Waterstones UK: Purchased my first book.

halljames · 09-05-2008, 09:49 AM

Hi everyone, just to let you all know I have purchased a book from Waterstones, just to try it out, and see what happens. This is just an account of what happened as it was the first time I have bought a legit eBook. You may or may not find this interesting.

I added it to my cart, and completed the purchase process and was presented with a download link. Just to note, I already had Adobe Digital Editions installed and registered to my Adobe ID.

I clicked the download link, and without any prompting, it opened up Digital Editions, with the book. I saw a very brief "Authorising Book" ,message, and then the book opened up on screen, looked very nice format wise. I clicked onto list view, and sure enough, the book was in my library. I checked the info of the book. :

Print Permissions : Not Allowed
Copy to Clipboard Permissions : Not allowed
Document Expiration : Unlimited

I connected my Reader via USB and sure enough, it appeared in the Bookshelves list. I selected the Novel (A Time to Die by Wilbur Smith) and dragged it over to the reader. The whole process was very quick and seamless.

I disconnected the Reader, waited for it to load, and went in to my Books List sorted by date, and sure enough, it was there. I clicked it and after a short pause, the book cover appeared. I am very impressed in how it all worked.

Some Notes. While I had the Waterstones Download link button showing, it said I could only download it once. However, I tried clicking the link multiple times, and it downloaded multiple copies of the book. Since going back into my Waterstones account page, the download link has gone.

Also, I tried to open the book up on another machine, with a different adobe ID, and it would not open (I did not expect it to, but I wanted to test).

Very happy with the process, and I personaly thought it was smooth, easy and I also thought that the ebook was a reasonable price (£5.49 compared with amazon.co.uk paperback price of £5.99), however I have also noticed that they seem to be advertising the fact that it is an ebook launch price, so the prices may go up.

Excellent.

astra · 09-06-2008, 08:26 AM

Thanks for sharing the info with us.

I wonder what is ebook's format? epub?

Gravitas · 09-06-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Thanks for sharing the info with us.

I wonder what is ebook's format? epub?

ebooks sold by Waterstones are epub with DRM ADE

C6REW · 09-06-2008, 09:15 AM

Hi halljames,

Thanks for the lowdown.

Not sure if it will work but here is a 15% discount code from Waterstones:

VM1911

Next person who is buying let us know if it works.

Regards

Chris

MickeyC · 09-06-2008, 09:31 AM

Hi halljames. Glad that worked so smooth for you.

When I got my 505, back in January, I was really eager to download something. But I was about a quarter of the way through the paperback version of 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown and couldn't justify buying the eBook version....for about five seconds. I rationalized that I was about to leave on a trip and getting the eBook version would save me space. So I got and thoroughly enjoyed reading it and haven't touched a pBook since.

winspiration · 09-06-2008, 09:52 AM

Interesting, thanks OP

I'm awaiting my reader within the next few days (too mean to pay for express delivery!), so haven't bought any books yet. I have had a good browse though, and have a few on my wishlist. I also have Adobe DE ready installed. Reassuring to know that it all went smoothly for you though.

markiehill · 09-06-2008, 11:21 AM

Well.... apart from all the usual 64 bit issues of running a 64 bit OS ....

My experience was fairly painless as well apart from the fact that the reader hangs for about 5-10 seconds at the beginning of each chapter. It is really annoying.

Has anybody else found the same problem ?

Mark

C6REW · 09-06-2008, 11:29 AM

Hi Mark,

Does it just do it when you start a book or for every chapter?

If it is doing it for every chapter then I reckon something is wrong, but I defer judgment to the folks on here who know more than me.

Regards

Chris

HarryT · 09-06-2008, 01:03 PM

Perhaps the book is using an embedded font for the chapter header; that will slow it down somewhat, but certainly not for 5 seconds.

wallcraft · 09-06-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markiehill

My experience was fairly painless as well apart from the fact that the reader hangs for about 5-10 seconds at the beginning of each chapter.

ADE does process ebooks one chapter at a time, so a small lag at the start of each chapter is to be expected but 5 seconds is a lot.

I suggest trying an ePub from feedbooks, anything with a reasonable chapter structure will do. If you like science fiction, then perhaps My Own Kind of Freedom, A Firefly Novel by Steven Brust. Feedbooks does not use embedded fonts, and they may be the problem. One free ePub that uses enbedded fonts is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I think I see more delay for this ebook than for the Brust using the Sony eBook Library viewer on my PC, but it is still very short.

Red Penguin · 09-06-2008, 02:51 PM

Regarding the above problem with ADE, don't buy QI's 'The Book of General Ignorance' unless you have a long time to burn. Since the book is a series of questions and answers each about 2-3 pages long and there is a new chapter for each question, navigating around or just reading the book takes an infuriatingly long time. It's especially annoying since it's meant to be a book to just pick up and flick through for a few questions.

So my first Waterstones purchase was not a success

LesleyJ · 09-06-2008, 04:01 PM

Hi there. This is my first post, so hello to everyone! Like Halljames, I just received my 505 and am delighted so far. Just downloaded my first books from Waterstones and found the process quick and easy. Haven't yet got to grips with using Calibre, but I'll get there. Altogether a happy experience so far!

MickeyC · 09-06-2008, 06:38 PM

Hi LesleyJ and welcome to the Forum. Enjoy your 505. I got one back in January and like it a lot.

scgf · 09-07-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Penguin

Regarding the above problem with ADE, don't buy QI's 'The Book of General Ignorance' unless you have a long time to burn. Since the book is a series of questions and answers each about 2-3 pages long and there is a new chapter for each question, navigating around or just reading the book takes an infuriatingly long time. It's especially annoying since it's meant to be a book to just pick up and flick through for a few questions.

