EBooks

[bones221]

Hello all,

I'm thinking of picking up a Tungsten E tomorrow. Never had a palm unit before, but It'd be cool to add to the functionality of my paper calandar.

Does anyone use their T E for reading EBooks? If so, what is your preferred viewing software? What would be the best way to view large .txt document?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[pipesmoker]

Personally, I use PalmReader and Smartdoc.

Palmreader because I like the layout, and I've also got Battlefield Earth that I bought from them, which is 'tied' to the Palmreader program.

Smartdoc because it allows you to edit a .doc or ebook, basically, if smartdoc can read it, you can add bits, like a text editor...

CSpotRun is good as well, [just a doc reader, but it's small, and my Dad swears by it]

Hope this starts you on the right track, but after all's said and done, they all do pretty much the same job, and it's more personal taste when it comes down to a doc reader, with the layout, way the buttons / screen are used and the way the menus are setup etc...

G.

EDIT: Sorry, missed that bit, see my reply to your other post for what I use on .txt files... [basically docs2go and an old app I used for my IIIe]

[ziggy]

Beware that most e-book readers cannot read .txt files. You will have to convert them, but there is freeware available. There is also a program (VFSi) that can read .txt files from an SD card, but I'm not sure whether it is comfortable as an e-book reader. The programs mentioned above are probably better. I also use palmreader for e-books. For converting .txt files to palmreader format I use Makedocjr editor.

[Chris Bridges]

E-books are the main reason I have a Palm. I use PalmReader Pro most of the time, but I've got the free version of MobiPocket for the times when the only version I can get is an encrypted mobibook.

PalmReaderPro reads the books I get from PalmDigitalMedia.com, Fictionwise.com, Baen.com, and the ones I make myself from Guttenberg. It was worth registering to me just to get the clock option, an icon that displays the time and your current battery charge without having to exit the program.

[ptc]

Palmreader is the way to go. It's free - and there are lots of free ebooks available in the eBook forum here at Palmonecity. It's multiplatform too, so if you ever switch to PPC (gasp!) you can take your books with you. Also, there is a reader for the Windows too.

eBook reading is one of the best parts of owning a Palm IMHO...

[Pdaman]

Best e-book reader is PalmReader but i don't read e-books becose i'm from Finland so my english is pretty bad but it is good idea for pda...

PalmReader :
http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&SID=DE4FE1ED-CF18-AC90-8766E55583648E5A&PartnerREF=&prodID=39195

E-books :
http://www.palmdigitalmedia.com/

[bones221]

Thanks for all your great help...I've come across isilo. I like it 'cause i can format my txt files with different color text and backgrounds. I like red text and black background for reading in the dark cause the screen is so glaring. And black text on white background if I'm reading outside. I'll check out some of the other readers. I'd rather have something free if i can have the same functionality.

[kazuni]

iSilo is by far the most often used for me , and quite niec in terms of the ability to converte webpages with different locale encoding (i read a lot of chinese/japanese literature from websites and manually converts them)

there is another one, called Plucker, which has similar features to iSilo. JPluck is the converter utility for Plucker (unofficial) and it has, imo, better support in conversion than the original plucker converter.

[CWolf]

Yeah, I use iSilo too - have a look at my website - some people have found it handy when starting out.

[smoothjordan]

Use the Palm Reader that comes on the CD. It came with two books as well. Try those out, and if you like how it looks and feels, start downloading books that are compatible with Palm Reader, and knock yourself out!
JShep

[Edlin]

Tibr is a great free reader, and you can grab a txt to plamdoc convertor at thier web site too. <http://www.indevsoftware.com/products/tibr/>

[David_b]

Thanks for all your great help...I've come across isilo. I like it 'cause i can format my txt files with different color text and backgrounds. I like red text and black background for reading in the dark cause the screen is so glaring. And black text on white background if I'm reading outside. I'll check out some of the other readers. I'd rather have something free if i can have the same functionality.
Hello,
Am I too late ? :o
Just to let you know you can also format text and background colors within PalmReader (at least with the 'pro' version). I often use a black background and a green/orange color for the text -- much less glowing when you read in the dark ;)

Imho, Palm Reader is the best reader, to be completed with Plucker (free) for web pages.

By the way, hello to everybody !
It is my first post :D

[fssia]

I use WordSmith because with FineType Manager, I can import the fonts I use in my PC in WordSmith, so that I can read the ebook in fonts that are easier for me to read than the built-in fonts.

[Jotun]

Plucker can do whatever you want for reading ebooks. It is free, it is easy and it is powerfull. Also, with pdaConverter and Jpluck (both free) you will have everything you need to browse offline and read whatever you want.

