Tech From an E-booker’s Viewpoint

Every few months or so, I like to go through my IE bookmarks to update changes.  It is always sad when I delete another e-book link and recently it is becoming the norm rather than the exception.  In particular, the Ebookman sites have dwindled down to just a few.  Does this mean that no one is using the reader anymore?  Mine is still kicking although I have to admit I rarely ever use it. There are things that I really like about my Ebookman 911 that are not present in the newer e-book readers.  Not only is the reader purse friendly, it also has a nice size screen, backlighting, and a jog wheel. I had high hopes when I first got the reader, but having to constantly restore the device every time I changed batteries became a hassle.   Another annoyance is that the desktop software did not keep up with Microsoft.   When I updated to Windows XP and Office 2003, I could not sync the reader or install new software.

Ectaco still sells the reader repurposed as a dictionary.  From what I can tell it has the same features and software.  I do know that the price for the device remains as expensive as it was almost six years ago. Still the site is good for picking up extra accessories for the reader.  These accessories come at a premium price though and for many people it may not be cost effective. So just in case there are any of you that still have a working Ebookman, here are my links that are still functioning.  Some offer free applications. Take caution before buying any software.  Contact the seller to make sure all the information on the site is correct.  It could be that these sites are no longer supported.

 Beiks Games

Reneris Games and other software

Franklin  For desktop software

Ebookmaniac Games, Utilities

Fan Site Free software

Jurie  Games and other software

Mike Pickering  Get EbmDoc (an application for the Franklin eBookMan to read Palm Doc-formatted files)

Ectaco  Buy the reader and accessories

OS2008 has been available now for a while.  I initially tried to update mine just before Christmas, but I had trouble being able to download and install the update.  I figured that the servers were busy with everyone else trying to do the same thing.  This week I read over at Internet Tablet Talk that there were server problems as well.   All should be fine now.  This week I have been busy installing the new operating system.  This is the same OS that comes installed on the N810.  So far, I like the update.  My only observation so far is that my N800 seems to move a little slower.  I also miss my Valentine’s theme that came packaged with OS2007.   I wish there was a way that I could have kept that theme.  All the other themes seem so masculine. I downloaded and installed Gutenbrowse.  This utility works in conjunction with FBreader.  You also have to have Python Runtime 2.5 installed.   Gutenbrowse allows the user to search, find, download, and read e-books from Project Gutenberg.  All I can say is that this is one fantastic little program.  All I had to do is input either the author or title and seconds later I got the results.  I then clicked the one I wanted, it downloaded and asked me if I wanted to read it.  I clicked yes and Voila! FBreader opens and I am reading.  This has certainly made obtaining books from Gutenberg not just faster and more convenient, but actually fun.  

This could be a lifesaver for students.  I hope that someone out there will port this over to the Eee PC.  The application also works on OS2007.  I did not see a version for OS2006.  I may have to hack my husband’s N770 so that he can take advantage of the application’s features. 

And now that I mentioned the Eee PC, I wanted to give a heads up for those looking for a case for their small wonder.  Some users have reported that the Case Logic Hard Drive case makes a great carrier for their Eee and its accessories. Overstock has it on sale for $21.99.

In the midst of all the new e-book devices hitting the market, don’t forget the tried and true reader.  Right now Ebookwise has their reader on sale.  You can save $10 on the device and also receive free shipping (Fedex ground).  Faster shipping is available and is also discounted.  I really like their reader, especially since it has backlighting and a dictionary.  I have found their customer service to be excellent and there is a user forum with a great bunch of folks. Another plus is the library software available.  The software costs $14.95 and is really worth the price.   While there are free methods for converting text for the reader, the software makes it so much easier.  Just think, if you already have a few SMC cards from back in the day or don’t need more than 10 books on your reader at any given time, you can buy four EBW1150 for the price of one Kindle.  That’s a family pack!  The only drawback is one that is common to all other devices and that is DRM and the availability of books.  Still, there are a lot of multi-format books available at Fictionwise and free e-books that are already formatted for the device.  And of course you can brew your own.

Here’s the sale and shipping summary from their site:

Reader with 64mb SMC 129.95

Reader with internal memory only 99.95

Reader with 128mb SMC 169.95

Last Ship Dates for Christmas Delivery

USA Ground: order no later than Noon EST December 14

USA 2-Day: order no later than Noon EST December 20

CANADA Ground: order no later than Noon EST December 10

CANADA Air: order no later than Noon EST December 19

This topic has been on my mind for quite some time, but I have been somewhat reluctant to write about it. My reluctance stemmed from not wanting to end up in a “How-to get on the e-book dark side” situation.  The following is something that happened and I would love to know what others think (Disclaimer: This is not exactly as it happen, but as I understood it).

