What Do You Do When A Book Isn't Available For eReaders?

[mayoi]

Originally Posted by David71

A few weeks ago I was looking for What to Listen For in Music by Aaron Copland and saw that it was only available in paperback. I waited a couple of weeks while I finished reading a few other books and then went back to order it. Amazon had a note stating that it would be released for Kindle on the first day of February so I waited and bought that version yesterday.

Wow, thank you for posting about this! This is one DTB that I dearly wanted to read on the Kindle.

[puddych]

<<I travel by air A LOT. You can't have your eReader on from the time the plane's door closes at the gate, through de-icing, taxiing, take-off and climb out. Can't turn the device back on until the plane reaches 10,000'. That can be a long time (up to 45-60 minutes)<<
here in europe the warning comes at the same time as the survival demo and I allways switch back on as soon as they switch of full climbing power to the moters ..so 10 miniutes ate most..no problem

urs

[chamekke]

Originally Posted by Lirael

I haven't done any scanning myself, but from lurking about here I've picked up a little info...

Thank you, Lirael - much appreciated :-)

[beespeckled]

interesting discussion, I like my ereader I like my paper books. I read either. I don't buy many pbooks except for reference or gifts, exclusively reading my books for free from the library as a pbook or Ebook.

Having said all this, the experience of a Pbook is unique. For all it's limits on fonts. (but usually if it is current or classic, it is also available in Large Print format from my public library)

When I say unique, my example is the HP experience. I remember the excitement of standing in line to get the newest hardcover release (we were on a camping vacation 2x when one of these were released and had to be within driving distance of getting a copy the day it was released as well as for Eldest in the Inheritance series ) We would buy 1 copy and my daughter & I share it, each with our own bookmark passing it back and forth. lol And another time we pre-ordered from Amazon, and the USPS truck drove up the day it was released with our HP the day before we were going to leave on vacation!

Friends reported seeing all ages reading the same HP book just after release, being read in public all over a busy airport! That kind of experience doesn't translate to an Ereader for me. This is MAGIC to me, that many people all over the world, all ages reading simultaneously the same book!

I like the smell and feel of Paper books, but I have to admit that since getting my ereader, after compiling of list of interesting fiction from reviews, I'm checking overdrive to see if my library has it available as an ebook. My hobbies, photography, sewing, knitting etc. gotta have those lovely pictures and flipping pages of a paper book. But I notice my shoulder kinks on me when I have one of those larger books in bed with me lol and I'm not so happy with the info tip shading on some of those paper books. My reader text is much easier on the eyes.

So. I am enjoying both worlds. A room without books looks barren and sad to me, but the words of the current thriller, mystery or other genre fiction is the same enjoyment whether I'm reading from a page or from eInk.

[Jcas]

I have had my Kindle for 6 months and during that time have never picked up a paper book, however i ordered a PB copy of a book that is unavailable as an ebook and i must say the reading experience takes some getting used to again.

Awful print that i can't adjust, no buttons to turn the pages, paper feels awfull, i can't wait until i finish it so i can get back to a good reading experience again ..

[BrianFreeman]

I still read both print and electronic, and like both for different reasons, but I have to say my To Be Read pile (er, list?) has gotten significantly longer since the arrival of e-readers!

Brian

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Lutraa

I travel by air A LOT. You can't have your eReader on from the time the plane's door closes at the gate, through de-icing, taxiing, take-off and climb out. Can't turn the device back on until the plane reaches 10,000'. That can be a long time (up to 45-60 minutes) to do without reading material. I take both my Kindle and some hard copy books and magazines on my trips. Paper is also more practical for reading in the tub or on the beach on a windy day. I think it's wise never to be vulnerable to a single point of failure when it comes to keeping myself mentally engaged.

Yep. Magazines work just fine for the takeover & landings. Short form reading, and disposable.

Plus EBRs have been known to fail while you are on the road!

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by Grimm

No p-books if it can be avoided. I prefer using my reader. I have not bought a p-book since starting with e-readers.

Same here.

I can't imagine taking the time to scan, OCR, proof and edit a pbook into an ebook.

BUT, if I decided to do that, I would have no problem doing os for a book I physically owned. But I would not share. I am a believer that I own the content for my use, in whatever form best suits me.

But I can't justify the time to do so, even if I wanted to take the book apart to auto feed into the scanner.

Oh, there are books that are much better in pbook form. Anything with a lot of photos or tables. And many reference type books where you are best served by flipping through pages to get close and then fine tune which page you want.

[BrianFreeman]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

I can't imagine taking the time to scan, OCR, proof and edit a pbook into an ebook.

As someone who needed to take dozens and dozens of previously published books and had then scanned for reprint editions because there is no electronic manuscript available, I have to tell you it's a lot of work to do the job right.

Brian

[dandelioncottage]

What should you use for a document that is going to be made into an eBook?

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You were OK until you said to export as RTF and use Word. NEVER EVER use Word for any document that is eventually going to be made into an eBook. That is the worst thing you can do. Word puts in sop much crap and garbage that sometimes it's not worth the effort to strip the mess and clean it up. That adds hours to your 10 minutes. That makes converting a pBook to an eBook almost worthless. Word is horrible for anything other then something to be spit out as PDF or printed.

[Asawi]

I still buy coffee table DTB. Well, to me they are coffee table books anyway, books about my hobbies and sports heroes. To pick up a few minutes now and then.
A paperback or two is good to bring to the beach if you don't want to leave the reader unattended.
My TBR list of eBooks is so long anyway, so if a book isn't available in electronic format it's sometimes almost a relief. Wonder if I'll ever see the day when that list actually starts getting shorter? Now I read 2 book and add 3 (or more)...

[SeaBookGuy]

For plane trips, I bring along a print book small enough to fit in the seat pocket.

I read mostly library books, so ebooks aren't my primary format of choice.

[Clash]

Originally Posted by queentess

Camp Arrrr: If it's not available as an ebook, I will simply pirate it. Author is refusing me something I want.

Sorry... I usual go Camp Arrr.

[grumpykaren]

not quite,
i am 58 years old and have been a 3 book a week reader for 40 of the last 50 of them.
problems from diabetic vision loss has forced me to step up to e-reader for the font sizing, but many of the books i have been unable to read for the past 10 years are not available on e-reader. i have the hard copy books (paid for i might add),as well as my collection of favourites i like to re-read every decade or so. many of these are no longer in print, unless i transfer them to e-pub, i can't get at them. this is unfair, i've paid for them, i should be able to read them.

[BookCat]

Originally Posted by queentess View Post
Camp Arrrr: If it's not available as an ebook, I will simply pirate it. Author is refusing me something I want.

I now regard DTBs as just clutter and only purchase reference books which are infinitely better in p version, where I can easily flip through the pages.

I've also started to find the print in DTBs too small. The only time I'll have one with me is if I know I'll have a long wait at the doctor's etc.

For all other novels, only ebooks will do. If they're not officially available as an ebook, I'll pirate them. Though I'm in no way advocating this as good practise.