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I'm using an HP hx4705 and I'm not crazy for MS Reader, especially since I HAD TO install it into my main memory to get it to work. And even with a proper install, it is slow and not very user friendly (IMHO).
As for MobiPocket Reader, it's ok I guess, but doesn't blow me away.
Acrobat Reader, again OK, nothing special.
Anyone care to discuss??
I have used µBook for several years... I am pretty happy with what it does and how it does it. It costs $12 to register which is not as cheap as free.
What does everyone else think?
I used to use MS Reader (.lit) exclusively, but I couldn't activate it on my latest PPC, so I needed to find a way to view all of my .lit books with another reader. I found a way to convert them to html files through google search. µBook reads those converted books. I had hundreds of dollars worth of ebooks that I couldn't read otherwise.
Also, after I played around with the font, spacing, font size, etc, and used the "Full" skin from µBook, I couldn't be happier. It gives me a lot more text on a page compared to MS Reader.
I tried MobiPocket, it's cool too, but wouldn't read my converted .lit files.
Side note: I finally got an additional activation from MS (took a couple of months. It was a very frustrating and time consuming process). But because I don't ever want to go through what I went through before, I still purchase .lit books, then convert them, and read with µBook. If ever I can't convert .lit books, I'll stop buying them, and switch to some other reader. I feel bad that I'm supporting MS Reader when they have such lousy DRM activation requirements.
I used to use MS Reader (.lit) exclusively, but I couldn't activate it on my latest PPC, so I needed to find a way to view all of my .lit books with another reader. I found a way to convert them to html files through google search. µBook reads those converted books. I had hundreds of dollars worth of ebooks that I couldn't read otherwise.
Also, after I played around with the font, spacing, font size, etc, and used the "Full" skin from µBook, I couldn't be happier. It gives me a lot more text on a page compared to MS Reader.
I tried MobiPocket, it's cool too, but wouldn't read my converted .lit files.
Side note: I finally got an additional activation from MS (took a couple of months. It was a very frustrating and time consuming process). But because I don't ever want to go through what I went through before, I still purchase .lit books, then convert them, and read with µBook. If ever I can't convert .lit books, I'll stop buying them, and switch to some other reader. I feel bad that I'm supporting MS Reader when they have such lousy DRM activation requirements.
Sure that is a lot of hassle! I wish the DRM was not so poorly implemented. I go through quite a few Pocket PCs as you might imagine so I may not have any more Reader licenses left. I have no idea what it'll be like when I try and get them to release some of my old licenses from prior Pocket PCs. I'm glad you found a solution for the problem though
I used to use MS Reader (.lit) exclusively, but I couldn't activate it on my latest PPC, so I needed to find a way to view all of my .lit books with another reader. I found a way to convert them to html files through google search. µBook reads those converted books. I had hundreds of dollars worth of ebooks that I couldn't read otherwise.
Do you mind me asking what you found to convert those books? That's one of my problems with not wanting to change from Reader... I alreayd have a bunch of .lit books.
I have tried ubook but honestly I found it kinda confusing and hte help didn't help much (like it would tell me to to open a book you'd use the file icon but wouldn't tell me which one that was or what each different arrow was). But if it read .lit books I might try it again.
I found a program from a Google search. It has the letter "C" in it and the letters "lit" in it, and it's an exe program
It's not much of a hassle, works really fast.
µBook just takes a little time to figure out the settings. I save each converted book in a folder, then put these folders on my PPC storage card. When I open a book from µBook, I navigate to the book folder, and then click on the largest html file in the folder. Most of the other files are graphics and supporting pages and you don't have to worry about them. One of the best things about µBook is how fast it loads to the last page you were on when you first bring it up.
More about MS Reader Activations: I had 5 devices activated, when I attempted to acctivate my newest PPC (which would have been the 6th). So there was something wrong going on, but whatever, after all of the hassle, I decided I wasn't going to go thru that again. Next time I get a new device, I'm not going to Activate MS Reader (period!).
