Designers - Essential devices for testing before publication?

MHC · 02-29-2012, 11:03 AM

I am a graphic designer for a small-ish non-profit publisher that wants to start selling ebook versions of our catalog. We use InDesign 5.5 on Macs and have tested our preliminary files on ADE and Nook emulators but need to test them on a few of the top readers before selling them.

Being a small non-profit with ever-shrinking budgets, we can't afford too many devices, but want to cover as many bases as possible to ensure a quality product. If we were to buy, say, 2-4 devices to ensure widespread compatibility, what would they be?

Thank You!

CWatkinsNash · 02-29-2012, 12:59 PM

Sony T1 - newest and least expensive Sony model, and there are reports it can have issues with poorly coded ePubs. That can be bad for people reading the books, but helpful to those designing the books.

Kindle 4 (non-touch) Special Offers - least expensive of the newest Kindles, in the (unspecified) future will have support for Amazon's new KF8 format.

Kindle Fire or other similar Android tablet device - so you can install Android reader apps for Kindle, Nook, as well as 3rd party such as Mantano, Aldiko, etc.

If you have a smartphone, use that also.

You can also look at reviews for those reader apps and see which features work in which apps that may apply to your publications (internal and external hyperlinks, footnotes, etc.). A lot of people use those apps on their tablets and phones, so I think examining the reading experience on those is just as important as the dedicated reading devices.

I imagine the iPad isn't in your budget, so I left it off the list.

ilovejedd · 02-29-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

I imagine the iPad isn't in your budget, so I left it off the list.

I would recommend testing on an iPad first (even the first gen model would do, often found for ~$350) before testing it on an Android tablet that's not either a Kindle Fire or Nook Color/Tablet.

AnemicOak · 02-29-2012, 03:04 PM

You might want to grab a copy of Kindle Previewer from Amazon (free)...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000765261

02-29-2012, 11:03 AM	#1
MHC Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad 2, old Kindle	Designers - Essential devices for testing before publication? I am a graphic designer for a small-ish non-profit publisher that wants to start selling ebook versions of our catalog. We use InDesign 5.5 on Macs and have tested our preliminary files on ADE and Nook emulators but need to test them on a few of the top readers before selling them. Being a small non-profit with ever-shrinking budgets, we can't afford too many devices, but want to cover as many bases as possible to ensure a quality product. If we were to buy, say, 2-4 devices to ensure widespread compatibility, what would they be? Thank You!

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02-29-2012, 12:59 PM	#2
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	Sony T1 - newest and least expensive Sony model, and there are reports it can have issues with poorly coded ePubs. That can be bad for people reading the books, but helpful to those designing the books. Kindle 4 (non-touch) Special Offers - least expensive of the newest Kindles, in the (unspecified) future will have support for Amazon's new KF8 format. Kindle Fire or other similar Android tablet device - so you can install Android reader apps for Kindle, Nook, as well as 3rd party such as Mantano, Aldiko, etc. If you have a smartphone, use that also. You can also look at reviews for those reader apps and see which features work in which apps that may apply to your publications (internal and external hyperlinks, footnotes, etc.). A lot of people use those apps on their tablets and phones, so I think examining the reading experience on those is just as important as the dedicated reading devices. I imagine the iPad isn't in your budget, so I left it off the list.

02-29-2012, 03:04 PM	#4
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	You might want to grab a copy of Kindle Previewer from Amazon (free)... http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000765261

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