So far, the best programs for palm!

[Joel]

Welcome to the new members! Glad to see you around.

My preference is eReader (PalmReader). I usually buy my books from Fictionwise and eReader.com. I don't convert text anymore.

[Unregistere]

If you're just going for PalmDOC files then pretty much any reader will do. Tibr is a nice lightweight reader.

However, you will probably find that you want to read stuff that is in a propriatory format :(

The main ones to look out for are:

PalmReader
iSilo
Plucker/zTXT
TomeRaider
TealDoc

I currently use iSilo and Plucker.

[emmx]

I have a T3, and my Palm is used mainly for reading eBooks and offline web pages.

Like Joel, my preference for reading eBooks is also eReader. In my opinion, I have yet to find a better reader for eBooks. I am an avid fan of FictionWise, and I make most of my purchases from their online store because of the rebate and discounts that they offer (can be a lot cheaper than Palm Digital Media if you buy a lot of books like myself).

I have used both iSilo and Plucker, and for offline viewing of web pages and RSS feeds, you cannot go past plucker. iSilo is a great program and is very customisable, but Plucker is also feature rich with a nice clean interface - and it is totally free. I use the JPluck Desktop component (much better than the Plucker Desktop), and this setup has worked 100% from day one for me.

HIH

Kristine :)

[dwig]

My prefered reader is MobiPocket. When I first started using it (4yr ago on a Clie T415) is had a vastly superior display when compared to Palm Reader. The gap has closed but I continue to prefer MobiPocket on my newer UX50. I also use MobiPocket on my Win98 sub-notebook. MobiPocket is available for every major OS except MacOS Classic and Unix flavors (Unix, Linus, MacOSX, ...); most portable devices including some phone OS's are supported.

For TXT files, larger and small, I have used Docs2Go and QuickOffice but much prefer to convert to generic PalmDOC PDB eBooks. Another reasonable solution for TXT files is to add the minimal set of HTML tags to convert them to simplistic HTML files and read them in a Web Browser.

For TXT-to-DOC conversion, I use Word2Doc (a MS Word add-in available as Shareware). This gives me the power of MS Word for massaging the TXT file prior to conversion. This method also works very well when copying and pasting text from Web pages and other apps. I've created some huge eBooks ("huge" = 500k-1meg) using Word2Doc; it and MobiPocket handle these flawlessly. Using MS Word and add-ins allows me to also use MS's LIT add-in to convert to MS's LIT format for those people I know who have been sucked in by the dark-side ...

BTW, since many eBooks are distributed in proprietary formats that can only be read in a specific reader, I suggest that you install Palm's eReader and MobiPocket at the least. Having iSilo installed can also be handy and, though it doesn't seem to get much preference, TomeRaider since they distribute a number of eBooks in their format. Use your prefered reader when you can and use the others when you have to.

Most eBook readers are available in a free "basic" version and a for-money "pro" version. Get all of the free versions and try them for yourself. The choice is very personal.

[David_b]

For TXT files, larger and small, I have used Docs2Go and QuickOffice but much prefer to convert to generic PalmDOC PDB eBooks.
To read .txt files without convertion I use the excellent SiEd (http://benroe.com/sied ).
It is a tiny & powerfull editor that can read/write .txt directly from external card. And it is free, under GPL :cool:

[fssia]

Can eBooks distributed in proprietary formats such as in eReader format be read by WordSmith? I like using WordSmith so I can use the fonts I like for reading.

[David_b]

Can eBooks distributed in proprietary formats such as in eReader format be read by WordSmith? I like using WordSmith so I can use the fonts I like for reading.
I don't think so, even for non encrypted ebooks. If they are formated for one reader, they can be read by that one only.
An easy way to know is to try to open it from WordSmith ;)


I am sure it is impossible for encrypted ebooks.

[bryus]

I don't think so, even for non encrypted ebooks. If they are formated for one reader, they can be read by that one only.
An easy way to know is to try to open it from WordSmith ;)


I am sure it is impossible for encrypted ebooks.

Correct. If you buy a book from eReader (Palm Reader) you can ONLY read it with that reader. The same goes for all the other platforms. It is like CDs and Cassettes, they are not compatable even though they have the same content.

[archangel]

I use ereader and Mobipocket and I'm happy using either program though I will take ereader first if there is a choice in book. I've used it since 1999 when it was Peanut Reader and prefer the color choices and the very simple credit card based encryption. Every other reader uses encryption based on your device and that can be a hassle when you change hardware or have a HD crash.

