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I have a novel on sale in the Kindle Store ( Death & Magic , a murder mystery set in a school for wizards). I wrote it in OpenOffice.org, before I had any thought of releasing it as an ebook. When the time came to convert it, I exported it as HTML and used a text editor to get rid of all the crap that OO.o puts in just in case you want to re-import it and have it look something like it used to. This took a couple of evenings - I could probably have done it faster if I'd been braver with my regexs. It kept the italics without any problems. I put in some basic CSS to control the paragraph indents and make the chapter headings look nice.

I tried using Amazon's KindleGen program for converting the HTML to .mobi, but couldn't figure out how to fix all the compiler warnings. Then I found Mobipocket Creator, which did everything I needed without any fuss, and produced a file that looked perfect on my Kindle. (Well - perfect apart from the known bugs in rendering, such as the way it won't add more than a certain amount of padding between words, so a line can look too short if there's a long word at the start of the next one.)

I learned my lesson - the book I'm writing now (volume 3 of the series) is starting life as HTML in a text editor, so I control exactly what formatting goes into it.

Let me know when your book's on the Kindle - it sounds like the sort of thing I might like.

Along this vein I can highly recommend reading the works of Steve Keen. Who has been pointing out the flaws in "neoclassical" economics for years, and had no trouble predicting this economic collapse.

Amazon sold this via third party.

In other words MobiPocket(a.k.a MobiBooks, a.k.a. MobiReference), a company that packages public domain works up as eBooks and sells the results, listed the book on Amazon via the standard "third party" methods.

The book IS in the public domain in some places, just not in the US. Maybe Mobi didn't do a through check, though it's hard to think that a company that specializes in PD books would make a mistake like that. Or, looking at their site, given the quality of some of their covers, it might be a case where Mobi themselves just get their books from people who 'donate' them and don't do checking.

Either way, Amazon didn't and wouldn't normally do any checking. They assume the seller is legit till proven otherwise.

George Orwell's works do seem to be on mobipocket, which iRex supports.

You can just download this software, which Amazon owns: http://www.mobipocket.com/en/HomePage/default.asp?Language=EN
Their free e-mail service just runs this on their servers, for people who don't want to deal with software.

Also, the Kindle DX allows you to put PDFs directly onto the device.

Strange that no one mentions Mobipocket while bashing Amazon. Mobipocket is a subsidiary of Amazon and there customers face a yet another problem with DRM: No devices to read on [1].

The Mobipocket DRM is actually quite fair - as far as DRM goes. Up to 4 devices, old devices can be deleted, new devices added. Re-download as often as you like. And full dozen differed devices to read on.

So DRM was bearable - until Amazon bought the company. It seems that Amazon thought this set-up far to liberal. Of course Amazon did not shut down the company - that would have gotten them into trouble. They should down the software development, shelved the finished iPhone reader and did not licence the file format to Sony for use in the PRS-505.

Now all they have to do is wait until all our mobile devices have have been replaced and hope we all jump for Kindle instead. Embrace, Extend, Extinguish at it's best Only there is two tiny flaw in there plan:

1) Mobipocket is mostly European shop and we can't get Kindle in Europe.
2) We found out about it and now we run a boycott Amazon campaign instead.

And yes, I know it won't help. Those multinational corporations have enough unconcerned, uninformed customer to ever care about a boycott.

[1] http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/index.php

Yes interesting especially when one considers that Amazon owns Mobipocket and Mobipocket has all those readers already:

http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/default.asp

And one considers that AZW and MOBI are almost identical. So if that is what they want - why fork the file format in the first place?

I beg to disagree here

1) Amazon owns Mobipocket [1].
2) Over time Mobipocket has developed software readers for 12 devices [2].
3) The AZW book format - including DRM - is identical with Mobipocket save one byte [3].

So if Amazon wanted more software readers one call at Mobipocket and a week later they would have some. Which is probably the way they got the iPhone reader: http://www.teleread.org/2008/12/04/is-amazon-sitting-on-the-mobipocket-iphone-client-after-all/

Martin

[1] http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3833
[2] http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/default.asp
[3] http://igorsk.blogspot.com/2007/12/mobipocket-books-on-kindle.html

First: the DRM has been broken - AZW is the Mobipocket file-format with just one byte changed so a Mobipocket reader software won't accept it. So to break Amazons DRM google for "MobiDeDRM" and "Kindle Mobipocket conversion" - it will be the #1 hit ;-).

