[NTLK] Manybooks.net is interesting

[Aaron Brigati]

On Jun 1, 2010, at 2:03 PM, M. Horvat wrote:

>> The Newton is superior in E-book reading to the Kindle or
>> Nook?  How so?
>
> No DRM.

Every e-ink reader out there can display no-DRM e-books. They can  
also display books that /have/ DRM, meaning you can read current  
novels that you can't read on a Newton.

While I don't like DRM, and strip it from the titles I buy, very few  
publishers will allow e-books without it. (Baen Books sells no-DRM e- 
books of their stuff; at a good price too. If you like military sci- 
fi, since that's most of their catalog, anyway.)

> You can print or fax pages.

Not really needed in a _reader_. If I wanted to print books, then I'd  
have a printout to read! :)

> You can backup them.

Ditto with any e-reader.

> You can copy their text.

Possible on the fancier, more expensive models. Not something I'd  
find especially useful with a _reading_ device, though.  If I really  
needed to excerpt text from one of my e-books I'd open it with reader  
software on my desktop.

> You can annotate them... with handwriting and sketches!

Again, possible on the more expensive models, but not useful enough  
for most people to spend the extra money.  (The iLiad comes in about  
the same price as a high-end smartphone.)

> You can make your own books, and convert existing ones.

Possible with any e-reader.

> You can use standard AA batteries. (Although they do not last as  
> long as on dedicated readers)

True enough. Though I have a little gizmo that takes two AA batteries  
and will charge a USB device; it gives me about a 70% charge on my  
reader. I mostly use it for my cell phone, which is a terrible  
battery hog. :/

> And on some models there's even a backlight.

No argument with that, although I find I don't need one except when  
it's REALLY dark. Since I'm old enough to not have to read under the  
covers, it's not that big an issue. :)

--Aaron