My issue with e-books (or at least the Kindle variety, which is the sort I'm most familiar with) is that they're rife with typos and wonky formatting. I refuse to purchase anything that costs more than the $1.99 Kindle daily deal. If they expect me to pay top price, I expect a professional product in return (I would certainly expect no less from a print book--why are e-books allowed to be shoddy as a matter of course?).
I've seen a number that have had horrible formatting and typos, but I've also had some really good experiences.
I think ebooks are worse because of OCR errors? Also, somehow the transition from formatting to print to formatting for screen gets screwed up, which you'd think they've have figured out by now. I mean, how long have people been publishing things for the computer monitor now?
Anyway, my library also has a pretty extensive ebook collection, so I don't pay for a lot of thing things I read, so I feel less cranky about the terrible formatting. *g*
...which you'd think they've have figured out by now. I mean, how long have people been publishing things for the computer monitor now?
Exactly. There's no excuse for it, except perhaps stinginess. If publishers will start paying people to fix these problems, I'll start paying for their product.
Fortunately, I have access to two good library networks (and library branches near my home and office), so I get most of my reading material that way. (Unlike you, I mostly borrow old-fashioned "tree" books--I found it was way too easy to forget to "return" the electronic versions.)
Unlike you, I mostly borrow old-fashioned "tree" books--I found it was way too easy to forget to "return" the electronic versions
But you can't not return the ebooks, I thought. Don't they just remove your access on the due date?
Anyway, I would never actually make it to the library in person often enough to take out paper books, but also, I love my iPad and being able to have access to a hundred different books at any give point while I'm carrying it. It makes it so much easier to read on the commute, because I can just finish one book and start another, without having to schlep around two or three books at a time. (This is why I get annoyed when I know an ebook version exists but the library doesn't have it! And even more annoyed when a seminal book like "The Power Broker" doesn't even come as an ebook! I had to buy a paper copy and it's the size of a family bible, so there's no way I'm carrying it around. So irritating!)
Comments 6
I think you will find it relevant to your interests/feels.
Reply
Reply
Reply
I think ebooks are worse because of OCR errors? Also, somehow the transition from formatting to print to formatting for screen gets screwed up, which you'd think they've have figured out by now. I mean, how long have people been publishing things for the computer monitor now?
Anyway, my library also has a pretty extensive ebook collection, so I don't pay for a lot of thing things I read, so I feel less cranky about the terrible formatting. *g*
Reply
Exactly. There's no excuse for it, except perhaps stinginess. If publishers will start paying people to fix these problems, I'll start paying for their product.
Fortunately, I have access to two good library networks (and library branches near my home and office), so I get most of my reading material that way. (Unlike you, I mostly borrow old-fashioned "tree" books--I found it was way too easy to forget to "return" the electronic versions.)
Reply
But you can't not return the ebooks, I thought. Don't they just remove your access on the due date?
Anyway, I would never actually make it to the library in person often enough to take out paper books, but also, I love my iPad and being able to have access to a hundred different books at any give point while I'm carrying it. It makes it so much easier to read on the commute, because I can just finish one book and start another, without having to schlep around two or three books at a time. (This is why I get annoyed when I know an ebook version exists but the library doesn't have it! And even more annoyed when a seminal book like "The Power Broker" doesn't even come as an ebook! I had to buy a paper copy and it's the size of a family bible, so there's no way I'm carrying it around. So irritating!)
Reply
Leave a comment