One thing to note. The Convert LIT program still works with Microsoft Reader ebooks you personally own. If having all your books in an open format is that important you could buy them all as MS Reader books and convert them back to HTML. Then you could convert them to open Mobipocket books or any other format you want.

Personally I don't think its worth the hassle and still buy my books encrypted for ereader or Mobipocket. I also keep a backup of all my books and reading software on CD-R. I really have no worries in ereader being around for a long time to come.

[fssia]

David_b & byrus, I am asking 'cuz I wanna buy Van Helsing from Fictionwise. And it only comes with the proprietary formats. I am trying to decide to buy it as eReader or Mobipocket format. I can't decide. I would like the non-proprietary formats, so I can d/l it in the eReader format and read it on WordSmith.

The free ebooks I got from Memoware and so on can be read on eReader, TiBR & WordSmith. So I am wondering if it's the same for the proprietary eReader format. Guess I am too hopeful...sigh. Or should I wait for non-proprietary formats?

[David_b]

David_b & byrus, I am asking 'cuz I wanna buy Van Helsing from Fictionwise. And it only comes with the proprietary formats. I am trying to decide to buy it as eReader or Mobipocket format. I can't decide. I would like the non-proprietary formats, so I can d/l it in the eReader format and read it on WordSmith.
You can buy it in any of the two formats, both reader are good (even in the free version, so you can have both on your Palm at no cost). But none 'll allow you to read it on WordSmith.
I do prefer 'eReader pro' (not free) over Mobipocket... But that's personal : try both to make your mind ;-)

As archangel said : there is a .LIT convert tool. It is something like a crack (as it break the protection of the file) so I guess it is illegal to use it, even you have bought the ebook (check the .LIT EUA).
But if you really need the book in an open format, it can generaly turn the .LIT file into HTML... Then you can convert it in some format available for WordSmith.

Or should I wait for non-proprietary formats? It probably means you have to wait for the book to become 'public domain'. In something like 70 years :eek: :rolleyes:

[dwig]

fissia:

The various proprietary eBook formats exist for several reasons, the two primary reasons are more elaborate display (fonts, formatting, illustrations, and hyperlinking) and Digital Rights Management.

The "generic" eBook format discussed here is the PalmDOC (nee: AportisDOC) format. It is basically binary encoded ASCII text. It is readable in the widest variety of readers on the widest variety of OS's of any of the formats.

The commercial eBook publishers and vendors often use one of the proprietary eBook formats not because they want to force a particular reader on you, but because they want to reduce piracy. The DRM functions in the proprietary formats (eReader, MobiPocket, MS Reader LIT, ...) all offer this. Sometimes, though rarely, they need the other functionality, most often the illustrations.

When an eBook is in one of the proprietary formats but no DRM is used, it can often be opened in some other readers, with the loss of some functionality, and often the embedded formatting tags become visible (like reading HTML in a text editor). This is, generally, an unsatisfactory reading experience though can be a useful step in converting it to another format.

For these reasons, most of us that are heavy eBook readers will keep more than one reader installed. On my Clie, I use MobiPocket for MP books and generic eBooks and keep eReader around for those books I acquire that require it. My desktop/notebook machines will have both along with MS Reader for LIT eBooks. I've had iSilo and TomeRaider installed at times but haven't found the need to keep them up-to-date.

[saamvisual]

I have the 15 day demo thingie running it's course. Yeah yeah. But what are the differences between the ereader pro/basic set ups? I would appreciate the possibility of highlighting and making making notes/saving them with the tome in question. Any thoughts?

I have the NIV MyBible running, but wondered wether the ebook version (zondervan) is better for note taking and highlighting etc... any thoughts?

sorry if this is remote and obscure...

J

[fssia]

David_b and dwig, thanks for the info and help. :) I also wrote to Fictionwise to enquire. And the response is I would not be able to read the Van Helsing ebook on WordSmith. I realised the ones I can read on most ebook readers are in DOC format.

So now I am just thinking of whether to buy in Mobipocket or eReader format. Both are ok as ebook readers. Not as good as WordSmith IMO since I can't use the fonts I like. Or is there some font manager app that can do something abt the fonts? Or is that not in the freeware options?

However, I quite like reading eNews with Mobipocket but too bad I can't convert whatever html files I wish like with Plucker Desktop or JPluck. :(

[hpf]

David_b and dwig, thanks for the info and help. :) I also wrote to Fictionwise to enquire. And the response is I would not be able to read the Van Helsing ebook on WordSmith. I realised the ones I can read on most ebook readers are in DOC format.

