Back in gear this weekend, but while I'm away...

[kinzel]

So, the Kindle is out, eh?

Google it and you'll see it costs $399. It locks you in to all kinds of rules.

http://diveintomark.org/archives/2007/11/19/the-future-of-reading


Meanwhile, you can buy a Linux powered eee PC .. which is not only something you can read on, but a full computer, with a useful keyboard. Not the same device. The eee weighs several pounds, the Kindle around 11 ounces.

I dunno...given the Rocket eBook fiasco, I'm leery of the Kindle. And I'm not sure that the Kindle is kind to the ebooks you already own.

But there, I was part of the early push for ebooks, so I *am* biased. You can buy our ebooks from Baen for much less than an amazon price, and ... you don't need to sue it on a machine that will report back to amazon every time you open a book...

"The Device Software will provide Amazon with data about your Device and its interaction with the Service (such as available memory, up-time, log files and signal strength) and information related to the content on your Device and your use of it"...

By the way ... found that link for Webscriptions... http://www.webscription.net/m-5-srm-publisher.aspx

Speaking of wifi, the signal is fluctuating wildly. Will catch you all later this week; if you celebrate turkey day, have a good one!

Comments

you don't need to sue it on a machine that will report back to amazon every time you open a book...

[mtz322.livejournal.com]

LOL.
Hmm, now have you been thinking as I have that a group should get together and start a class action suit for invasion of privacy? I would think it would be the companies that would be sued and not the devices.

Baen

[voicefromshadow.livejournal.com]

I think the Baen format is excellent...!!!!!!

I own all the dead tree copies of your works (and some of your GOH speeches !!) many signed!! but I love the E-versions since I can carry all of them around anywhere!!

Larry

PS How is the dragon?

Re: Baen

[keristor.livejournal.com]

What is the Baen Webscription format? I can't find it stated on their site. The "Baen Free Library" has several formats, but I've not done the Webscription thing because I don't know what formats are available.

Re: Baen

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

If you go here:

http://www.webscription.net/t-faq.aspx

or actually to here ...

http://www.webscription.net/t-faq.aspx#4

RTF ought to go just about anywhere; OpenOffice can take it to PDF for you if you like, IIRC.

Re: Baen

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Thanks, for some reason that wasn't showing in my browser. Yes, OO should be able to read RTF and can create PDF among other interesting formats.

Re: Baen

[voicefromshadow.livejournal.com]

All of the webscriptions are availible in muliple formats... including RTF, Microborg reader, and others. They also do not incorporate any encryption at all..

Me

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Happy Thanksgiving, Steve.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Thanks Serge ---

same to you and Sue!

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link to the-future-of-reading. I found myself agreeing with Richard Stallman's article (this does happen, on the times when I don't find him going over-the-top on some of his philosophies), his cautionary tale was very apt.

As far as I can tell the Kindle can read plain text, but apparently HTML, Word and PDF only if you send it to them for conversion. And it seems that it's only on US cellular radio networks so they won't be able to sell it in Europe. It doesn't say how you would get plain text into it, though.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

If you can't tell, having suffered from the meltdown of one overly proprietary format I'm not interested in pushing Amazon's. True, I could be biased since we're already offering our material in ebooks in many ways.

Also, though IANAL, ISTM if you send them something to have them convert it for you, you may have just broken an IP law *and* given them content at the same time. That is if you consider a PDF something that comes under DMCA protections.

Should a PDF come under DMCA? Well, some people put information in PDFs so it won't be converted....

Wheeee.....!

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I wondered about the legal status of the conversion as well. It sounds dodgy. And whether they can convert one of the PDFs which has been intentionally obscured is another matter (I know some PDF converters can't handle it). But I won't be getting one, I do not like 'tied' proprietary formats especially when there are so many good open ones around.

When there is a reasonably priced eInk book reader with open formats and reasonable connectivity then I'll definitely think about it.