The ebooks all have maps and chapter images, as well as drop caps at the beginning of each chapter and other niceties. The maps, in particular, are nice: they are relatively high resolution scans, so you can even zoom in if you have the right hardware.
Speaking of hardware: Unfortunately, since Amazon handles the conversion from our source file (an ePub file, which is the de-facto open standard for ebooks, as opposed to their proprietary Kindle format) internally, after we hand them our file, the quality on Kindle editions leaves much to be desired (it's an automated process within Amazon, so we don't get to peek into that black box, much less get oversight once the file comes out the other end, before it's made available for sale). As a result, things like the maps, the formatting and such, that look great on all the other e-editions of the books, look bad or don't show up on the Kindle edition. For example, maps don't show on the Kindle sometimes, there is no table of contents, and drop caps look like Artanian's first letter on its own line. By all means, complain to Amazon. They listen to their customers much, much more than they listen to publishers, actually.
My advice, if you really want a nice e-edition? Don't go with the Amazon version (I know, I know: if you own a Kindle, you're kinda locked into the Amazon store. But that's a bigger conversation about open formats and device agnosticism). Of all the other retailers who have The Eye of the World available (B&N, Sony, etc.), Sony is the best-looking; they take our file as-is, and don't alter or convert it at all.
I find that pretty interesting. And it makes me wonder if its worth saving a buck or two to buy the Kindle version, if the conversion process lacks quality control. Does anyone at Amazon even look at the files, or due to the volume is it just totally automated? If I have to spend a little extra to ensure I get the formatting specified by the publisher, I think its worth it. I am guessing Sony is the best because they are now an epub shop (if their conversion is complete). B&N plans to move to epub with the release of the nook, so hopefully their epub files will be the exact same as the publisher's, just like Sony. I would guess Pablo's comment about B&N is probably due to them still using the eReader format in their store.
Do Pablo's comments surprise anyone? Does it make you want to consider a different ebook store (i.e not Amazon) if it means having more confidence in the quality of the ebook you will buy?
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5 comments:
It would be good to actually hear from someone with one of these other readers who could comment on the formatting. This information sounds very believable given some of the formatting issues even on the "Look Inside" I've seen on Amazon. Hopefully there is more information about this from Amazon down the road.
This is a prime example of why I don't read ebooks and why I don't think I will for some time. I will never own a device that uses propriatary formats (like the Kindle) and I will never buy ebooks that use DRM. Until ebooks are DRM-free and there's a great ereader that can view all formats (or even better, a single universal format for all ebooks), I will stay out of the market.
I like books, so waiting a while (or forever) is just fine by me.
Rich: Oh, you mean someone actually using the epub file, to confirm that it does not have the issues the Kindle version has? I'll be able to confirm that when I get my nook. But you raise a good question.
Neth: So do you still do cd's, or not do mp3's until the last year or two when non-DRM mp3's starting appearing (i mean that as an honest question..not trying to argue with you:) )? From what I can understand, no one really knows if its illegal to "strip" drm from your own personal copy of an ebook..as long as you don't distribute it. Its pretty easy to "liberate" most files you buy so that you aren't tied to one reader. And a standard really is emerging finally, with epub. Yes it has DRM, but its becoming the standard just like mp3 is for music. And while it took quite awhile for mp3's to lose DRM, you could still listen to the DRM files on many devices. This whole thing reminds me of the music deal a few years ago. You had Apple versus everyone else..where you could listen to iTunes files only on iPod (DRM). And you had multiple mp3 players with Windows Plays for Sure so you could listen to DRM Mp3 files.
I was very late to the mp3 craze and I've certainly never purchased one with DRM - in that respect I feel the same way. Mostly, I just rip the CDs I already own. I'm not one to distribute things, but if I paid good money to own it, then I want to be able use it as I see fit. I don't use apple and itunes because of their history with DRM.
If were to buy an ebook, I don't want an extra step to remove DRM files. I want the file DRM free and that's what it'll take to get me into the digital market.
It's the same reason I don't like to use Audible.com for audiobooks, even though I love the concept. The DRM on those files is very annoying and limiting, so as long they have DRM, they won't have me as a customer.
Neth: I have to admit to being an early adopter. I have been using mp3s since before you could actually buy them..like 1998 or so. In my mind, ripping a cd, and "freeing" an ebook so i can read it on a different device are pretty much the same thing..as long as i don't distribute either the mp3 or the ebook. But I can understand folks not wanting to deal with the liberation process. I too didn't buy itunes files until they were DRM free. Even now, i still prefer the Amazon MP3 store..though lately lala.com gets most of my business. And the lala iphone/itouch app should be out in a week or two..that's gonna be huge.
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