When I first got my PPC, I couldn't wait to go to Amazon and download a book. I didn't know that much about MS Reader, so I went and activated my home and work pc, and then my laptop, and naturally my PPC. That's 4 right off the bat. I didn't know!!! I would never have activated Reader on my work or laptop. I could have just used my home pc to download ebooks. You can't "un-activate" Reader, unfortunately. And you have to have a PC or laptop activated to get the ebooks on your PPC, as you know. So yes, their DRM really bugs me.
I actually used to think that people complaining about MS Reader were individuals trying to get past the DRM and getting ebooks on the internet for free. I never had too much of a problem doing activations, and re-activations during upgrades of Reader, hard resets of my PPC, etc. Then the above happened, and I was absolutely furious. I felt like I was being forced to do something wrong, just to be able to read ebooks that I purchased.
I went thru the same thing with buying music from WalMart....had to convert files to MP3 so that I could put the files on my SD card. I don't appreciate having to do this-I'm a Grandmother for pitty's sake. Grandmothers don't do this!!!
I've been working with an MS employee on a project at work, and when I tell him the trials I have to go thru, he just laughs and says, "Yeah, it shouldn't be that difficult".
When I first attempted to contack MS support (the numbered burried on the Reader Activation site), after waiting I don't know how long, it was a person that couldn't speak English, and didn't know what a PPC was. I begged her to let me speak with someone who knew what a PPC was, but she was stubborn. Soooooooo, I had quite a lengthy discussion with her about the MS Reader Activation process. Every time I'd pause in my explanation, she would go back to her "script" and say "Have you contacted the manufacture of your PC for support?" I actually had to talk to her on two separate occations, but finally she elevated me up to someone else that knew what I was asking for. He told me to go thru the Activation process and ask for the additional activation when I get to that part of the activation denial. I told him I had done that, and asked "Should I do it again?" He said no. I immediately went back, did it again, and provided the previous ticket number, and basically begged again for another activation, explaining that I hadn't even used up 6 activations yet. I never heard back.
So then I sent a request to just plain suppport at microsoft dot com, and a couple of weeks later, someone actually called me. (I pleaded and explained everything that I went thru in that email). She left me a message on my phone (which is my PPC-HP 6315), and told me to go ahead and try the Activation again. I was at work. I tried, and it worked. She actually called a couple of days later to check if it worked. She asked if there was anything else she could help me with. I asked if that was the process I needed to go thru the next time I needed to activate MS Reader, and she said yes. I asked her if there were any plans to improve the method, or change the whole "6 activation" limit. She said that MS is always working to improve their products and the customer experience. Wow. Okay....
Sorry about the long post.
Edit: Also wanted to add that now I use Fictionwise to purchase ebooks.
Like you, I went "crazy" with my Reader activations. 1 work computer, 1 home computer, one PPC. Upgrade my office computer, activate that one...by all means! And so on...
You've motivated me to start the process of "deactivating" old machines (if that is possible) so I can have use of a license when I need one.
Due to hard reset of my HX4700 I had to re-activate my Ms Reader with a new .net passport and could not access any of my books , fictionwise kindy got ms to reset all of my ebooks so i could re-download them and read them .
This prompted me to look for another eReader so i tried eReader Pro from eReader.com it's not free but its better than MS reader and it works well on my HX4700. You can change the font size and backgrounds etc.
It installs itself in ram but can be transfered to any sd or cf and run from there.
You can either get the ebooks from ereader.com or fictionwise.com
Its well worth trying..
For those running out of activations for MS Reader, why not just bastardise the tip below and copy these files from your old pocket PC to your new one. I've seen this tip in a number of places (inc here>), but the below is from http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_top/tiparchives.asp I reproduced the whole thing as it's off a very, very long page. Saving Microsoft Reader Activation
If you want to read those e-books on your Pocket PC which have Digital Rights Management protection on them, you have to activate the MS Reader application from the Microsoft Reader Web site. Every time you do a hard reset on your Pocket PC, the activation is lost and you have to go through the whole process of activation again. There is a way to save your activation and carry it back to your Pocket PC after the hard reset. To save your activation do the following steps:
1. Click on the Activesync icon which is on the right hand side of the Taskbar on your desktop to pop up the Activesync window.
