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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 15:37:56
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Dear fellow scribes, I look forward to your opinions regarding my question:
Due to living out of delivery range from amazon, ebay etc., it would be convenient for me to buy an eReader and order FR novels online, instead of running major logistics everytime.
More than being interested in a device with multiple functions like the iPad, I would like to have a dedicated eReader, that resembles as close as posible reading a book so that eyes do not tire as they do on computer screens. Basically: ePaper.
The other thing that matters to me, is that this eReader allows me to also read other documents such as pdf, txt, rtf and so on.
Also I would like to avoid propietary document formats, that can only be read on a particular eReader (I heard amazon books can only be read on kindle?).
What is your experience? What would you recommend?
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"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 16:35:13
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quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
Dear fellow scribes, I look forward to your opinions regarding my question:
Due to living out of delivery range from amazon, ebay etc., it would be convenient for me to buy an eReader and order FR novels online, instead of running major logistics everytime.
More than being interested in a device with multiple functions like the iPad, I would like to have a dedicated eReader, that resembles as close as posible reading a book so that eyes do not tire as they do on computer screens. Basically: ePaper.
The other thing that matters to me, is that this eReader allows me to also read other documents such as pdf, txt, rtf and so on.
Also I would like to avoid propietary document formats, that can only be read on a particular eReader (I heard amazon books can only be read on kindle?).
What is your experience? What would you recommend?
Kindle is quite good, if you're just looking for an eReader. Yes, it might be proprietary, but, then again, so is Windows. You do NOT need a Kindle reader to make use of the Amazon format - for instance, they have released a kindle reader app for the iPad (not sure whether they have also done so for other platforms / operation systems), which will allow you to read the Kindle format books on another reader. It has the advantage of not having a backlit screen, which allows for a long battery life, and causes no problems with glare. However - no colour (not sure if that's a factor for you).
(Disclaimer - I do not own a Kindle; I've just played around with it).
From my PoV, I find the memory of the kindle to be a bit limited for my purposes (the eReader that I'd be looking for would allow me to carry my full PDF-collection of RPG books with me, in addition to eBooks, etc., and the Kindle's memory is insufficient for that one). If that's less of an issue for you, go with the Kindle. |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 17:33:59
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Great, thanks for the input! I deduct from what you wrote, that Kindle reads pdf, rtf etc?
Any other point of views? |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 18:56:25
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Actually, I prefer Acrobat ... after it's been tweaked and "de-bloated" with PDF SpeedUp. I found alternatives like Foxit Reader started off as lightweight high-performance products but got as fattened up with useless unwanted features as Acrobat within the fullness of time. Many alternatives at PDFreaders.org.
DjVu.org is the place to get djvu readers, though I feel it's an inferior format to pdf and thus best avoided when possible (files are not as globally portable). Every decent pdf reader can view rtf (even doc and docx) files, though much fiddling with settings and addons is sometimes involved. eBooks packaged as PowerPoint presentations are beneath contempt and unworthy of any consideration. I'm not very familiar with MSReader, though it's not a very popular file format (largely because of the needlessly troublesome strict DRM/licensing enchantments).
If you selectively choose eBooks delivered in pdf formats you'll be assured of greatest intercompatibility with every kind of scrying platform that exists today and tomorrow. Many alternative eBook formats stress the advertising of their compressed file sizes ... I personally don't care because that's what WinRAR is for. Gigabytes are cheap these days anyhow.
If you use mobile scrying devices then you're on your own, though Acrobat is supported on every major platform (requires some forbidden spell variants to install on some iToys). |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 18 Nov 2010 19:06:28 |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 19:01:41
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| Arik, thanks for the software ideas! But on which hardware platform would you use that? Notebook? I'd really rather prefer an eReader for reading. |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 19:21:48
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Versions of the Adobe Acrobat/PDF Reader are available for virtually all machines; PC, Mac, ARM, Freescale, Sun, Solaris, MSDOS, Windows 3.x/9x/NT/XP/2K/Vista/7 and WinCE/PPC/WM, OS/2, OS-X, Android, Solaris, UNIX, linux ... one way or another, they can all read the same pdf formats.
The eBook vendor will undoubtedly describe the requirements (and post links) related to their eBook format. My recommendation is that you unify your entire library with a single format (pdf is the obvious champion) so you can entirely avoid mucking around with proprietary software or troublesome licensing when shifting from tome to tome or machine to machine. Utilities exist to convert documents between various formats, but pleasantries in text formatting and illustrations and the like are often poorly copied in the transition.