Now having said that you might notice something: Mobipocket has free to download readers for just about 12 different devices. So if Amazon wanted what you suggest all they had to to is not change that one byte. So in changing that one byte it is a clear signal that that they want there books to be read on Kindle and Kindle alone. And iPhone is just a special exception.

Before you wonder: Amazon owns Mobipocket [1] - so no they won't change there reader to accept Kindle books. In fact Mobipocket has stopped producing new reader software all together.

It is not difficult see the evil masterplan behind: The typical Embrace, Extend, Extinguish plan which is now in the last phase: Mobipocket to be extinguished by not creating new software for todays devices. Amazon even got as far as stopping the finished Mobipocktet iPhone reader. And last not least: not licensing the Mobipocket file format to Sony.

For those who own Mobipocket books - ahh sorry mate you loose. Only by now Amazon has pissed of European customers [2] big time. After all we can't buy Kindle and feel the Mobipocket demise double. And we found out about Sony.

Martin

[1] http://www.mobipocket.com/
[2] http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15520

First: the DRM has been broken - AZW is the Mobipocket file-format with just one byte changed so a Mobipocket reader software won't accept it. So to break Amazons DRM google for "MobiDeDRM" and "Kindle Mobipocket conversion" - it will be the #1 hit ;-).

Now having said that you might notice something: Mobipocket has free to download readers for just about 12 different devices. So if Amazon wanted what you suggest all they had to to is not change that one byte. So in changing that one byte it is a clear signal that that they want there books to be read on Kindle and Kindle alone. And iPhone is just a special exception.

Before you wonder: Amazon owns Mobipocket [1] - so no they won't change there reader to accept Kindle books. In fact Mobipocket has stopped producing new reader software all together.

It is not difficult see the evil masterplan behind: The typical Embrace, Extend, Extinguish plan which is now in the last phase: Mobipocket to be extinguished by not creating new software for todays devices. Amazon even got as far as stopping the finished Mobipocktet iPhone reader. And last not least: not licensing the Mobipocket file format to Sony.

For those who own Mobipocket books - ahh sorry mate you loose. Only by now Amazon has pissed of European customers [2] big time. After all we can't buy Kindle and feel the Mobipocket demise double. And we found out about Sony.

Martin

[1] http://www.mobipocket.com/
[2] http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15520

I forgot to mention: If you capitalising your good name then you have less "good name" afterwards:

http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15520

Only one example of an article I did myself - If you look true the forum you will find several dozed similar articles.

Go to Gutenberg. Download books.

This script will help you fix up any *.txt files you want to look right on your Kindle:

#!/usr/bin/ruby -an
if ($_.size==2) then
printf("\n\n");
elsif ($_.size==1) then
printf("\n\n");
else
chomp!
printf("%s ",$_);
end

Also, get the Mobi books software to make your own ebooks.

http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/default.asp?Language=EN

You obviously read the Slashdot story that was completely false in its accusations

Actualy I have been observing and discussing Kindle and Amazon for quite a while now. If you had followed the provided link you would have seen that the posting is from Apr 21, 2009 6:25 pm. I had in fact a larger look at things. Not just the flaws of Kindle as a device. Also Amazons purchaise of Mobipocket and what happened afterwards. That Amazon bought Stanza just recently and what might happen.

This is not about reloading Books. That problem you have with all DRM protected eBooks. Recently paperback digital bookshop closed down [1] and there customers are now left in the cold.

It is all the other things Amazon did. Sell only in the USA. Chanced just one byte in the file format so that Kindle files are incompatibel with Mobipocket files. And Mobipocket is there own subsidiary.

These are clearly the actions of an "evil corporation".

Martin

[1] http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9766

Facts are enough.

1) True - but you still can read encryptet Mobipocket files.
2) True - but if your Kindle bereaks and you closed your account then your books are gone.
3) Don't need to - Hardware does not last forever. Amazon is patience.
4) Kindle uses the same DRM as mobipocket - if hardware fails you have to re-entrypt for the new device.

