Purchased books in pdb format

[apastuszak]

3 of the books I purchased on the nook are pdbs instead of ePubs. Is there any way to get these books in ePub format. If I archve them and redownload them, will they perpetually be in pdb format?

[nookkatz]

If you're using a Mac and your browser is Safari, you can go to the Develop menu at the top of your screen and select the User Agent option to let your browser emulate Internet Explorer (among other choices). If you choose Internet Explorer and redownload the book, you should get an epub file instead of the pdb.

[apastuszak]

Thanks!

I'll give that a try.

[Caltsar]

For some reason, using a Mac will give you a pdb formatted book instead of an ePub formatted book on B&N. Tricking the B&N site to think you're on a PC will fix this.

It has something to do with the Mac version of their eBook reader application I believe.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by nookkatz

If you're using a Mac and your browser is Safari, you can go to the Develop menu at the top of your screen and select the User Agent option to let your browser emulate Internet Explorer (among other choices). If you choose Internet Explorer and redownload the book, you should get an epub file instead of the pdb.

Just a tip that the Develop menu does not show by default. You have to go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced. Check the box that says "Show Develop menu in menu bar". Then Develop will appear in the menu bar in between Bookmarks and Window. I typically select User Agent > IE 8.0.

[Wolf3]

So what does this actually mean? Is the DRM different on PDB versus ePub books? Presumably the Nook would read both or it woudln't give it to you(?)

[Bookworm_Girl]

That's the problem exactly. The Nook e-ink can read PDB files so it shouldn't be an issue. However, the NOOKcolor cannot read PDB files and requires EPUB. There are many people who are upset that BN chose not to support PDB files on the NC.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Wolf3

So what does this actually mean? Is the DRM different on PDB versus ePub books? Presumably the Nook would read both or it woudln't give it to you(?)

These are books in "eReader" format, not ePub format. Totally different eBook format. The nook reads both formats.

[Wolf3]

So why would Barnes & Noble be using two different DRM schemes or file formats? I mean I understand why they'd support two different ones on the hardware, but why would they sell you books in two different formats?

[Bookworm_Girl]

The reason is historical going back to before there was a Nook. As Harry said, PDB is a file format referred to as eReader. In early 2009, B&N acquired Fictionwise, including their ebookstores fictionwise.com and ereader.com, in an attempt to have an online bookstore presence before they launched their own name-branded ebookstore. These websites primarily sold books in the PDB format. See linked article.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10190554-93.html

By the end of 2009, B&N had launched their ebookstore under their own name selling books in the PDB format and now had the Nook e-ink for sale as well. B&N saw that the industry standard for file format is EPUB and that they needed to adopt it. They then decided to convert their ebookstore to selling EPUB. They clearly don't see a future in the PDB format if they chose not to support it on their latest ereader, the NOOKcolor. Here are some links about the conversion to EPUBs.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets...ns-with-adobe/
http://gigaom.com/mobile/has-barnes-...ormat-to-epub/

In regards to your DRM question, there are many ereaders that read the EPUB file format. For example, I can buy a book from the Sony ebookstore, Borders, etc and read it on my Sony ereader and my NC. However, B&N added a special flavor of DRM to the Adobe EPUBs sold in their bookstore that is not universal. I cannot buy an EPUB from B&N and then read it on my Sony ereader. I can only read it on my NC. There might be some other ereader brands that can read the B&N DRM'ed EPUB's but not as many.

So, in summary, B&N switched their preferred file format from PDB to the more universal EPUB format. They then chose to add a non-universal DRM encryption to their EPUBs.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

The reason is historical going back to before there was a Nook. As Harry said, PDB is a file format referred to as eReader.

We need to be a little cautious in saying things like that. A "PDB" file is a "Palm Database" file, and can contain data in any format whatsoever. eReader is one of the formats that's delivered in a PDB "wrapper", but so are many other things. All eReader books are PDB files, but it's certainly not the case that all PDB files are eReader books.

[Wolf3]

I was thinking it had something to do with Palm (I loved Palm OS and used it for about 10 years until it got abandoned )

Regarding Barnes & Noble's DRM, I know it's not as common, but for me it's the biggest selling point about the Nook...it's the only DRM flavor that uses password based encryption instead of activation. If I switch to Nook, that will be the reason. (And why I would have bought a Nook over a Kindle to begin with, had it been available.)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Wolf3

I was thinking it had something to do with Palm (I loved Palm OS and used it for about 10 years until it got abandoned )

That's right, it does. eReader started life as a program called "Peanut Reader" on Palm handhelds. That's why eReader books still use a Palm file format.

[nookkatz]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Just a tip that the Develop menu does not show by default. You have to go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced. Check the box that says "Show Develop menu in menu bar". Then Develop will appear in the menu bar in between Bookmarks and Window. I typically select User Agent > IE 8.0.

Thank you! I forgot that I had to check the box in Preferences to get the Develop menu to show.

BTW, I love your avatar!

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by nookkatz

Thank you! I forgot that I had to check the box in Preferences to get the Develop menu to show.
BTW, I love your avatar!

The workarounds that we Mac users have to resort to! There are some options on the Amazon website related to Kindle books that are different depending on whether it detects that you are using Safari or IE too.

Thanks for the compliment on my avatar! I took a photo of my cat and then applied a cartoon filter and painted in her eyes green. She's a cutie who thinks that she should be the center of my attention all the time, especially when I'm reading!