Ebooks on bittorrent!

ProDigit · 12-01-2008, 01:42 PM

It'd be nice if there was a way to add all books and upload them to bittorrent.
That on itself is fairly easy to do, but seeing the increasing number of people,and books being added and changed, to always have the latest could be an issue.
Especially if some books get corrected 2, 3, or 4 times..

Patricia · 12-01-2008, 02:16 PM

I would be extremely reluctant to see my uploads on a torrent site, in company with so much illicit material. I don't even have torrent software on any of my computers.
Surely it is not a such a hardship to visit this site and get the latest versions from us?

pilotbob · 12-01-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

I would be extremely reluctant to see my uploads on a torrent site, in company with so much illicit material. I don't even have torrent software on any of my computers.

This is an incorrect assumption that may people have. Bittorrent is a protocol for distributed transfers which allow a small company or organization to distribute files to a large audience. Mobilread could run a torrent tracker for ebooks and be 100% legit.

That said most of the ebooks are very small files and this is probably not an issue.

BOb

bbusybookworm · 12-01-2008, 02:33 PM

Indeed, Personally the only benefit I would see of having Mobileread's entire collection available as Torrent would be if someone wanted an Archival copy, or was planning to be off-line for an extended period of time.

I'm not saying that some people may not want it, but I think the number may be quiet limited.

And as mentioned there is the Issue of New books being added Daily, and updated Versions of older works being added, keeping the torrent Up to date would be difficult.

Still, Torrents of Individual Authors, or series may work, but would probably require a lot of work.

pilotbob · 12-01-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

And as mentioned there is the Issue of New books being added Daily, and updated Versions of older works being added, keeping the torrent Up to date would be difficult.

Isn't there an RSS feed for the ebooks? That would give you notices of any new books and changes.

BOb

carandol · 12-01-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Isn't there an RSS feed for the ebooks? That would give you notices of any new books and changes.

BOb

There is, it's here http://feeds.mobileread.com/mr/ebooks

bbusybookworm · 12-01-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Isn't there an RSS feed for the ebooks? That would give you notices of any new books and changes.

BOb

I meant keeping the Torrent itself current, as If you add any new files you have to create anew torrent, and unless you seed both, you may leave some of the people downloading it high and dry.

HarryT · 12-02-2008, 04:47 AM

My personal preference would be that people came to MR to download books, and hence I'd rather that there not be a Torrent of our books.

DaleDe · 12-02-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

My personal preference would be that people came to MR to download books, and hence I'd rather that there not be a Torrent of our books.

I would agree. There are lots of reasons to control the release of books that someone has put so much effort in. Shipping them off to bit torrent would lose any any information about how many had been downloaded for example which is good feedback to the person posting the eBook to decide what future books to post.

Dale

vivaldirules · 12-02-2008, 10:47 AM

Well, if you're asking for input on this, I vote no. Although there may be legitimate value to torrent sites, I, too, would be most unhappy to see our library associated with a technology which is so widely used for illegitimate purposes. If it is done, please let us know in advance.

RickyMaveety · 12-02-2008, 10:57 AM

Not a good idea in my opinion. So, if I had a vote, which I don't, I would vote no.

tompe · 12-02-2008, 11:17 AM

One argument for is that it saves time. It is probably easier to download all the books and then take the 20 books you wanted from the download then downloading 20 books separately.

Greg Anos · 12-02-2008, 11:32 AM

Then perhaps a block download feature (i.e. a list of books) might be a better feature. I respect the wish to gather the info of books posted on MR downloads.

tompe · 12-02-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Then perhaps a block download feature (i.e. a list of books) might be a better feature. I respect the wish to gather the info of books posted on MR downloads.

Yes, downloading all books from one author would be a very nice feature.

ProDigit · 12-02-2008, 01:25 PM

Block downloading could be what I mean indeed.

As far as torrents and illegal,that's exactly the same as :
- Money and black money
- immigrants and illegal
- Workers and workers without a work permit
- Cars driving 50 in a 50 zone, and cars driving 90 in a 50 zone

Just because the opportunity is there, does not mean it's illegal, or should even be seen as illegal.
Originally bittorrent has been created to share larger files or archives amongst many peers.
It can be hosted from a website like this, and does not need to be posted in non-legitimate torrent websites.

Bittorrent also has advanced tracking capabilities so, there's no problem to get an accurate number on how many people downloaded them.

The only thing you can get is that someone will publish the torrent on other trackers.(Which they still can do downloading all LRF books from this site).

As far as updating a torrent with newer books,you just need to download a newer torrent. As long as when a newer torrent becomes available, it uses the same directory structure and files, you will not really lose any data (appart from the downloaded files that have been updated).
All files that have been modified will be redownloaded again, Bittorrent automatically recognizes this, and all files that have not been updated will not be downloaded again by bittorrent.