Nothing to say about 5 and 6.

But still I have seen the bigger Picture (Mobipocket, Stanza) and I don't want Kindle. Actualy I don't want Amazon any more.

Most important reason: Amazon bought Mobipocket yet Kindle won't display encryptet Mobipocket files and vice vesa. What has that to say about Amazon as a corporation.

Want me to elaborate:

http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15520

(Please don't disort the pool - vote only if you are a mobipocket user)

Martin

You are not the only one.

But I have seen the bigger Picture (Mobipocket, Stanza) and I am as far as to say that I don't want Kindle any more. Actualy I don't want Amazon any more. Read here to see why:

http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15520

(Please don't disort the pool - vote only if you are a mobipocket user)

Amazon bought Mobipocket yet Kindle won't display encryptet Mobipocket files and vice vesa. What has that to say about Amazon as a corporation.

Martin

All of the above is true. I picked one up (the Kindle 2) last Saturday. I love the thing and grabbed the handful of Amazon books that are $0.00 (some OK sci-fi ones.) But of more use were the freebies - ManyBooks, FeedBooks, and MobiPocket. A lot of the "classics" are there - the ones you always say you're going to read but never do. I've got a ton of them that I now have in a convenient storage medium (for me to still never actually read ;))

All of that said, I'm pissed that I just got the 2 and now the DX is announced so soon after. I'm a Mac fanboy so I'm used to that kind of thing happening, but ... The only reason I would consider returning the 2 and holding on the DX would be the native PDF support. I'm guessing that's a purely software-based feature (as well as the horizontal/vertical flipping) and hopefully it'll be an optional software upgrade down the line. Or if those things are important to me, should I send the 2 back, fork out the additional $100 and wait for the summer release?

That is not true. A free download from Mobi PocketCreator will convert your documents (many kinds) to the kindle format. You then drag and drop when your Kindle is connected via USB. http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/default.asp?Language=EN

Personally, I use Mobipocket on my Blackberry to read eBooks all the time. The reader is free, and it works great. http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/default.asp?Language=EN

I just bought a Palm Centro and use it to read. MobiPocket has many free books that I have downloaded, those classics we all dreaded in high school somehow become more tolerable when we don't have to write book reports on them. I've also paid for a couple of electronic books. They have software for Blackberrys, Windows Mobile and Symbian also. Oddly, no software for iPhones. There are also other products like eReader that do work on the iPhone. But that's not my point.

It's really nice having my library in my pocket. I was at the dentist last week. As they were waiting for the x-rays, I pulled my phone out, and read a few pages. Plus I don't have to scrounge around for out-of-date magazines anymore in the waiting room. If I get tired of reading, there are always games.

It's not something I would use to sit and read for hours at a time, but it's fine for airplane, toilet, and doctor office reading. I suppose the iPhone with it's larger screen would be a little bit better, but I only spent $50 for a refurbished model, and it's good enough.

Although, I have to admit that Amazon has caused me to buy many closed-format books, most of the books on my Kindle are unprotected Mobi format books. Many of these books I generated from pdf files using the free software Mobi Creator.

http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/application.asp?device=Blackberry

Two things to keep in mind.

1) The Mobi version of the file they make available works on any platform that supports MobiReader, which includes WindowsPC, Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, as well as dedicated E-Ink book readers that include the Booken and iRex(http://www.mobipocket.com/en/downloadsoft/productdetailsreader.asp). The Kindle's description page also says it supports Mobi files (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=amb_link_6774572_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=11XJPR7RV9D55KC6YNPC&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=394924101&pf_rd_i=507846).

2) Baen has been trying to get other publishers to use their store (which they've overhauled within the past year or so). SO far they've got SOME books from DelRey and Tor, but they've said that other publishers don't quite understand why Baen is making money and sometimes overprice their products. This is cultural thing though, and so long as Baen keeps making money, other's will want to follow in their footsteps and that should lead to a culture change at the publishing houses.

..but I use Mobipocket Reader. This is a software for windows,Mac and Linux (the desktop version) as well as a mobile counterpart that works on all major mobile platforms (Palm, Windows mobile/CE,Symbian, Blackberry), and you can synchronize books and bookmarks between your device and the desktop.