So now I am just thinking of whether to buy in Mobipocket or eReader format. Both are ok as ebook readers. Not as good as WordSmith IMO since I can't use the fonts I like. Or is there some font manager app that can do something abt the fonts? Or is that not in the freeware options?

However, I quite like reading eNews with Mobipocket but too bad I can't convert whatever html files I wish like with Plucker Desktop or JPluck. :(


You can publisher HTML files in Mobi format with the Quick Publish function of the Web Companion. (you can also use the Mobipocket Publisher).

For the fonts question, you'd better do a "search" before posting...
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/Support/KBase_article.asp?ArticleID=156

[David_b]

So now I am just thinking of whether to buy in Mobipocket or eReader format.
Use them for free for a while ;)

is there some font manager app that can do something abt the fonts? Or is that not in the freeware options?
Fonts are not very impressives under Palm (well beyond something like fonts used in Microsoft Reader on Pocket PC), alas.
There are a few hacks that allow you some changes, I am testing them at this very moment. You can have a look at FontHackV (http://www.freewarepalm.com/fonts/fonthackv.shtml) (for palmOS 5) that work with YAHM (http://yahm.palmoid.com/), the Hack Manager. They are free.

At this point I am not convinced : it works good with some fonts, but I tried to use Arial and Verdana on a T3 and they didn't look very good.
Maybe there is some tweaking to do :rolleyes:
too bad I can't convert whatever html files I wish like with Plucker Desktop or JPluck. :(
Yep,too bad.

[fssia]

Sorry hpf, I couldn't remember which reader allows users to customise fonts. Thanks for the info. :p

David_b, I am trying out eReader & Mobipocket for free but once I download the Van Helsing ebook in one proprietary format, I can't switch anymore. So that's why I am a bit wary. :(

My Clie is running on OS 4.1, so I don't think I can use FontHackV. Hmmm...is there a free app which allows me to import the fonts I like from PC and make them to replace the system fonts? I think that will also change the fonts in eReader and Mobipocket, right? ;)

[dwig]

"fissia": Yes, eReader and MobiPocket supoort font selection directly in the application without having a font hack to alter the fonts at the system level. There may be some differences in this support, between PalmOS4 and OS5 and between the "free" basic versions and the "for a fee" Pro versions.

Personally, I find the standard system font just fine in MobiPocket on my UX50. When I used Mobi on a T415 (OS4) is used a smaller font, selected directly in Mobi., to get an adequate line length (measured in characters) on that narrower (320pixel) screen. The UX's 480 pixel wide screen allows proper line length with a larger font.

[fssia]

Personally, I find the standard system font just fine in MobiPocket on my UX50. When I used Mobi on a T415 (OS4) is used a smaller font, selected directly in Mobi., to get an adequate line length (measured in characters) on that narrower (320pixel) screen. The UX's 480 pixel wide screen allows proper line length with a larger font.I have downloaded some fonts but have yet to try any cuz I was busy. Will try them later.

So OS5 actually came with better system fonts? Does that apply to those with screen size 320 x 320 too? :confused:

[upallnight]

:) I love tealdoc :) . It allows me to choose my font and it's size, as well as being able to display in both right and left handed landscape modes. The control panel can be hidden, so on my NX60 in landscape mode, it is almost like reading a paperback.

[dwig]

...
So OS5 actually came with better system fonts?
...

Your question begs comparing apples to nothing ... "better" than what?

If you are wanting a comparison between OS5 fonts on the typical OS5 HiRes device to standard OS3-4 devices, then the answer is that the OS5 fonts are massively better. If you are wanting a Clie-to-Clie comparison, then the answer is no, there is not a significant difference.

What makes the standard font in the UX more useful, in comparison to the T415 is not the font itself but the fact that the UX's display is 50% wider when measured in pixels. This allows a larger font while maintaining a similar number of characters in a line. A larger font means more pixels per character, yielding better character rendering and more even character spacing.

[fssia]

Your question begs comparing apples to nothing ... "better" than what?

If you are wanting a comparison between OS5 fonts on the typical OS5 HiRes device to standard OS3-4 devices, then the answer is that the OS5 fonts are massively better. If you are wanting a Clie-to-Clie comparison, then the answer is no, there is not a significant difference.

What makes the standard font in the UX more useful, in comparison to the T415 is not the font itself but the fact that the UX's display is 50% wider when measured in pixels. This allows a larger font while maintaining a similar number of characters in a line. A larger font means more pixels per character, yielding better character rendering and more even character spacing.Okie, now I get what you mean. It isn't better system fonts, it's the screen size that makes the fonts "better". Sorry I was a bit confused by what you said earlier. :p

[dwig]

... Yes, its largely the screen size, in pixels. The hires screens, as found on Clies of almost any vintage and PalmOS5 machines of other manufacture, also contribute a lot to making the screen fonts readable

The original PalmOS configuration had only 160 pixels across a single line. Sony Clies introduce a double-resolution screen that used 320 pixel across a line and also had twice as many vertical pixels to render a "standard" sized character. This is a massive improvement in the quality of the font rendering.

