View details for Product 'PalmReader'
| Index | 54 |
| Updated | 2004-06-16 16:00:50 |
| Status | 1 |
| Product | PalmReader |
| OS | Palm, Windows, Mac, PocketPC |
| Category | Office |
| Task | Reading eBooks |
| Version | 2.5.3 |
| Link | www.ereader.com/product/browse/software |
| Related | |
| Last Visit | 2004-06-16 |
| Cost | Free (an enhanced version is also available) |
| Comments | Supported on Palm, Pocket PC, Mac and Windows it has a good range of books available and seems a lot faster than its main rival MobiPocket. The other rival is Adobe Acrobat which is a more widely supported format and whose security can be broken so you can back up the books that you have paid for - however, perhaps for that reason, there are not so many books available. I've found that I am quite happy with reading books on the Palm and it means that I no longer need to upset my wife with yet more books to store somewhere!< Cleverly, PalmReader uses the number of the credit card you used to buy the book as the code to open it (you can change it later online and re-download if you want to). This means that you can read it on ANY number of devices and even lend it out - assuming you trust the person!Note: It is not supported directly under Linux but can supposedly be run using WINE. This again highlights the limitations of eBooks. |
| Requirements | I am very concerned at the longevity of the eBook formats. I still read books I brought twenty years ago and there is no reason why my son couldn't be reading them in another twenty. Will the PalmReader (or any other current format) be around that long? |
| Alternatives | MobiPocket, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Reader. MS Reader is MS ONLY and therefore VERY HIGH RISK as a platform for the longest term. Acrobat is probably the best bet for very long term but is poorly supported, possibly because of its security limitations (it is possible to bypass the security). MobiPocket has the widest platform support (PalmOS, Windows CE, PocketPC, SymbianOs, Franklin eBookMan and Windows as at Jun/2004). However there is no free version. It does allow annotation and allows customisation (fonts, etc.) but you can only read your books on up to three devices!! You have to change the "pid" online so you are totally reliant on the web site where you purchased the book for future use. OK, I had a response from an anonymous source about MobiPocket. Here is the email and my responses (in red): In the following page (http://www.knightnet.org.uk/IT/software/free-software.htm), you say that Mobipocket Reader does not exists as free version. I invite your webmaster to go and read carefully the pages listed below, and update your website. http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/DownLoadReaderStep1.asp http://www.mobipocket.com/en/Support/KBase_article.asp?ArticleID=331 http://www.mobipocket.com/en/Support/KBase_article.asp?ArticleID=26 [JK] Thanks for the info, it is a shame that this information is so well hidden! Moreover, there are more eBooks in Mobipocket format than in Peanut format.[JK] As I acknowledge. Publishers now publish and sell nearly only in Mobipocket format.[JK] Nonsense! There are many thousands of books being published in eReader format. Last but not least, the Palm encryption does not work with the widely used "e-credit-cart" system, where you ask your bank to give you a temporary credit card number for one purchase (because you do not trust the payment system). [JK] Actually it does as the downloaded eBook simply requires the credit card number, it's only a number nothing more. [JK] Your comments still do not get round the fact that you are TOTALLY dependent on the originating web site continuing to operate should you ever change devices more than twice -- this is appalling! I have books that I still re-read after 30-odd years and may well pass to my children, will the originating web site for an eBook still be operating the same system in 30 or 100 years time? I think not. At least with eReader books, I can note the number and pass it on. [JK] Of course, the software probably wont exist in 30-100 years anyway and this is why I will only EVER by low cost books this way, I'll never pay full price for a book in electronic format until I can be sure that it will still be available to me in 30 years time. [JK] Many thanks for your comments though, Jules. |