2. Click on the "Explore" option in Activesync to navigate the folders in your mobile device.
3. Go to My Pocket PC/Windows and copy the following files:
* secrepid.dat
* secrep.dat
* secrep.dll
* secrep.xml
* Microsoft Activation.unload
4. Create a folder with-in the My Documents folder on your desktop PC. You can give a meaningful name to this folder such as "Microsoft Reader Activation".
5. Paste all the above-mentioned files into this folder.
6. Now whenever you do a hard reset on your Pocket PC, you can copy and paste these files back into the Windows folder of your Pocket PC and your Microsoft Reader application will be activated automatically.
(To copy the above mentioned files successfully, you will need to make sure that the extensions of the files and hidden files appear in the listing along with the file names. In the ActiveSync Explorer window, go to Tools and click on "Folder Options...". Now click on the "View" tab. Make sure that the option which says, "Hide extensions for known file types" is unchecked. Also select the "Show hidden files and folders" option if it is not already selected.)
Regards
Benji,
The way I understand it, when your device hard resets, and you have to re-activate MS Reader, it doesn't count against your activation limit.
However, the information you have provided (which I have used-it works) can save you from having to go back to the MS site and go through the activation process.
I haven't had success in using those same files on a different device (naturally).
Wonder if a new MS Reader version is in the works...Can't wait - NOT :?
Even though I'm fairly new to the world of PocketPC's (bought myself an early Xmas present) one of my first and most worthwhile acquisitions for it was µBook, but the version I tried was free and I found my copy at http://www.pdagold.com/software/detail.asp?s=416
As soon as I found out that the author was charging only $12 (or less than the price of a paperback after conversion rates) I knew I had to stump up and support the future development of the software, if only to help fund the promise of being able to view eComics in zip format.
However, apart from that, it means that I can read my ebooks in bed without suffering the godawful glare of black text on the torch background that the "wonderful" Microsoft reader provides you the "choice" of. This means that my girlfriend doesn't damage my ribs and I still get to enjoy my books in bed. (She's too busy sleeping before you start wondering what I'm doing reading a damn book).
This is in the font that I choose, at the size that I exactly stipulate, with automatic scrolling with precise control of words per minute, with full screen real estate, with the option to configure buttons to do what you want..oh and you don't have to "activate" it more than once...ever.
Personally I think that Microsoft's effort of a reader for their platform that seems designed to have ebooks read upon it is a slap in the face to anyone that has bought Microsoft products with the belief that they were paying to support future development.
Plus, after hearing about the hoops that legitimate users of MS Reader have to jump through just to read what they have bought it makes me glad that I have never locked myself into a system which prevents me to do what I want with my books, including what software I use to read them on. Considering the flexibility that computers and software can provide, the limitations that MS reader imposes are unforgivable and frankly self-defeating.
Do yourself a favour and at least try the no nag earlier version of µBook and get yourself converted, along with any .lit files you might have.
Even though I'm fairly new to the world of PocketPC's (bought myself an early Xmas present)
Welcome to the club
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrCoggy
As soon as I found out that the author was charging only $12 (or less than the price of a paperback after conversion rates) I knew I had to stump up and support the future development of the software, if only to help fund the promise of being able to view eComics in zip format.
Yes, apparently people were not clicking to "donate" button on his site. And he was doing a lot of work to release freeware with all the support requirements, etc., etc. so he started charging. But you are right $12 is not bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrCoggy
However, apart from that, it means that I can read my ebooks in bed without suffering the godawful glare of black text on the torch background .
Yes, and if you have ever converted a word document over to MS reader, sometimes the font does not behave properly so it ends up faded out. So when you are sitting in bed trying to read, not only is the torch blinding you, the text is barely visible!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrCoggy
Plus, after hearing about the hoops that legitimate users of MS Reader have to jump through just to read what they have bought it makes me glad that I have never locked myself into a system which prevents me to do what I want with my books, including what software I use to read them on. Considering the flexibility that computers and software can provide, the limitations that MS reader imposes are unforgivable and frankly self-defeating.
Well, the thing is, in order to get new and best-selling books in a timely manner, you can't really throw out Microsoft reader. They have a good selection as far as e-books go so I'm not willing to part with it just yet.
