Kindle pros and cons, tips?

[internetpilot]

One of the benefits of converting my PDB books to ePub with Calibre is that I was able to correct a few glaring errors in the process! Yeah, that's right....I'm an editor. You're welcome.

[jigwashere]

One of the benefits of converting my PDB books to ePub with Calibre is that I was able to correct a few glaring errors in the process! Yeah, that's right....I'm an editor. You're welcome.

Ah, yes. I can see it now: IP rewrites history the history books! (By the way, have you seen the movie 'Ip Man'?)

[internetpilot]

Ah, yes. I can see it now: IP rewrites history the history books! (By the way, have you seen the movie 'Ip Man'?)

Well, the OLD saying was the victors write history, but in modern times it's the person who knows how to use the most apps.

And yes, I taught Bruce Lee everything he knew.

[jigwashere]

Libraries are struggling with how to deal with e-books: http://www.startribune.com/entertain...154308815.html

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2, Epic 4G Touch using Tapatalk

[Varjak]

Libraries are struggling with how to deal with e-books: E-books not so easy to find at the library | StarTribune.com

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2, Epic 4G Touch using Tapatalk

My library keeps fiddling with their policy. They even lend e-readers (mostly Nooks of various kinds); but oddly, they don't let you put e-books on them yourself. The state however does have a central service for borrowing e-books (as they did with audio books before).

[questionfear]

My library keeps fiddling with their policy. They even lend e-readers (mostly Nooks of various kinds); but oddly, they don't let you put e-books on them yourself. The state however does have a central service for borrowing e-books (as they did with audio books before).

Odd that they won't let you sideload titles. Either they are concerned about an instrument of the library being used for piracy, or they want to make sure a loaned reader really is being used for library titles. Or they don't want people rooting and fiddling with them, which is ridiculously easy on a NOOK.

[raspabalsa]

I suspect that Amazon doesn't do the proofing. It's up to the publisher as is making sure the book is properly formatted. One of the areas of major cuts in publishing today is production staff. You will find typos in print books these days as well. Amazon can pass along typo discovered to the publishers, but ultimately, they have to choose to do something about it.

I wrote Amazon asking about this, and complaining about the low proofing quality. The answer I got was obviously from the Kindle manual: delete the book from my device and redownload from store. As if my device was somehow modifying the book's contents! I got so angry that I wrote a lengthy response spiced with some heated remarks about the lack of interest in the quality of their products, and including a few examples of the errors I'd found in the books. Some errors are so blatant that they totally ruined my reading experience. If I had read them in a paperback I would have tossed the book across the room in disgust. Example: A prisoner is climbing down a rope, and the bad guys are approaching, so one character yells "Easter!"... I mean, it's totally obvious that he means "Faster", but his error got away, and this is a novel from a well-known author, published by Signet. Clearly the only proofing done was a spelling check, with no one checking context. So I got an email from another Amazon employee (seems my reply was bumped up, or more possibly down, the ladder), saying that this issue has been forwarded to the Kindle Development Team, whatever that means. They also tell me that if I find I'm unable to use the books, I can ask for a refund, which of course means I will no longer be able to access this books.

I don't have much hopes for a new, corrected edition. "Kindle Development Team" is way too vague to sound as if they truly, actively work at this. If she had said she would contact the editors, or forward my complain to the "Kindle Proofing Team" then I would feel more hopeful.

But here's an idea, but I'm not sure it's ok to discuss it here, because it involves removing the book's DRM. If I use Calibre's questionable plugins to remove the DRM protection, then I can make my own corrections, and I will have my own perfect books. In terms of effort it's very much worthy for me because the books I'm purchasing are my all-time favorites, which I read over and over again, and if I have to see those errors every time I may end tossing my Player across the room!

[questionfear]

Raspy-

Before you get nasty with Amazon, Hook is right. Amazon doesn't proof the books, all they can do is upload fixed versions when te publisher corrects it.

And the redownload solution may be because there was an updated version of the book with the typos corrected, not brcause your device did something. An author I follow actually posted on her blog that people who downloaded her book at first release should redownload because footnotes had been corrected. It happens, and while often Amazon will notify you to redownload for the corrected version they don't always catch each one.

And after the debacle over "1984" a few years a go, they do not automatically change anything on your kindle. They can onl send an email letting you know.

And yes, calibre will work. Just remember every sore from Kobo to B&N and Amazon, has these typo issues. Sorry Amazon couldn't fix it, but it's not their fault the publisher was a lazy ass.

[Hook]

As I said before, as budgets get slashed at publishing houses, the first to go is the proofreading staff, leaving a handful of proofreaders handling a far too heavy a workload on too short a deadline. They may not even bother checking after conversion to ebook for conversion errors.

You'd be better off complaining to Signet (whatever megapublisher owns then now) than to Amazon.

[raspabalsa]

Before you get nasty with Amazon, Hook is right. Amazon doesn't proof the books, all they can do is upload fixed versions when te publisher corrects it.

You're right, but Amazon is the seller and as such is my only link to the product I payed for. Thus they are responsible for the quality, even if the actual proofing is done by someone else.
EDIT: Re-reading, I don't agree that all they can do is upload when publisher corrects. They should contact the publisher and demand a corrected edition. It's part of their obligation towards customers.

And the redownload solution may be because there was an updated version of the book with the typos corrected, not brcause your device did something.

Hmm... I hadn't thought about that. Anyway, I did follow that procedure, and stated so in my reply.

An author I follow actually posted on her blog that people who downloaded her book at first release should redownload because footnotes had been corrected. It happens, and while often Amazon will notify you to redownload for the corrected version they don't always catch each one.

And after the debacle over "1984" a few years a go, they do not automatically change anything on your kindle. They can onl send an email letting you know.

In view of this, how can I know if there is a new, corrected edition? If automatic download is not enabled, is there some kind of notification, so the user can decide whether or not to update?

And yes, calibre will work. Just remember every sore from Kobo to B&N and Amazon, has these typo issues. Sorry Amazon couldn't fix it, but it's not their fault the publisher was a lazy ass.

You're right, but still, I expected much more from an electronic edition. It's not as if they have to reprint and replace older editions, they just need to change the one file! One of the reasons I don't buy as many printed books as I used to is the reduced quality in paper, print, and proofing I've seen in latter years. It's sad to see that moving to electronic media has not improved quality, even though costs must surely be reduced.

Anyway, I haven't replied to their second email. I'll take your points in consideration before I reply. I will not ask for a refund. Instead, I'll look into Calibre.