Bittorrenting a book is probably ridiculous indeed, since most books are below 2MB.
It would only make sense from 20 or more books,and even more preferably from 100MBand up (at least about 100 or more books)
Good torrent files generally are archives aimed towards 600-650-700MB and 4,30GB,for CD and DVD archive.

I understand that unlike a 600MB movie which takes 1,5 hours to watch, 600Mb of books will take a long time to read, and that many will not download them to read them all.

So, it's probably better to have block downloads.

The only con with that is that you might need 23 out of 25 books, and each time download a couple you already have.

Block downloads could be author wise, time wise (latest created/updated) or genre wise.
To get them sorted in those directories would probably need a good XML or PHP programmer to create the possibility to do that.

Another possibility might be a website,with a bunch of books, sorted by name, pub. date or genre, and checkboxes next to it.

And if you know a good Java programmer he could even create a program that downloads while you browse through the list selecting the files you want.

Anyways just giving my .2ct here...

12-01-2008, 01:42 PM	#1
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Ebooks on bittorrent! It'd be nice if there was a way to add all books and upload them to bittorrent. That on itself is fairly easy to do, but seeing the increasing number of people,and books being added and changed, to always have the latest could be an issue. Especially if some books get corrected 2, 3, or 4 times..

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12-01-2008, 02:16 PM	#2
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	I would be extremely reluctant to see my uploads on a torrent site, in company with so much illicit material. I don't even have torrent software on any of my computers. Surely it is not a such a hardship to visit this site and get the latest versions from us?

12-01-2008, 02:33 PM	#4
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	Indeed, Personally the only benefit I would see of having Mobileread's entire collection available as Torrent would be if someone wanted an Archival copy, or was planning to be off-line for an extended period of time. I'm not saying that some people may not want it, but I think the number may be quiet limited. And as mentioned there is the Issue of New books being added Daily, and updated Versions of older works being added, keeping the torrent Up to date would be difficult. Still, Torrents of Individual Authors, or series may work, but would probably require a lot of work.

12-02-2008, 04:47 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	My personal preference would be that people came to MR to download books, and hence I'd rather that there not be a Torrent of our books.

12-02-2008, 10:47 AM	#10
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Well, if you're asking for input on this, I vote no. Although there may be legitimate value to torrent sites, I, too, would be most unhappy to see our library associated with a technology which is so widely used for illegitimate purposes. If it is done, please let us know in advance.

12-02-2008, 10:57 AM	#11
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	Not a good idea in my opinion. So, if I had a vote, which I don't, I would vote no.

12-02-2008, 11:17 AM	#12
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	One argument for is that it saves time. It is probably easier to download all the books and then take the 20 books you wanted from the download then downloading 20 books separately.

12-02-2008, 11:32 AM	#13
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,247 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Then perhaps a block download feature (i.e. a list of books) might be a better feature. I respect the wish to gather the info of books posted on MR downloads.

12-02-2008, 01:25 PM	#15
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Block downloading could be what I mean indeed. As far as torrents and illegal,that's exactly the same as : - Money and black money - immigrants and illegal - Workers and workers without a work permit - Cars driving 50 in a 50 zone, and cars driving 90 in a 50 zone Just because the opportunity is there, does not mean it's illegal, or should even be seen as illegal. Originally bittorrent has been created to share larger files or archives amongst many peers. It can be hosted from a website like this, and does not need to be posted in non-legitimate torrent websites. Bittorrent also has advanced tracking capabilities so, there's no problem to get an accurate number on how many people downloaded them. The only thing you can get is that someone will publish the torrent on other trackers.(Which they still can do downloading all LRF books from this site). As far as updating a torrent with newer books,you just need to download a newer torrent. As long as when a newer torrent becomes available, it uses the same directory structure and files, you will not really lose any data (appart from the downloaded files that have been updated). All files that have been modified will be redownloaded again, Bittorrent automatically recognizes this, and all files that have not been updated will not be downloaded again by bittorrent. Bittorrenting a book is probably ridiculous indeed, since most books are below 2MB. It would only make sense from 20 or more books,and even more preferably from 100MBand up (at least about 100 or more books) Good torrent files generally are archives aimed towards 600-650-700MB and 4,30GB,for CD and DVD archive. I understand that unlike a 600MB movie which takes 1,5 hours to watch, 600Mb of books will take a long time to read, and that many will not download them to read them all. So, it's probably better to have block downloads. The only con with that is that you might need 23 out of 25 books, and each time download a couple you already have. Block downloads could be author wise, time wise (latest created/updated) or genre wise. To get them sorted in those directories would probably need a good XML or PHP programmer to create the possibility to do that. Another possibility might be a website,with a bunch of books, sorted by name, pub. date or genre, and checkboxes next to it. And if you know a good Java programmer he could even create a program that downloads while you browse through the list selecting the files you want. Anyways just giving my .2ct here...