Thank you very much. Still trying to find my feet with it, but I know some that only use their Ipaq as an address book and games machine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Isaac
Well, the thing is, in order to get new and best-selling books in a timely manner, you can't really throw out Microsoft reader. They have a good selection as far as e-books go so I'm not willing to part with it just yet.
My personal preference is to buy the real book and "obtain" the ebook via certain newsgroups. I refuse to buy an intellectual product such as a book that has DRM providing it with a limited shelf life. I know some may question the legalities of that, but how would you feel if your physical paper book refused to open if you lent it to someone else, or just disappeared because you no longer had the password to your bookcase?
To top it off I personally resent paying close to or more than book cover price for downloading a book. There is very little cost involved in producing an ebook, with the main investment being in the customer's hardware and software and I feel this should be passed onto the customer, which it largely isn't.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Speed Reader Plus yet. I would have mentioned it a couple days ago, but my laptop has been down, and I've been trying to get it back to normal.
Nevertheless, Speed Reader Plus is my all time favorite. I can read so quickly, and I actually comprehend more than regular reading! uBook is awesome also, and is my second favorite.
I too have had problems with DRM, but not with MS Reader. I bought some books from Amazon that were for Acrobat, and I never could get them working on my device. It just makes me angry!
My personal preference is to buy the real book and "obtain" the ebook via certain newsgroups. I refuse to buy an intellectual product such as a book that has DRM providing it with a limited shelf life. I know some may question the legalities of that, but how would you feel if your physical paper book refused to open if you lent it to someone else, or just disappeared because you no longer had the password to your bookcase?
To top it off I personally resent paying close to or more than book cover price for downloading a book. There is very little cost involved in producing an ebook, with the main investment being in the customer's hardware and software and I feel this should be passed onto the customer, which it largely isn't.
I would argue that part of what you are paying for with an ebook is piracy. And the other part is convenience. There is a pretty good argument that ebooks will be pirated and result in lost sales...i.e. the newsgroups. So the publisher is trying to make as much money on the books as possible because for every 1 they sell, they could lose 100 to piracy.
The other part, convenience, having your whole library in your pocket is convenient.
I would argue that part of what you are paying for with an ebook is piracy. And the other part is convenience. There is a pretty good argument that ebooks will be pirated and result in lost sales...i.e. the newsgroups. So the publisher is trying to make as much money on the books as possible because for every 1 they sell, they could lose 100 to piracy.
The other part, convenience, having your whole library in your pocket is convenient.
I don't wish to play devil's advocate, but are you suggesting that legitimate customers are paying a premium because it's inevitable that the digital book will end up being copied?
I know exactly two people in my life who read books on anything other than paper. And I'm the only one who has read more than one using such a device. The dozens of other people that I come into contact with on a daily basis just are not interested in reading books on a screen. You also have to consider that a lot of the Newsgroup community that posts ebooks have actually scanned and OCR'ed their own books to share.
Charging a premium for ebooks because the product may be lost to piracy at some point is not an intelligent sales tactic, because everyone out there who is happy to buy books second hand or in 3 for 2 deals is going to continue to do so, because their books have substance, don't crash, don't run out of batteries, can be read in the bath, can be lent to a friend to enjoy with an easy conscience AND still cost less than the digital equivalent.
If for example, future Movie distribution online was to follow the same business model then you would be paying more to watch a film at home than at the cinema, which would make no business sense whatsoever. This would be despite you using your own Computer Hardware, AudioVisual equipment and internet subscription which must factor into the price.
I would be happy to pay £1.99 or $3.99 for an ebook if it contained illustrations and allowed me to view the product in whatever form I wished. As it currently stands the pioneers of ebooks are being screwed heavily for their early adoption of the technology, both in terms of price and limitations. I can only hope that when pocket sized screen quality increases and battery life along with it that the market will flatten out a little and stop treating its own customers as thieves.
I apologise for taking this thread completely off-topic. My vote is still for ubook.
, fictionwise kindy got ms to reset all of my ebooks so i could re-download them and read them 
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