Comments on: Suvudu free e-book site opens; drops the ball by using PDF http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:01:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christine http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1054155 Christine Sat, 09 May 2009 13:36:51 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1054155 If you have kindle, their books are also already free on the kindle site for a limited time, you don't need to convert unless you miss the initial release period. They're also free on the Sony site after release. And scribd, which completely sucks. I've actually written to them two times to ask why they ignore popular formats like MOBI, and I've been totally ignored two times. If you have kindle, their books are also already free on the kindle site for a limited time, you don’t need to convert unless you miss the initial release period. They’re also free on the Sony site after release. And scribd, which completely sucks.

I’ve actually written to them two times to ask why they ignore popular formats like MOBI, and I’ve been totally ignored two times.

]]> By: Someone http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1053682 Someone Fri, 08 May 2009 17:50:06 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1053682 All of those books have been available free on Amazon since just after the Kindle 2 was released. All of those books have been available free on Amazon since just after the Kindle 2 was released.

]]> By: karen wester newton http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1018603 karen wester newton Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:05:02 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1018603 I downloaded the PDF of HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON but it took two tries to get it to convert and load to my Kindle successfully using the Amazon email conversion. It looks OK on the Kindle-- better than a lot of PDFs-- but of course there's no table of contents or anything. I'm sure publishers like PDF because they are already producing it for pint. No extra cost for them. And since there was no extra cost for me (except 10 cents to Amazon), I guess I am happy. I downloaded the PDF of HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON but it took two tries to get it to convert and load to my Kindle successfully using the Amazon email conversion. It looks OK on the Kindle– better than a lot of PDFs– but of course there’s no table of contents or anything.

I’m sure publishers like PDF because they are already producing it for pint. No extra cost for them. And since there was no extra cost for me (except 10 cents to Amazon), I guess I am happy.

]]> By: Felix Torres http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017716 Felix Torres Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:54:08 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017716 At the upper right hand corner of the web page they have a feedback link. Click on it and let them know that the use of free ebook versions as promo material is good but the use of a pretend-paper format isn't. If enough people point out what real ebook formats offer, they might realize half-measures don't do their authors any favors. At a minimum it can't hurt; at nest, somebody might wake up and notice its the 21st century out there. At the upper right hand corner of the web page they have a feedback link.
Click on it and let them know that the use of free ebook versions as promo material is good but the use of a pretend-paper format isn’t.
If enough people point out what real ebook formats offer, they might realize half-measures don’t do their authors any favors.
At a minimum it can’t hurt; at nest, somebody might wake up and notice its the 21st century out there.

]]> By: Gwyn Evans http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017709 Gwyn Evans Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:24:18 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017709 They're also available for free (but DRMed) for Sony Readers from the (US) Sony eBook Store. They’re also available for free (but DRMed) for Sony Readers from the (US) Sony eBook Store.

]]> By: gary gibson http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017495 gary gibson Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:38:14 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017495 I think these aren't aimed at people with iPhones or e-ink readers, but at people who buy paper books, on the 'check out the first few chapters, get bored with reading on your screen, buy the book' basis. Which would also explain why it's only the first book in the series that's available - perhaps the rest of the series here are available as ebooks, I don't know, but I suspect some of them aren't. I'm not playing apologist for them here - I'm a thorough convert to e-ink - but they're aiming at the majority of their market, which is still people who buy paper. It's an incentive, rather than a complete solution. But yes, epub or something would be very nice. Particularly Red Mars, which I already have in hardback. I think these aren’t aimed at people with iPhones or e-ink readers, but at people who buy paper books, on the ‘check out the first few chapters, get bored with reading on your screen, buy the book’ basis. Which would also explain why it’s only the first book in the series that’s available – perhaps the rest of the series here are available as ebooks, I don’t know, but I suspect some of them aren’t.

I’m not playing apologist for them here – I’m a thorough convert to e-ink – but they’re aiming at the majority of their market, which is still people who buy paper. It’s an incentive, rather than a complete solution. But yes, epub or something would be very nice. Particularly Red Mars, which I already have in hardback.

]]> By: Dave Robinson http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017462 Dave Robinson Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:38:04 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017462 The big benefit to PDF is that 99% of all people have a reader already installed. Having said that, I hate the format myself. I think my real problem is not that they used PDF, but that it's the only format. But remember, Tor started doing PDF only when they were doing their giveaway - and soon added other formats. The big benefit to PDF is that 99% of all people have a reader already installed.

Having said that, I hate the format myself. I think my real problem is not that they used PDF, but that it’s the only format. But remember, Tor started doing PDF only when they were doing their giveaway – and soon added other formats.

]]> By: pond http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017396 pond Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:10:57 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017396 Why didn't they just get on the phone, call up Baen Books, and ask them how it's done? Why didn’t they just get on the phone, call up Baen Books, and ask them how it’s done?

]]> By: Rob Preece, Publisher http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017393 Rob Preece, Publisher Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:54:50 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017393 I agree with your thoughts on PDF. However, a high percentage of my customers still select PDF for downloads. I don't really understand it but it isn't insane for a publisher to decide PDF is a reasonable way to offer content. Of course, offering multiple formats is nicer. Still, at this price point, we shouldn't be too fussy. Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com I agree with your thoughts on PDF. However, a high percentage of my customers still select PDF for downloads. I don’t really understand it but it isn’t insane for a publisher to decide PDF is a reasonable way to offer content.

Of course, offering multiple formats is nicer. Still, at this price point, we shouldn’t be too fussy.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

]]> By: Greg M. http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017387 Greg M. Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:37:36 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017387 Bah! They're PDF. I think that is like releasing an audio book on cassette tape only. I'm not going to bother to see if this one converts just OK while that one converts too poorly to read. There are other books to read, for free or for purchase, with or without DRM. Bah! They’re PDF. I think that is like releasing an audio book on cassette tape only. I’m not going to bother to see if this one converts just OK while that one converts too poorly to read. There are other books to read, for free or for purchase, with or without DRM.

]]> By: Paul Durrant http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017376 Paul Durrant Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:01:37 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017376 They're an odd set of files. Some are actual PDF files with embedded fonts, others are 300dpi B&W scans of paperback pages with Acrobat's OCR applied to get searchable text. I can only think that some are the production PDFs, and some are scanned from older paperbacks. Free, and non-DRM, for which good marks. Issuing the first in series for free is an excellent idea, as Baen have shown over the years. In proper ebook formats, and with the subsequent volumes available for purchase also in ebook format is better. No doubt things will improve in time. They’re an odd set of files. Some are actual PDF files with embedded fonts, others are 300dpi B&W scans of paperback pages with Acrobat’s OCR applied to get searchable text.

I can only think that some are the production PDFs, and some are scanned from older paperbacks.

Free, and non-DRM, for which good marks. Issuing the first in series for free is an excellent idea, as Baen have shown over the years.

In proper ebook formats, and with the subsequent volumes available for purchase also in ebook format is better. No doubt things will improve in time.

]]> By: Bob Martinengo http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/suvudu-free-e-book-site-opens-drops-the-ball-by-using-pdf/comment-page-1/#comment-1017366 Bob Martinengo Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:32:51 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18186#comment-1017366 Hey, they are free and have no DRM - don't complain! Hey, they are free and have no DRM – don’t complain!

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