12-31-2018, 07:57 PM | #1 |
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How can I buy the typeset/pdf version of an ebook?
I have a question about ebooks, but NOT about the epub, mobi, azw3/Kindle, "flowing text," and other mobile-friendly ebook formats that are widely available at any bookseller online. I'm interested in ebooks with the typography and page layout that correspond to the printed version of the book. These types of ebooks are almost always delivered as pdfs.
As far as I know, the only options for purchasing this type of ebook are:
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12-31-2018, 08:32 PM | #2 | |
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01-01-2019, 04:42 AM | #3 |
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Amazon sell such books and call them "Print Replica" editions. They tend to be confined to books with complex layouts that wouldn't "work" as reflowable ebooks. Here's one I bought:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Oxford-.../dp/B06WP74DPV They are PDFs in a Kindle "wrapper", but it's trivial to extract the original PDF from them and use the PDF reader of your choice. |
01-01-2019, 08:51 PM | #4 | |
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A little bit more background: I'm asking this question because I didn't even know about Google Play "original pages" until recently. It clearly is not widely advertised or of much interest to the vast majority of people who just want something to read on their Kindle. So I'm really just asking if anyone knows of ANY source to buy typeset ebooks, in the hopes that there is a source aside from the two I mentioned. Last edited by andrew73249; 01-01-2019 at 08:57 PM. |
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01-01-2019, 08:55 PM | #5 | |
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01-01-2019, 09:21 PM | #6 | |
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If I were limited to reading paper books only, or e-books in a fixed layout, I wouldn't be able to read nearly as much. The last time I read a paper book, it took me almost 3 times longer to read it as it would take me to read an electronic book of the same size. I could only read it with my glasses on, and in a brightly lit room (or a flashlight in bed) Speaking of reading in bed, it was almost impossible because I had to wear my glasses. Since I lie on my side and read, that wasn't very comfortable, and (for me at least) reading lying on my back isn't comfortable either. No...I'll keep my adjustable e-books, thank you Shari |
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01-01-2019, 09:27 PM | #7 |
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It's my understanding that print replica books are many times textbook type books, or those with equations and formulas that don't work well in a flowable text format.
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01-02-2019, 12:12 AM | #8 |
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From what I've seen published in epub3 fixed layout, illustrated children's book especially those with read-aloud, books that contain a large number of illustrations with captions and sheet music are also prime candidates for fixed layout. The catch is that if you have limited vision or a small screen device, they just don't work that well. Pretty much the same limitations as you can read PDF files on a small screen device but you need a masochistic streak to do on a regular basis.
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01-02-2019, 01:52 AM | #9 |
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Nearly all of the ebooks at Smashwords can be downloaded as PDFs.
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01-02-2019, 05:11 AM | #10 |
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Why would you want it for a typical novel? There's no point whatsoever. It only becomes beneficial for books with complex layouts.
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01-02-2019, 12:09 PM | #11 |
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Most of the PDFs I have purchased are technical books from O'Reilly Media. Complex layouts with many charts and tables, footnotes, etc. make the PDF versions easier to read than epub.
For most predominantly textual books epub is the better choice. |
01-02-2019, 02:56 PM | #12 |
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Most Google Play Books that support both ‘original pages’ and ‘flowing text’ view (see Features in the book listing) can be downloaded as ePub or PDF.
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01-03-2019, 03:48 AM | #13 |
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I had no idea such were available either. Of course reading pdf files on Kindle isn't easy either I've found.
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01-03-2019, 04:28 AM | #14 |
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"Print Replica" books can't be read on an eInk Kindle, only on a reading app or a PC/Mac. Of course, if you extract the original PDF (as I do), you can then read it on whatever you wish.
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01-03-2019, 09:09 PM | #15 |
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