Re: !@!@! "Kindle Library"
Jon:
*Is* it viable? I guess memory capacity couldn't be too bad if you have ram for photos, but what about battery capacity etc? Is it time to jack up my standards and look at modern equipment, or can I still represent my anachronistic foot dragging as simple sanity? Will a new cellphone be a better investment than a new, big Kindle with non-volatile screen memory? (I don't have an old, small one yet!)
Yes, it is. I'm using Stanza (iPhone application by Lexcycle, just acquired by Amazon) to read books from Feedbook (which does markup on Gutenberg etexts) when sitting on the metro/tram. Basically, it is useful for situations where you'd like to do some light reading, don't want to lug piles of paper around but a dedicated reader is too cumbersome. I also have the iRex iLiad, but that is more useful for longer reading sessions (15+ minutes) and when you're having more space, such as on longer train journeys. At the end of the day, it is not relevant which type of reader will prevail, as long as people do read books. I don't get why there such a flamewar about it here. Regards, Walter
The prospect of losing access to my books because of proprietary file formatting deflates my tech-lust. That whole DRM thing is big deal-breaker for me. -- Mjit RaindancerStahl answerwitch@gmail.com
I think we'll only get large numbers only when a device arrives that is the best option (or at least functionally equivalent to the best option) available for its primary purpose. iTunes gets big numbers because it's considered the best option for acquiring, storing, and listening to music (with a babelfish-type device in your ear). iPhone gets big numbers because it's considered the best option for making and receiving cell-phone calls, plus (see iTunes). There's nothing on the electronic horizon (except Kindle) as a candidate for easily acquiring, storing, and reading books in a format equivalent to the printed version (which is why PDF is critical.). Not ebooks, books. Whether it's there or not is debatable (although Oprah seems to think it is, and she sells a few books now and then.) But if it is, or at least to those for whom it is, price is a secondary factor. I think the "acquire" issue is more important than is generally conceded. This is why Microsoft will come in a poor second for any device it puts its name on.
The prospect of losing access to my books because of proprietary file
Be careful what you say Mjit, or We might ban you: http://www.defectivebydesign.org/impeach-jeff-bezos-for-kindle-swindle formatting deflates my tech-lust. That whole DRM thing is big deal-breaker for me.
Mjit RaindancerStahl schreef:
The prospect of losing access to my books because of proprietary file formatting deflates my tech-lust. That whole DRM thing is big deal-breaker for me.
I don't get this. I was talking about the iLiad, which works fine without DRM and Feedbook, which allows DRM unencumbered downloads of their public domain and creative commons books. Regards, Walter
participants (5)
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don kretz -
Jim Adcock -
Mjit RaindancerStahl -
Walter H. van Holst -
Walter van Holst