A couple of months ago, someone (I’ll call her Jan) created a script that stripped the DRM of a certain e-book format (I’ll call the format .nbb).  The .nbb format had never been broken.  On top of that, the company responsible for the format had just experience a server failure that lasted a few weeks.  So many people were excited at the news of being able to free their books.  At first the script worked on its own, but Jan had to remove parts of her script to avoid conflict with the original writer of some of the files she used.  This new version required that the user had certain files available to him or her.  The files needed were not easily obtained, but depended on possession of a Software Development Kit (SDK), or the device the SDK supported. Fast forward about a week.  Jan gets a letter from the .nbb lawyers.  Needless to say that it was a cease and desist order along with some threatening to sue type of correspondence.  So in compliance the script was removed from her website, but what about the downloads prior to the removal? 

Forget about the legalities; just think about the ethical dilemma for the following:

1. Should the people who downloaded the script delete it from their PCs? 

2. Were they wrong to have used it in the first place; even if it was used on books that they bought with no intention of “sharing”?

3. Knowing why the script was deleted from the web, would someone be wrong to start distributing it among friends, newsgroups, forums, etc? 

4. After the three week down period, there was no real explanation or apology from the .nbb folks, and many people are now circumspect about buying this format.  They no longer trust the .nbb folks.  Does this matter?

5. Suppose, instead of being down for a few weeks, the company was gone altogether, like Gemstar.  There is no way to convert these books, so when the device dies, so does the library.  Does this change the game rules?

6.  What about Jan who freely gave this script to help people?

7.  If all this is wrong, why is it that using Convert Lit seems to be acceptable?

I’ve always considered myself an ethical person. I know that not everything is black and white. Those cases take care of themselves.  It’s that gray portion, that makes me think about the common good versus the universal wrong versus the slippery slope versus fair use.

If you’re tired of buying MS Office consider trying out some of the free choices available.  I used to think that everyone knew about Open Office, but as I have said before, the literature course I am taking has really opened my eyes.  A fellow student was lamenting about needing an office suite, but couldn’t afford to buy MS Office.  Now usually when I suggest open source software people turn up their noses.  They seem to think that since it’s free and non-Microsoft it must be inferior.  I guess they’d rather be without anything if they can’t buy Microsoft or spend their time trying to get an illegal bootleg copy.  I told her about Open Office and her eyes seemed to double in size.  So I was pleasantly surprised when she told me that not only had she downloaded it, but had installed it on her children’s computer.  Even more surprising was that her daughter’s teacher somehow caught wind of her installing a free office suite and contacted her to find out where he could get it.  This past week I have been following IBM’s introduction of a free office suite called Lotus Symphony.  The suite is in beta, but I plan to give it a try.  It’s available for Windows including XP and Vista, as well as some Linux platforms.  I do not know if it is open source though.  So why aren’t more people informed about alternatives?  Maybe people have all been brainwashed to think that all software worth having is expensive.  So please get the word out there especially to schools, students, people on fixed incomes, and anyone else that will listen.

Edit:  I’ve edited for some typos.  I had to have Lasik enhancement surgery on Friday afternoon and my vision isn’t that great right now.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

No, this isn’t strictly about e-books, but I feel that it’s worth talking about.  By now most people have more than enough thumb drives, especially the lower capacity ones as we constantly upgrade.  So if you are wondering what to do with those 256 and 512mb drives consider installing some portable software.  Portable applications can be run directly from your flash drive so no matter where you are you can use your own applications. A great place to start is Portable Applications.  In addition to Open Office they have applications ranging from games, photo editing, chat, and password managers.  My favorite other than Open Office is the pdf creator.  These are some of the possibilities listed on their site:

Carry your web browser with all your favorite bookmarks

Carry your calendar with all your appointments

Carry your email client with all your contacts and settings

Carry your whole office suite along with your documents and presentations

Carry your antivirus program and other computer utilities

Portable applications are also convenient too!  The most convenient feature is that you can carry utilities that can be used to help your friends that are having PC problems.  Another site to check out is Everything USB.

SanDisk’s Cruzer Freedom comes with applications already install on the flash drive.  The software allows the user to storage and use copyrighted digital content such as e-books, games, and music. SanDisk offers a variety of books at their digital store.  While the Freedom Cruzer is geared towards students, others may find the content offered interesting.  You may want to check out the virtual tour.  I like that it has a dictionary onboard.  Maybe now that the prices are so low we may see mobipocket books on a stick.  Just think about having the Harry Potter collection on one and being able to read it on any PC.  Just a thought.