I use it with my Nokia N82 to read on the bus on the way to work. Of course, reading on a 2.5" screen isn't the same as a dedicated reading device (or a paper book ^^), but I prefer having one all in one device for communication, music and reading books.

I use my smartphone in with the free Mobipocket Reader software installed as eBook reader software and am more than happy with it.

My ebook reader being my celphone means I just lug it around everywhere I go, fits in my pocket fine, no hassle.

The resolution's fine too, at 240x320 pixels, it's not much different from the old 80x24-character displays on monochrome monitors in the 80's. Some might say the display's a little small, but it's perfectly fine with me, helps the little critter fit in my pocket better.

With tons of books from Project Gutenberg and whatever else sources you can find on the net, them's a lot of books on one handy little device

The heck with these eBook reader-only gadgets. Maximize your smartphones, guys! Very handy for waiting in lines, etc.

• Mobipocket reader
• The built in music player (paused)
• The built in web browser, open on Gmail.
• Nokia Maps, a GPS based map software.

I know Amazon has been really bad in communicating this, but you can copy non-proprietary formats to the Kindle for free. TXT files are supported natively, and most other files can be converted to Mobipocket files (.mobi) by the Mobipocket conversion tools. Once you have either a TXT or .MOBI file, you can copy it to the Kindle over the supplied USB cable. The $.10 transfer fee is only to use Amazon's converter and to copy the file across the Sprint wireless network. Yes, your HTML files aren't natively supported, but you can pretty easily convert those to MOBI (you may lose the hyperlinks, but the images should come through) and use them on a Kindle.

I currently have the ATT tilt phone with mobiepocket reader and it works fantastic. http://www.mobipocket.com/en/HomePage/default.asp?Language=EN

The bookeen does not support Linux, even though it is linux-based... go figure. Read the FAQ under point 8 "The Mobipocket Desktop Reader is not available fro Mac and Linux. On these machines, the Cybook is seen as a simple external storage drive and the Mobipocket files must be transferred manually." I guess you could say they are being nice by not deliberately locking-out non-windows users, but if I'm gonna pay that much, then ALL features should work for Linux. Furthermore, it doesn't look like there's a linux prog out there that does the same thing as mobipocket or ereader. I would love to be corrected on this point but that's what I've seen so far.

The specific incompatibility is this: the software that the reader uses for synchronization, "mobipocket", is windows-only. The features seem really cool though - it can even download RSS feeds so you can view them offline. The WINE Entry for this program says it crashes frequently so that's not an answer(Does wine ever work right?)

Also noticed... ebooks can sometimes cost more than their paper-based counterparts.

DRM isn't the selling point, availibility of content in a compatible format easilly and legally is.

If you want to try out the software and ebooks use Amazons Mobi-Pocket reader:

http://www.mobipocket.com/

Available for nearly every smartphone/PDA device out there.
The reader software is pretty much what runs on the Scoble. I mean the kindle, but without the weird physical UI.

Mobipocket also do mobi-pocket publisher (also free) so you can compress and distribute your own works.

Sam

If I'm not tied to a single source for my books then I may consider it, but I still enjoy they actual book feelings though. Weight, smell, etc... Some parts of reading a book have nothing to do with what is written... At least for me.

+ Reader has to be under $100.

How about free? Provided, of course, that you provide your own Blackberry, Palm, Smarter-Than-Thou-Phone, PC or other geek-faux-wang. If you don't already have one you can probably find something acceptable at or near your $100 price point. It won't have the big e-Paper screen that the Kindle does, but I have no troubles using a smaller display.

* Books have to be half the price of print books or lower.

e-Book pricing is all over the place right now, with titles ranging anywhere from free, free, or free, all the way to about the same as printed books. As the market grows expect to see more pressure on prices which should force things down a bit, but don't hold your breath.

+ No bullshit DRM. I better be able to back the content up, copy it to my ipod, save it on my hard drive. Whatever.

Some books ship with bullshit included while others come pas-des-merde-des-vasche. With a good reader you can feed it anything from flat ASCII text, HTML or PDF files through to insanely encrypted tracts of bull and have something readable come out the other end. The choice is yours.

