Ebook readers

[sweetlizzy]

I am thinking of buying an EBook reader, but would like one which allows me to transfer my own stories from my computer, so that I can store/read them in the same way as other purchased EBook material. I have read some of the marketing information on EBooks, but it is not at all clear whether it is possible to download your own files and read them on these devices. Can someone clarify whether or not it is possible to do this, please?

 

[Bigbobnc]

It depends a lot on the reader.

I know on the Kindle you get an e-mail address that you can send documents to and they'll be converted and available.

The Sony reader uses a card that allows you to add content from your computer, then use it in the Sony reader.

A lot of them allow you to read PDF and MOBI or PDB formats, but it's very specific to the reader on what kind of protected content (ie, things you purchase) you can view.

Personally I use an iPhone and a program called Stanza, it allows me to view books purchased from quite a few sites, and also allows me to upload books directly to it using a desktop sync application that connects over Wi Fi.

Just do a bit of research on Google or Bing and you should be able to find out the information your looking for on the readers your interested in.

 

[sweetlizzy]

It depends a lot on the reader.


A lot of them allow you to read PDF and MOBI or PDB formats, but it's very specific to the reader on what kind of protected content (ie, things you purchase) you can view.


Just do a bit of research on Google or Bing and you should be able to find out the information your looking for on the readers your interested in.

I am grateful for your response. It is this question of "protected content" which is confusing me. I can understand ebook sellers wanting to protect their copyrights and stop pirated copies being read on ebook readers, but I am assuming that if I tried to import a story, I had written, from my computer, the ebook reader would stop me from opening it because it was not copyright cleared; but I am not sure of this. I have, previously, downloaded an ebook handbook from the web to see if I could answer my questy, but it offered no advice on downloading, or accessing your own created files on the reader.

 

[NippleMuncher]

This is an interesting topic. One would assume that an e-book reader would read any PDF or similarly compatible document. I used to sell e-books, some were copyrighted, some not, some were copyrighted by me. From the creation side of a PDF document I can say that the author has the ability to dictate whether content within the document is editable, copyable, or otherwise manipulable, though I don't know that they have the capacity to prevent an e-reader from presenting the document to the user. One would also assume that regardless of the source of the PDF or similar document, the user would have the ability to download from a PC to the reader device and still view the document.

And to be contrary to all that I've just said, copyright infringement with e-documents is rampant! It is all too easy for unscrupulous individuals to claim others work as their own or to blatantly sell copy written works without authorization. Any book you buy on eBay is almost guaranteed to be a counterfeit. That's partly why SleazeBay has adopted the NO ELECTRONIC SALES policy, all digital items must be sold on a CD. It would be easy to see why hardware manufacturers would be trying to prevent "unauthorized" use of PDF documents.