be read by your eReader?
• Before you bought your eReader did you know about software to convert a format to your eReaders format? If you didn't would you have liked to have been informed by the retailer?

Thanks

Bullet 1: I tend to first look for the eReader, and then consider the formats that it supports. The eReader must support commonly available formats (as a bare minimum it must support both plain text and RTF), and then whether I can or cannot put my own content on the reader myself.

Bullet 2: It would be great if all ebooks can be read on my reader, but my own experience tells me that this is unlikely to be the case (although the epub format offers hope). My main concern is that I am able to get/make ebooks in a format that my eReader supports.

Bullet 3: Before I purchased my ebook reader, I first checked to ensure that I could generate ebooks in format(s) supported by my eReader. As long as I could do this, I wasn't too concerned about the software provided with the reader to put ebooks on my eReader. I didn't concern myself with getting the information from the retailer, rather I made sure that I knew what formats I could generate ebooks in and then made sure the eReader supported those formats.

[davebalme]

Book Depository asked -

"would love to know how everyone decides how they buy their eBooks regardless of being free or paid for."

"A few questions:

When buying/searching for eBooks do you search by format or by eReader?"

Author or book title and invariably use Calibre to convert the file

"Do you know what format/s your eReader can read when searching or do you expect all eBooks to be read by your eReader?"

Yes I know what formats my reader can read and through trial & error which it handles the best. No matter what it says on the box I think there will always be one particular format it handles better or worse than others and that you will only find out by actually using the device.

"Before you bought your eReader did you know about software to convert a format to your eReaders format? If you didn't would you have liked to have been informed by the retailer?"

Yes I had read of Calibre on the MR forum but no I don't think it is down to the retailer to inform the buyer. I think the buyer has to be aware of the limitations of the device before buying and has to research it.

"As a newbie to the whole eBook scene you are perfect for my next questions:

Before you became a member of this forum and bought your eReader did you know anyhting about eBooks/eReaders?"

Yes but the research done on this and to a lesser extent manufacturers forums broadened my knowledge and understanding of what was available, the problems and possible solutions. Comments posted within the MR forum really did narrow the choice of device down.

"What reasons made you chose your eReader? Was it format or device based"?

Format.