There are countless other sites scattered throughout the ether which discuss the finer details and technical merits between gnomish computing machinery and the spell software needed to operate it; the halls of Candlekeep are not a particularly appropriate place to discuss such areas of expertise. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 18 Nov 2010 19:28:25 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 19:37:45
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| The Kindle eBook Converter is by far the most popular tool for this purpose, though I've never had need to use it (I don't buy from Amazons) and it does cost some 30 gold pieces to obtain the magical key. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 18 Nov 2010 22:07:39 |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 20:25:56
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Great, thanks. There should be some gold pieces left in my bag of holding... 
Any further opinions on the eReader subject? |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 20:42:10
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| Naw, I've said my piece. You'll see endless reader trivia discussed in unbelievable depth at the links provided above or other forums dedicated to the topic. |
[/Ayrik] |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 21:10:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Arik
Naw, I've said my piece. You'll see endless reader trivia discussed in unbelievable depth at the links provided above or other forums dedicated to the topic.
I donīt doubt it. However I was interested particularly on fellow scribes opinions and one of the main uses will be reading FR novels. So of those who use FR-eBooks on eReaders, what has been your experience with the different device options in the market? |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 21:49:47
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quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
Great, thanks for the input! I deduct from what you wrote, that Kindle reads pdf, rtf etc?
PDF - certainly (the most recent kindle has a PDF reader built in). Other formats - not sure. I only played around with the PDF reader, but converting rtf, doc, etc, files to PDF is quite easy with print-to-PDF software. |
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uaintjak
Acolyte
14 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 02:39:10
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I would get the Nook from Barnes and Noble. It can do everything the Kindle can do, including reading PDFs, and it also allows you to read books in the ePub format, which you can't do on a Kindle.
Mod edit: content removed. |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 19 Nov 2010 04:44:28 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 04:46:53
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Folks, just a reminder: We do not advocate any sort of digital piracy here. Copying the content that someone else paid for, without expressly given permission, is piracy of that content. It's against the Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct, specifically A13:
quote:
13. Discussions and links regarding illegal downloads and file sharing of copyrighted material, owned by either Wizards of the Coast or a third party company, is not permitted on these forums. It would also be appreciated for members to avoid promoting this activity via Private MessageEmail to others.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe
USA
624 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 06:43:23
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I second the Kindle as the best e-reader option: Super-duper long battery life, dedicated Wi-Fi so you can make your DLs right to the reader (rather than Dling to another machine and porting over), GREAT readability (in my experience, the reader kind of 'disappears' after a minute, making you forget that it's not a paper copy), light weight, good size, reasonable price, AND if you have an iPhone or Android, it has the coolest app ever for kindle: say that you're at a bus stop/train station/doctor's office waiting for a while, and you don't have the kindle with you- no prob, you can call it up on your phone, which takes you to not only any book you have on the kindle, but also to the *page* you were reading from.
I (suffice to say) am crazy happy with mine, and am giving a few out at yule this year. |
How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco |
Edited by - Knight of the Gate on 19 Nov 2010 06:45:18 |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 12:38:40
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Thanks very much for the input everyone!  |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 14:40:55
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| I owned a Kindle DX but sold it because I didn't use it as much as I would have liked. I now have the Kindle APP on my iPad and love it. |
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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 14:43:15
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| Go with the Kindle. Awesome product... |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2011 : 01:17:13
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Ok, I am resurrecting this one. I finally bought the Kindle and I really love it!
A few days ago I connected to the Kindle Store and started to look for FR eNovels. Thing is: I found none! No Forgotten Realms, no Dungeons & Dragons, not even Paul S. Kemp and I know he has FR eBooks out because he was posting about his sales figures on his livejournal account.
So I am kinda confused...  Any scribes out there with Kindle who have made the same experience or who can give me a hint on what this e-Acolyte is doing wrong?
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"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2011 : 03:36:32
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| I love my iPad for eBooks, I have the kindle app, Nook app, iBook app, as well as being able to read PDF. So I can shop around and get the best price. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 21 Jan 2011 03:37:04 |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2011 : 03:38:01
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| But to be fair, I have yet to purchase a FR novel in e form. But overall , books look gorgeous on here! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 21 Jan 2011 03:38:35 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2011 : 04:59:16
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| I'm not much of an eBook person. I'm the tactile type, so I need a physical book always. But I have some eBooks. PDF is perfect. MS Reader and ePub are not bad either. There are a plethora of converters available online that you can use in case the format of your eBooks is not compatible with your reader. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 21 Jan 2011 05:00:54 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2011 : 05:17:02
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| I don't have one yet, but I've been considering getting one. Just curious which one would have the best selection available, either in its library of tomes, or in apps to be converted. I have many pdfs of FR source books downloaded, but I'd like to be able to take them with me when I'm away from my PC. So what's the best eReader for FR novels? I mean, which one(s) have the biggest selection to download, or have ebook conversions of the novels? |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2011 : 08:58:21
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| If you don't want to spend for converters, you can try this. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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FR eBooks and which eReader to chose