So my first Waterstones purchase was not a success

D'oh! Guess what my first purchase was!!!

markiehill · 09-07-2008, 05:20 PM

my book was marcus chown Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You, and I can confirm it does wait for around 5 seconds on my unit

Mark

09-05-2008, 09:49 AM	#1
halljames Zealot Posts: 116 Karma: 463 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newcastle, UK Device: Apple iPad	Waterstones UK: Purchased my first book. Hi everyone, just to let you all know I have purchased a book from Waterstones, just to try it out, and see what happens. This is just an account of what happened as it was the first time I have bought a legit eBook. You may or may not find this interesting. I added it to my cart, and completed the purchase process and was presented with a download link. Just to note, I already had Adobe Digital Editions installed and registered to my Adobe ID. I clicked the download link, and without any prompting, it opened up Digital Editions, with the book. I saw a very brief "Authorising Book" ,message, and then the book opened up on screen, looked very nice format wise. I clicked onto list view, and sure enough, the book was in my library. I checked the info of the book. : Print Permissions : Not Allowed Copy to Clipboard Permissions : Not allowed Document Expiration : Unlimited I connected my Reader via USB and sure enough, it appeared in the Bookshelves list. I selected the Novel (A Time to Die by Wilbur Smith) and dragged it over to the reader. The whole process was very quick and seamless. I disconnected the Reader, waited for it to load, and went in to my Books List sorted by date, and sure enough, it was there. I clicked it and after a short pause, the book cover appeared. I am very impressed in how it all worked. Some Notes. While I had the Waterstones Download link button showing, it said I could only download it once. However, I tried clicking the link multiple times, and it downloaded multiple copies of the book. Since going back into my Waterstones account page, the download link has gone. Also, I tried to open the book up on another machine, with a different adobe ID, and it would not open (I did not expect it to, but I wanted to test). Very happy with the process, and I personaly thought it was smooth, easy and I also thought that the ebook was a reasonable price (£5.49 compared with amazon.co.uk paperback price of £5.99), however I have also noticed that they seem to be advertising the fact that it is an ebook launch price, so the prices may go up. Excellent.

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09-06-2008, 08:26 AM	#2
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Thanks for sharing the info with us. I wonder what is ebook's format? epub?

09-06-2008, 09:15 AM	#4
C6REW Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, Kindle Voyage, Kindle Oasis 1	Hi halljames, Thanks for the lowdown. Not sure if it will work but here is a 15% discount code from Waterstones: VM1911 Next person who is buying let us know if it works. Regards Chris

09-06-2008, 09:31 AM	#5
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi halljames. Glad that worked so smooth for you. When I got my 505, back in January, I was really eager to download something. But I was about a quarter of the way through the paperback version of 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown and couldn't justify buying the eBook version....for about five seconds. I rationalized that I was about to leave on a trip and getting the eBook version would save me space. So I got and thoroughly enjoyed reading it and haven't touched a pBook since.

09-06-2008, 09:52 AM	#6
winspiration Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 1305 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, Kindle Fire HD	Interesting, thanks OP I'm awaiting my reader within the next few days (too mean to pay for express delivery!), so haven't bought any books yet. I have had a good browse though, and have a few on my wishlist. I also have Adobe DE ready installed. Reassuring to know that it all went smoothly for you though.

09-06-2008, 11:21 AM	#7
markiehill Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 192 Join Date: Jul 2006	Well.... apart from all the usual 64 bit issues of running a 64 bit OS .... My experience was fairly painless as well apart from the fact that the reader hangs for about 5-10 seconds at the beginning of each chapter. It is really annoying. Has anybody else found the same problem ? Mark

09-06-2008, 11:29 AM	#8
C6REW Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, Kindle Voyage, Kindle Oasis 1	Hi Mark, Does it just do it when you start a book or for every chapter? If it is doing it for every chapter then I reckon something is wrong, but I defer judgment to the folks on here who know more than me. Regards Chris

09-06-2008, 01:03 PM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Perhaps the book is using an embedded font for the chapter header; that will slow it down somewhat, but certainly not for 5 seconds.

09-06-2008, 02:51 PM	#11
Red Penguin Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: PRS-505	Regarding the above problem with ADE, don't buy QI's 'The Book of General Ignorance' unless you have a long time to burn. Since the book is a series of questions and answers each about 2-3 pages long and there is a new chapter for each question, navigating around or just reading the book takes an infuriatingly long time. It's especially annoying since it's meant to be a book to just pick up and flick through for a few questions. So my first Waterstones purchase was not a success

09-06-2008, 04:01 PM	#12
LesleyJ Sony Fan Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ilfracombe, North Devon, UK Device: Sony E Reader	Hi there. This is my first post, so hello to everyone! Like Halljames, I just received my 505 and am delighted so far. Just downloaded my first books from Waterstones and found the process quick and easy. Haven't yet got to grips with using Calibre, but I'll get there. Altogether a happy experience so far!

09-06-2008, 06:38 PM	#13
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi LesleyJ and welcome to the Forum. Enjoy your 505. I got one back in January and like it a lot.

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09-07-2008, 05:20 PM	#15
markiehill Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 192 Join Date: Jul 2006	my book was marcus chown Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You, and I can confirm it does wait for around 5 seconds on my unit Mark