Under new Overdrive model users will no longer choose a file format, just 'ebook'

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by khalleron

That's a qualifier that's even more negligible than the other one.

I think the argument centers around the question 'what is a usable ebook format?' rather than 'what is an ebook format?' - because the answer to the second one, as you are arguing, is pretty d**n much anything digital that has something you can look at or listen to.

Perhaps, but what is "usable" is subjective to the user, and thus there's really no point in arguing further.

PDF is usable to me, because I have a PDF reader. (Other people call it a Sony 950.) LIT is unusable to me because I don't have a lit reader... but I USED to.

Originally Posted by khalleron

There's a difference between something that *can't* reflow and something that doesn't need to.

Completely agree.

[DianNC]

Great thread! I'm curious and interested to see what the final changes will be for us libary users.

Being new to all this, I've accidentally checked out books in .pdf format and NOW know that it's best to just leave those on the computer and read them through ADE, rather than try to load them onto my ereader.

One of my libraries (I take advantage of two county systems and one city system) offers a nice selection in both epub and mobipocket or sometimes both epub and pdf. Anyway, I now have several different ways to read all the various formats on the PC...I only really transfer the epub library books to the device.

I've noticed that with books that are offered in all three formats, there's rarely a waiting list for the mobipocket books (yay) and always a longer line for the epubs than the pdfs.

Oh, the other thing -- at our libraries, epub books can be returned early (pdf's, too, I think), but mobipocket books can't. Interesting and probably makes a difference in preferred formats.

[toddos]

Originally Posted by DianNC

Oh, the other thing -- at our libraries, epub books can be returned early (pdf's, too, I think), but mobipocket books can't. Interesting and probably makes a difference in preferred formats.

That's due to the different DRM used. Adobe's ADEPT DRM used to lend epubs and PDFs allows for early return. Mobi's DRM does not.

Be careful with early return, though. People have reported that too many early returns gets them flagged in the system, as Overdrive or the library assumes you must be pirating (check out, rip off the DRM, check back in to free up more checkout slots).

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by toddos

That's due to the different DRM used. Adobe's ADEPT DRM used to lend epubs and PDFs allows for early return. Mobi's DRM does not.

Yep and Adobe has a patent on it.

[DianNC]

Originally Posted by toddos

That's due to the different DRM used. Adobe's ADEPT DRM used to lend epubs and PDFs allows for early return. Mobi's DRM does not.

Be careful with early return, though. People have reported that too many early returns gets them flagged in the system, as Overdrive or the library assumes you must be pirating (check out, rip off the DRM, check back in to free up more checkout slots).

Thanks for the heads up. I have my return preference set to 7 days for all formats. I'm just loving that mobipocket books are so available, as I don't mind reading them on the computer -- usually finish them early, but oh, well.

The epub and pdf's that I finish early have, so far, been returned with no problems but I can see how a red flag would go up if they were returned on the same day.

I cannot wait to see what this new Overdrive system overhaul will bring us!