New SciFi eBook

alanB said:
Thanks for the feedback.

If you dont mind me asking what's the difference between reading a kindle file on a kindle vs a pdf on say an ipad?

Also if you like, if you have an ipad, I could send you the full pdf to try out? I would be quite interested in your comments on the difference.

Amazon's deal to South African authors isnt that great IMO, which is why I'm not rushing to sign up BTW.
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Kindles tend to cause less eye strain because they don't refresh the screen. A monitor such as a Kindle has to update itself a certain number of times per second - this is what causes flicker. When using such a screen for a while, it can cause eye strain.

Kindles don't do that. The picture on the device only changes when you change the page. Otherwise, it does not refresh or update itself at all. A Kindle doesn't even "shine" unless it has a backlight. So, it really is like paper.

I don't have an iPad, sorry!
 
Thanks :cool:

EDIT: Although thinking about it. People spend a hell of a lot of time glued to their ipads :wtf::D. So while I'm sure it's nicer on your Kindle, its probably not completely impractical on an iPad.

I've downloaded the Kindle app on my iphone and have read a few books that way. Its not as nice as a paper book IMO but its a lot more convenient. Also you always have your phone with you so if you are on a plane or waiting for a client or something you can read a chapter or two.
 
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Ag meant to be a monitor such as an iPad updates itself many times per second, whereas a Kindle does not.
 
OK, so to be readable on a Kindle you have to convert your original Word file to a mobi file. (The official Kindle format is Azw, but that's just mobi with some drm stuff added.)
Mobi files can be copied or emailed to a Kindle without needing to go via the Amazon store, so anyone with a Kindle will be able to read your book (as well as anyone with the Kindle app on their Android / iOS device).
Also, since mobi (and to some extent, epub) is the standard ebook format, other readers and reading software will also be able to view it - and it's worth the effort (not that there'll be much - download a converter and run it.)
It's much nicer to read something in a proper ebook format than in PDF. Standard practice these days is to offer PDF, mobi and epub.
Something like Calibre will do those conversions for you, or you could Google for other options.

In terms of hardware - LCD screens cause eye-strain because they use a backlight which shines straight into your eyes. They also don't do well if you wanna read outside on a sunny day.
E-paper screens like on the Kindle are more like really high resolution, high end digital watch displays. No backlight needed, they just show text, sip battery, work better in bright ambient light, and can be read in the dark if you have one of the newer Kindles with the included front-light.
It really is the only way to read books.
 
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K3NS31 said:
OK, so to be readable on a Kindle you have to convert your original Word file to a mobi file. (The official Kindle format is Azw, but that's just mobi with some drm stuff added.)
Mobi files can be copied or emailed to a Kindle without needing to go via the Amazon store, so anyone with a Kindle will be able to read your book (as well as anyone with the Kindle app on their Android / iOS device).
Also, since mobi (and to some extent, epub) is the standard ebook format, other readers and reading software will also be able to view it - and it's worth the effort (not that there'll be much, download a converter and run it.)
It's much nicer to read something in a proper ebook format than in PDF. Standard practice these days is to offer PDF, mobi and epub.
Something like Calibre will do those conversions for you, or you could Google for other options.

In terms of hardware - LCD screens cause eye-strain because they use a backlight which shines straight into your eyes. They also don't do well if you wanna read outside on a sunny day.
E-paper screens like on the Kindle are more like really high resolution, high end digital watch displays. No backlight needed, they just show text, sip battery, work better in bright ambient light, and can be read in the dark if you have one of the newer Kindles with the included front-light.
The only way to read books.
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You are talking about eReaders in general. For Kindles specifically, you can publish your Word document via Amazon, and they will handle whatever conversion is necessary internally.
 
Ancalagon said:
You are talking about eReaders in general. For Kindles specifically, you can publish your Word document via Amazon, and they will handle whatever conversion is necessary internally.
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Well, the point I was trying to make is that you can bypass Amazon and still have your work available to people who own Kindles (important as this is the most popular e-reader by miles), as the OP was unsure about using Amazon for his book.
 
True, I just don't see the point. The more exposure your book gets, the more places people can buy it from, the better for you.
 
I have Calibre already, but was thinking that anyone can read a pdf without any extra software so that would be the best format for most people to digest? Be the easiest for most people to handle? You don't have to download and install another app/program just to read my book, which most people are probably not going to bother with?

But thanks for the tips and opinions guys - will certainly investigate further. :cool:
 
K3NS31 said:
Well, the point I was trying to make is that you can bypass Amazon and still have your work available to people who own Kindles (important as this is the most popular e-reader by miles), as the OP was unsure about using Amazon for his book.
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Ja that's very true!
 
alanB said:
I have Calibre already, but was thinking that anyone can read a pdf without any extra software so that would be the best format for most people to digest? Be the easiest for most people to handle? You don't have to download and install another app/program just to read my book, which most people are probably not going to bother with?

But thanks for the tips and opinions guys - will certainly investigate further. :cool:
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Well the nice thing about digital is that it doesn't cost anything to make it available in multiple formats. Eg. I wouldn't bother reading the PDF, as I wanna read on my Kindle, and pdfs just don't work as well on those. And PDF doesn't always convert well to mobi, so I'd prefer it in a format I could either convert myself (I guess doc or txt would work, but then people could make changes), or just to have mobi as an option from the start.
 
K3NS31 said:
Well the nice thing about digital is that it doesn't cost anything to make it available in multiple formats. Eg. I wouldn't bother reading the PDF, as I wanna read on my Kindle, and pdfs just don't work as well on those. And PDF doesn't always convert well to mobi, so I'd prefer it in a format I could either convert myself (I guess doc or txt would work, but then people could make changes), or just to have mobi as an option from the start.
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If I supplied it from my website as a mobi option, could you load it on your Kindle, or does it have to come from Amazon?
 
alanB said:
If I supplied it from my website as a mobi option, could you load it on your Kindle, or does it have to come from Amazon?
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No I think it is possible to just drop files onto a Kindle via a USB cable.
 
alanB said:
If I supplied it from my website as a mobi option, could you load it on your Kindle, or does it have to come from Amazon?
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Ancalagon said:
No I think it is possible to just drop files onto a Kindle via a USB cable.
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yeah you can just copy it on. Will give it a try when I get home. (I normally use Calibre to manage my Kindle, makes it even easier)
Btw, have you added metadata? Author name, blurb, genre etc?
 
K3NS31 said:
yeah you can just copy it on. Will give it a try when I get home. (I normally use Calibre to manage my Kindle, makes it even easier)
Btw, have you added metadata? Author name, blurb, genre etc?
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Yes I have but it will probably need some tweeking when I compile the doc in Calibre. I'll have a go at doing that this weekend.
 
Is there a mobi version of the 1st four chapters or can you only read those online?
 
K3NS31 said:
Is there a mobi version of the 1st four chapters or can you only read those online?
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At this stage only on line. But they are quite easy to read? Or at least I think so?
 
alanB said:
At this stage only on line. But they are quite easy to read? Or at least I think so?
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Was hoping to test the mobi before buying. Easier to read on my Kindle than on my tablet or computer screen.
 
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