The landscape displays used on some Clies and other PalmOS5 machines take this a step further by having 480 pixels across the line. This allows the same font rendering quality of the 320x320 machines while, at the same time, allowing a 50% longer line, measured in characters. Studies have long shown that the best readability (legibilty + comfort + accuracy) occurs when there are around 36-42 characters in a line. Both shorter and longer lines decrease the readability, text is less pleasant to read and there are more reading mistakes. The studies I've read did only investigate this issue using English, but should apply reasonably well to most Germanic and Latin languages as well. My UX50 (landscape 480x320) displays about 40 characters/line in MobiPocket with the standard font.

[fssia]

Ok since mine is still 320 x 320, I think the best way is to find ways to convert Sylfean to Palm font, so I can read in Sylfean font in whichever reader apps I am using. I wrote to a few font developers to see if they can include Sylfean in their next updates. Finger crossed. ;)

[shashi]

Hi,

I have a NX70v, and I want to save and read e-books directly from the CF.
I am using pelica's driver.

Which reader is recommended ?


Thanks and Cheers!

[fssia]

Hi,

I have a NX70v, and I want to save and read e-books directly from the CF.
I am using pelica's driver.

Which reader is recommended ?


Thanks and Cheers!WordSmith does it very well. iSilo can also read ebooks directly from expansion cards. For iSilo and WordSmith in my case, I must save the ebooks to the corresponding directories in PALM/PROGRAMS. Say to read directly from expansion card in WordSmith, I must save the ebook in PALM/PROGRAMS/WordSmith for the app to pick it up.

For eReader, just save the ebooks to PALM/Launcher. I am not sure the reader can locate them if you save them in any other directories. Need to test it to find out.

For Mobipocket, I also saved the ebooks and eNews to PALM/Launcher.

With Plucker, you would need a mounting app such as MSMount and save the ebooks to the allocated directory for MSMount to access.

Hope these info will help you. Best is to install all of them and try them out for yourself. :D

[archangel]

If you are also using Handstory its a good idea to save your books for Mobipocket outside of the Palm Launcher folder. Handstory will move everything that it thinks is an ebook to its on folder when launched. A very annoying feature they refuse to change.

Mobipocket books should be put in a folder called ebooks at the root directory of the CF or memory stick.

Ereader will also find its books in the Palm/Books folder.

[fssia]

I created a folder at the root directory called Book a while back but eReader didn't pick it up. So I thought I need to save the ebooks in PALM/Launcher. I just tried renaming PALM/Book to PALM/Books and eReader can find the ebooks in the Books folder now! Yipee! Thanks archangel! :)

Shashi. better take note of that if you plan to use eReader/ Mobipocket. ;)

[*YellowRose*]

For eReader, just save the ebooks to PALM/Launcher. I am not sure the reader can locate them if you save them in any other directories. Need to test it to find out. :DeReader can find books in /PALM/Books too. That's where I keep all mine . . . like to keep my launcher directory somewhat neat. :D

[fssia]

Mobipocket books should be put in a folder called ebooks at the root directory of the CF or memory stick.

Ereader will also find its books in the Palm/Books folder.The folder for Mobipocket books must be PALM/EBooks? I thought I was supposed to put them in PALM/Books folder but the app can't find it. So I wanna double check before I move the MOBI ebooks this time. :confused:

[archangel]

The folder for Mobipocket books must be PALM/EBooks? I thought I was supposed to put them in PALM/Books folder but the app can't find it. So I wanna double check before I move the MOBI ebooks this time. :confused:

Not Palm/Ebooks, just /Ebooks at the root directory of your memory stick.

For example the directory structure of my memory stick is

mp3 (the name of my stick)
---AudibleAudio
---ebooks (mobipocket books)
---DCIM (pictures)
---nesem
---palm (has sub folders like books, Launcher, and Programs)

[fssia]

Not Palm/Ebooks, just /Ebooks at the root directory of your memory stick.

For example the directory structure of my memory stick is

mp3 (the name of my stick)
---AudibleAudio
---ebooks (mobipocket books)
---DCIM (pictures)
---nesem
---palm (has sub folders like books, Launcher, and Programs)Okie, got it! Thanx! :)