+ I better be able to resell it, just like I can resell a used book. Otherwise, all of this is just a run-around way for the publishing industry to attacked the used book trade, which they hate more than almost anything else on earth (including their loathing of public libraries).

Yes, you can absolutely resell the hardware that you read books on just like you resell a used book. Reselling _data_ is a trickier problem, as it is nothing like a used book. Besides, the only way for second hand ebooks to have any value would be if they included "Bullshit DRM". Which do you want, resale or steerpoopage?

+ Reader has to be under $100.

How about free? Provided, of course, that you provide your own Blackberry, Palm, Smarter-Than-Thou-Phone, PC or other geek-faux-wang. If you don't already have one you can probably find something acceptable at or near your $100 price point. It won't have the big e-Paper screen that the Kindle does, but I have no troubles using a smaller display.

* Books have to be half the price of print books or lower.

e-Book pricing is all over the place right now, with titles ranging anywhere from free, free, or free, all the way to about the same as printed books. As the market grows expect to see more pressure on prices which should force things down a bit, but don't hold your breath.

+ No bullshit DRM. I better be able to back the content up, copy it to my ipod, save it on my hard drive. Whatever.

Some books ship with bullshit included while others come pas-des-merde-des-vasche. With a good reader you can feed it anything from flat ASCII text, HTML or PDF files through to insanely encrypted tracts of bull and have something readable come out the other end. The choice is yours.

+ I better be able to resell it, just like I can resell a used book. Otherwise, all of this is just a run-around way for the publishing industry to attacked the used book trade, which they hate more than almost anything else on earth (including their loathing of public libraries).

Yes, you can absolutely resell the hardware that you read books on just like you resell a used book. Reselling _data_ is a trickier problem, as it is nothing like a used book. Besides, the only way for second hand ebooks to have any value would be if they included "Bullshit DRM". Which do you want, resale or steerpoopage?

The Kindle can view mobipocket, txt, rtf, and Doc.

No PDF, which I agree does suck.

The mobipocket software supports conversion of PDF to Mobi, however, which seems easy enough.

And it similarly supports SD cards.

The coolest thing about the Kindle is the tie into Amazon, and the free EVDO connection. If Amazon can make purchasing and distributing content extremely easy, the Kindle will succeed, otherwise, the device is not that compelling.

If I could download Kindle books to my iPhone from Amazon

Kindle books are just Mobipocket files. You can already read these on Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian and Blackberry phones. Plus a bunch of other hardware readers. Maybe *if* Apple finally gets around to releasing an SDK that doesn't suck and *if* Apple "blesses" a Mobipocket application for it to be signed then you will get your wish. However, Apple's never shown much enthusiasm for approving DRM content on its devices that isn't through iTunes or Apple directly. So I have my doubts that this will happen easily without some hardcore backroom dealing.

This basically confirms my suspicions, that the technology hasn't gotten to the right level yet.

I'm also a huge fan of the handwriting recognition on my Pocket PC; however, it does require a specific deviation from my normal handwriting. At the same time, not everybody can read what I jot down on regular old paper, so maybe I'm the better for it - but that's besides the point. Handwriting recognition in Windows Mobile (I'm using PPC v. 2003, if that's worth pointing out) is good, but not good enough. It'll get there someday, though.

At the same time, I love keyboard - even small "thumb board" - input, and I'm nearly convinced I'll eventually either grab the thumb-board addon for my Dell Axim x50v, or a bluetooth mini-keyboard. Still, nothing beats using a pen-sized stylus and writing into my Word docs while on the subway. After barely a day of frequent use, it now feels natural to me.

That said, by and large the reason I love my Pocket PC is for its versatility. I read my books off of it, listen to my OGG Vorbis files and watch XviD DVD rips with it, play Snails on it... Oh yeah, and all that document authoring, e-mail, web browsing, contact management, scheduling crap that other people talk about. And it's all in my pocket. I love it.

But I wouldn't mind trying out a Nokia 770 someday. The stuff the community's brewing is very exciting.

This technology has been around for a while:

http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/p800.asp ?Origine=PAGE_P800

Yup - Reading eBooks and listening to http://www.audible.com/ books is my iPAQ's main duty although I also have http://www.mobipocket.com/ on my SmartPhone.

