books vs ebook

[robinsonwang]

what are the difference?
which is more important?

[deetee]

you can't swat 'roaches with an ebook???

[tec0]

To copy a book takes time and is normally costly. To copy a ebook is simple and easy. But why not include a CD with every book, that way you get the best of both worlds.

[robinsonwang]

all you said are right
what's more?
I think the attitude of the books' writer are much more careful and professinal, the ebook will be more relaxed.
the content of the book will be more professional and worthy, the content of ebook will be more simple and easy to be a writer as an ebook author.

[desA]

I need erasable e-books, which dissolve at a certain pre-agreed expiry date.

[robinsonwang]

To copy a book takes time and is normally costly. To copy a ebook is simple and easy. But why not include a CD with every book, that way you get the best of both worlds.

it's easy to have your own works on ebook, but not easy to have your own book published
the publish fee decides the difference of ebook and book

[desA]

I need erasable e-books, which dissolve at a certain pre-agreed expiry date.

Can you solve this Robinsonwang?

[AndyD]

I'm not sure exactly what you means DesA but there are several proprietary e-book formats which allow DRM. You can prevent duplication and set limitations on the product such as the number of times it can be read or the length of time the e-book will open.

Of course, where there's DRM there's also a way around it but it will work for the majority.

[desA]

I'm not sure exactly what you means DesA but there are several proprietary e-book formats which allow DRM. You can prevent duplication and set limitations on the product such as the number of times it can be read or the length of time the e-book will open.

Of course, where there's DRM there's also a way around it but it will work for the majority.

Thanks so much AndyD. If you have further info on these, I'd be very interested.

[AndyD]

Sorry desA, I have just been back to this thread whilst following up on old posts.

You can make a layered pdf and use embedded java script to verify the user, time, views and so on. This would be the most flexible option but involves some coding.

If you would rather go with something out of the box you could use any number of applications available.
Here's one http://www.fileopen.com/
or here's another http://www.a-pdf.com/faq/how-to-set-...piry-dates.htm
And finally pastebin might also work for you http://pastebin.com/

Hope this helps.

[tec0]

it's easy to have your own works on ebook, but not easy to have your own book published the publish fee decides the difference of ebook and book

Mostly South African publishers are really not interested in any book that hasn't something to do with conviction of past events. They are not interested in real fantasy and fiction. For the last 6 years I have tried everything to get my books solicited and have it looked at.

It has been nothing but a waste of time... Our publishers are narrow-minded and our writers are suffering heavily for the publisher's narrow-mindedness. I can only hope they go bankrupt so that real publishing entities can take over and writers will once again be free to write about anything not just this BS stuff that is basically forced down onto the public.

[rfnel]

Thanks so much AndyD. If you have further info on these, I'd be very interested.

Hi Des

I only saw this thread now. As Andy said, it is likely that there are tools available to create 'access-controlled' e-books and as always, there will be a way around them. However, I'm not familiar with any existing tools of that nature.

I am in the software industry, and developing an application like that could make for an interesting project. If you'd like to discuss it further, please give me a shout.

Cheers,
Riaan

[jeccyka]

If I choose, i will choose books not E-book.

Although it is much convenient and easy to take them , for me i have a faith that classic books can keep forever by people. while E-book can not .

[Just Gone]

Although it is much convenient and easy to take them , for me i have a faith that classic books can keep forever by people. while E-book can not

I have a tablet and my downloaded books are there for as long as I want them to be. Much better to have e books than actual books - where I go my tablet goes, therefore my books are there.

[tec0]

The e-book is not really the problem the facilitators are. Fact is almost anything can be downloaded for free and file sharing is not something new. If you publish the e-book then there are many hands in the pie and you get only a very small amount of the actual sales. As e-books make the writer dependant on the e-book publisher and reseller systems.

So if I was to publish a book it would be paperback. E-books are nice but they will kill the industry.