Re: ebook reader market share report

On 12/15/2012 01:13 AM, James Adcock wrote:
>
>>> The Kindle files are twice the size because PG chooses to implement
>>> them that way.
>
>> That's what kindlegen outputs. I don't touch kindlegen's output in any way.
>
> You are choosing to run kindlegen, and distribute mobi files, without
> compression, but the epub files are being distributed with compression. You
> can't pretend to tell me you haven't even read the kindlegen documentation.

I'm using the "standard DOC compression". The "Kindle huffdic 
compression" is only slightly better on text-only files. On image-heavy 
files they are virtually identical.

Kindle files will always be twice the size of epubs because they contain 
one copy of the whole book in mobi format *and* one copy of the whole 
book in KF8 format.


>>> It is trivial to get free files on the Kindle Fire, as I have already
>>> explained to you, by using the Amazon "Send to Kindle" applet on your
>>> computer.
>
>> That's ridiculous. What would you say about a car you cannot drive to the
> filling station but instead requires you to buy a pickup truck to bring some
> gas cans back to the car? Trivial eh?
>
> I would say that if you actually tried "Send to Kindle" you would find it is
> in fact "trivial" to use, ...

Let us compare the ease of use of the targeted-for-generic-use *Google 
Nexus 7* with the targeted-as-ebook-reader *Kindle Fire HD*.

Let us list the steps involved in actually getting a free ebook from 
somewhere on the web until the first page opens on your tablet.

Let us also differentiate between steps you need to do once vs. steps 
you need to repeat for each book:


Nexus 7:

A. Install a free reader app.

1. Use tablet browser to download any epub. (Reader app notices it is an 
epub download and grabs and opens the book automatically.)
2. Start reading.


Kindle Fire:

A. Buy a PC.
B. Install Kindle software on PC.

1. Get behind your PC.
2. Boot your PC.
3. Use PC browser to download epub.
4. Open Kindle software on PC.
5. Open file you just downloaded.
6. Use "Send to Kindle".
7. Wait for the upload to complete. (Uploads are much slower than 
downloads on most home internet connections.)
8. Shutdown your PC.
9. Get Kindle Fire.
10. Open "Documents" tab (not "Books" tab).
11. Wait until reader syncs.
12. Start reading.


The difference in ease-of-use is colossal. You'd think the Nexus 7 was 
targeted as ebook reader as it handles ebooks effortlessly. But it isn't 
so. Ebooks are just one of the many thing you can do with the Nexus 7.

OTOH side the Kindle Fire is marketed primarily as ebook reading tablet 
but provides the worst experience re. free books. It also costs more 
than the Nexus 7 (€214 vs. €199 for the ad-free version) and comes 
without an usb-charger (the Nexus 7 includes one).


>> Obviously you still say things without doing any research.
>
>>    https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_16gb
>
> I tried this, then, and I try it again now, and it says that this option
> doesn't exist.  So who is saying what?

Then wait a few days for new stock to come in or get the 32GB version 
which is still available.



Regards

-- 
Marcello Perathoner
[email protected]
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