An ebook reader is a good idea. This way you can carry a virtual library of good books with you anywhere you go. Mobipocket seems alright for this, although many features are now only available on the pro version which isn't free anymore unfortunatley.

Another good application for the PocketPC is emulation. There are quiet a few good emulators if you're into playing classic games (eg. Apple IIe, C64, Spectrum, etc)

At the time I bought it here in the UK it was one of the cheapest smartphones available at only 100 pounds (about 170 dollars I guess). I liked that it was flexible as you could add a wide range of software to it. Also since it does so much it makes a wonderful tool/entertainment system that I always carry with me, something thats' very useful for passing the time as I commute on the train. With a 256mb MMC there's a lot you can do with it.

I Currently use my NGage for the following.

Watch Movies - SmartMovie
- Great piece of software. I can also convert my home movies for showing friends/family wherever I am.

Games
MicroPool
- Great 1/2 player pool game. Good GFX/sound

Sky Force
- Scrolling shooter (like Raptor) with GREAT gfx/sound - especialy for a handheld

IM - AgileMessenger
- IM (MSN/Yahoo/AIM/ICQ/Jabber/QQ) on your phone. Works great and good for keeping in touch wherever you are.

Email (built in)
- A great addition/compliment to using IM as well. I mostly use it for posting to my blog @ blogger.com automaticaly from my phone. Good for instant updates for my family.

Sound/Call recorder - eRocorder
- Allows me to record phone calls and use my phone as a dictaphone. I use it for recarding my son's new words so my extended family can hear them.

FTP - YFTP
- Good for posting recorded soundclips or pictures to my website.

EBooks - Mobipocket
- Useful if your're bored. Also uses less battery than playing games. I also have a version of the KJV bible with Greek/Hebrew dictionary and concordance. You can also export word/excel files to be read with this app.

C64 Emulation - Frodo
- Play some old classics. Good sound emulation as well.

MP3 playback (built in)
- Good playback. Stereo (so better than other phones) but limited storage compared with (more expensive) dedicated players)

Radio (built in)
- Also in Stereo.

PIM (built in)
- I have over 200 contacts and I can store most of their contact information, including notes/photo's if I want.

My ONLY gripe is that the NGage does not have a built in camera. As to sidetalking I find it more comfortable than most normal phones and I could'nt care less what people think it looks like. At least not when I have a phone/mp3 player/radio/PDA/games console built into one device.

I'm glad that Nokia are addressing some of the critisms of the current device, but they've removed some of the features I bought it for (radio / stereo MP3 playback / USB). I would'nt buy the QD version for that reason. If they're procucing a cut down version I'd also like to see one with the USB/radio/stereo output back in. Add a camera and an IR port as well and I'll buy one tomorrow.

I've used the Microsoft SPV1, E200,
and Sony Ericsson P800 and P900, currently using the P900.

(You might want to read my CV, brief and full)

I have to say smartphones are the bees knees.

After all why wouldn't you want your PDA to also be a phone with internet connectivity?

My P900 is my ebook reader and offline browser, and my portable games machine

It has a camera to take photos at a moments notice (better than no photo at all) and even short movie clips with sound.

I user opera for web browsing with the nice PDA layout so I dont have to keep scrolling horizontally, and I use the email client for those times when I need mobile email.

Then there is the standard PDA calendar and phone book.

If the P900 were any smaller, the screen would me smaller, and I wouldn't want that!

The only thing that hurts are GPRS data prices at the moment, so I have to really justify "online" use.

There are always more smartphones coming out.

I preder the larger screen touch-screen mainly-PDA style smartphone, but there are plenty of more robust-screen mainly-phone style smartphones too.

I think Orange are the leaders in releasing smartphones, and I don't think thats my bias.

Sam

The install program dies under Windows if you don't have your Palm Desktop installed to the "default" directory. If, for example, you're using e:\palm\ for your Palm install program, you get an error message that it couldn't find the Palm Desktop.

This article in their web site tells more.

It's clear that instead of fixing their installer, they've chosen to make people jump through some hoops after searching their help forums.

Broken Installers are not worth my time, especially for a commercial application.

uBook is a free, full-featured book reader that is my current main reader. Versions are available for Windows as well as PocketPC.

