Publisher talks

ThomWill · 11-30-2006, 05:57 AM

I have sent emails to several publishers whose books (technical manuals, textbooks) I buy on a regular basis and asked them if they are working on making their wares available through Connect or in a format usable on my reader. I will post back when I hear from them, if I hear from them. You would think that since most of these books are for geeks, by geeks that we can get something to happen.

ThomWill

HarryT · 11-30-2006, 06:00 AM

But how useful, in practical terms, would a textbook be on a system which lacks a "Search" facility? Unlike a novel, where you just read it from start to end, wouldn't you need the ability to look things up in a textbook?

ThomWill · 11-30-2006, 08:40 AM

I understand the question. My thinking is that a textbook, or technical manual that I have with me in the reader (even without search) is more useful than the one that I did not carry with me from the office. In this case, portability is the objective and I agree that there are trade-offs. But many times, I have found myself at a customer site (sometimes without easy internet access), and wanted to look at a section of a book that I have on my shelf.

As for search, without an input mechanism it would be clunky at best, but I am praying to the firmware gods.

MMascaro · 11-30-2006, 09:15 AM

The temporary answer is a properly built Table of Contents and/or index.

Hadrien · 11-30-2006, 09:45 AM

For tech books, it should be quite simple to port them using the project I'm working on right now: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8819

I'm using LaTeX, which provide a lot of functions needed in tech books (table of contents, footnotes, nice presentation overall...). Anyone who wrote an open source tech book could easily provide such a book to Sony Readers using our website. I'll make a video presentation of how this work this evening, it'll be easier to understand the whole thing.

HarryT · 11-30-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMascaro

The temporary answer is a properly built Table of Contents and/or index.

Excellent point! I was forgetting that, since my experience of Reader has been limited to RTF files, which lack a "hyperlink" or table of contents facility. I'd forgotten that the "native" Reader format supports these things.

ThomWill · 12-12-2006, 03:38 PM

Just got this reply (not in the promised 24 hours, mind you) I am not daunted, just disappointed. I continue to lean on Sony to increase their technical content (not that I have anything against Mr. Brill and his Code Notes series, but I want more!)

Wrox books for the Sony Ebook Reader

Discussion Thread
Response (Brenda) 12/12/2006 03:09 PM
Thank you for your interest in using our products with the Sony ebook Reader. Unfortunately, there are no plans for our products to be compatible with that device at this time. We apologize for any inconvience.

Customer (Thom Williams) 11/28/2006 09:15 AM
I use and have used several of the Wrox books. I have recently purchased a Sony ebook reader and would like to be able to purchase new books for that device. Has there been any discussion with Sony or Connect about making your books accessible to folks like myself?

I don't mind paying for the books, I just don't want to carry them.

11-30-2006, 05:57 AM	#1
ThomWill Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 68 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: PRS-500 (Sony Reader)	Publisher talks I have sent emails to several publishers whose books (technical manuals, textbooks) I buy on a regular basis and asked them if they are working on making their wares available through Connect or in a format usable on my reader. I will post back when I hear from them, if I hear from them. You would think that since most of these books are for geeks, by geeks that we can get something to happen. ThomWill

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11-30-2006, 06:00 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	But how useful, in practical terms, would a textbook be on a system which lacks a "Search" facility? Unlike a novel, where you just read it from start to end, wouldn't you need the ability to look things up in a textbook?

11-30-2006, 08:40 AM	#3
ThomWill Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 68 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: PRS-500 (Sony Reader)	I understand the question. My thinking is that a textbook, or technical manual that I have with me in the reader (even without search) is more useful than the one that I did not carry with me from the office. In this case, portability is the objective and I agree that there are trade-offs. But many times, I have found myself at a customer site (sometimes without easy internet access), and wanted to look at a section of a book that I have on my shelf. As for search, without an input mechanism it would be clunky at best, but I am praying to the firmware gods.

11-30-2006, 09:15 AM	#4
MMascaro Zealot Posts: 111 Karma: 1009 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maryland USA Device: HP mini 1035/Sony Reader/IPad	The temporary answer is a properly built Table of Contents and/or index.

11-30-2006, 09:45 AM	#5
Hadrien Feedbooks.com Co-Founder Posts: 2,263 Karma: 145123 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris, France Device: Sony PRS-t-1/350/300/500/505/600/700, Nexus S, iPad	For tech books, it should be quite simple to port them using the project I'm working on right now: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8819 I'm using LaTeX, which provide a lot of functions needed in tech books (table of contents, footnotes, nice presentation overall...). Anyone who wrote an open source tech book could easily provide such a book to Sony Readers using our website. I'll make a video presentation of how this work this evening, it'll be easier to understand the whole thing.

12-12-2006, 03:38 PM	#7
ThomWill Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 68 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: PRS-500 (Sony Reader)	Just got this reply (not in the promised 24 hours, mind you) I am not daunted, just disappointed. I continue to lean on Sony to increase their technical content (not that I have anything against Mr. Brill and his Code Notes series, but I want more!) Wrox books for the Sony Ebook Reader Discussion Thread Response (Brenda) 12/12/2006 03:09 PM Thank you for your interest in using our products with the Sony ebook Reader. Unfortunately, there are no plans for our products to be compatible with that device at this time. We apologize for any inconvience. Customer (Thom Williams) 11/28/2006 09:15 AM I use and have used several of the Wrox books. I have recently purchased a Sony ebook reader and would like to be able to purchase new books for that device. Has there been any discussion with Sony or Connect about making your books accessible to folks like myself? I don't mind paying for the books, I just don't want to carry them.

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