MobiPocket Reader because I paid for several of their dictionaries (Oxford)

TomeRaider because I have a current copy of the Wikipedia with me at all times. It's an amazing, free resource. You have to compile your own version using the existing Perl tools, but it isn't that hard.

I like my Dell Axim X5 because it:

was reasonably cheap (I paid about $250 for it on eBay)

has both a CF and SD expansion slot (although just a standard SD slot, not a SDIO slot)

has a portrait screen with a nice backlight

I've had a Sony Clié SJ-30 for a year and a half, and I love it! It is an excellent size for my hand and pocket, it has a nice, bright 320x320 color display, a jogwheel for scrolling through pages, and a memory stick slot for plenty of storage.

I use Weasel Reader for reading Gutenberg Etexts, Mobipocket Reader for reading etexts from Baen books, as well as Plucker for web clippings. I also carry along Ultralingua dictionaries so I can look up words when reading French language Gutenberg etexts (ahoy, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea!)

My Sony makes a fantastic e-book reader.. I probably use it for that function as much as for anything else. At 320x320, the screen is easy to read, the high-res fonts are very comfortable, and the backlight is great. It fits easily into my pocket, and I carry it wherever I go. It's USB based, and I sync documents to it from my Red Hat 9 Linux system without problems.

Honestly, any modern Palm OS based device should have USB and a good 320x320 screen, and any of them that you look at should make a good EReader. The Sony's may still be particularly good with their jogwheel, however.

The best thing to get would be a Sony Clie. I use it to read files. There is an acrobat reader- and you can load everything on a memstick. The best part other than the cost (Buy it Here. It only has 16 Megs of ram- but you can buy a memstick- or if you dcide you are jsut going to read txt files you should be fine. Mobipocket is a great reading software for teh Clie and other hand helds.

On my SE P900 (and before that P800, and before that on my Osaris [PSION clone]) I read eBooks on the toilet.

I use gutenmark to convert guten-texts to half-decent html from which I build eBooks using mobi-pocket publisher.

MobiPocket-Reader is the BEST ebook reader in the world (with a free version) supporting more platforms than you can imagine (TRY!)

Mobi have an extensive online library, but also supply a personal publisher tool that can work text, html, and open-ebook format sources (not too strict) to produce ebooks.

I've produced my own ebook of up to 30MB with this tool although it took a long while to build.

Sam

I have an Intermec 6651 Handheld PC. It runs Windows CE 3.0 (HPC2000, same OS as the Jornada 720), and it's great for ebooks. Its keyboard folds around behind the screen, turning it into a tablet. This combined with Mobipocket reader makes a great ebook reader. I just flip the screen around, and touch the left or right side with my thumbs or finger to "turn pages".

The screen is awesome, 800x480x16bit active matrix. Very bright (but of course useless in the sun).

Google it for more info... I've seen them on eBay for $350 or so...

Someone else already mentioned the MobiPocket Reader, which includes some phenomenal high-res fonts for the Clié. Baen Books has much of their catalogue available for download in the MobiPocket format, including their Baen Free Library. The Free Library contains dozens of books, many by established authors. That includes the first couple of books in the Honor Harrington series.

Beyond that, I like the Weasel Reader, an ebook reader dedicated to reading Project Gutenberg etexts.

Both MobiPocket Reader and Weasel Reader support the jogwheel, Memory Stick, and hi-res fonts on the Clié. Highly recommended.

GutenMark is excellent, once it has chapter recognition for contents table linking directly yo chapters in it's HTML output it will be top notch

If you take html output from GutenMark you can feed it to the free (as in beer, not speach) MobiPocket Publisher you can then view the resulting compressed ebook practically on any platform including the new P800 using the free mobi pocket reader.

they hop up and down and spit and gesticulate

I've seen them do this, it is a pitiful sight. Some of them can't even walk and chew gum at the same time.

PDF is postscript plus the bits it needs to make it work everywhere.

However tomeraider is not so good IMHO, Mobi Pocket Reader is much better and comes with a free ebook builder for windows, but sadly doesn't supports linux either and wine chokes on installshield install. It seems to be, roughly, a compressed html browser.

Sam