Looking for decent eBooks | The Coffeehouse

leeappdalecom
.nettter

Hi guys,

Just ordered one of these Sony eBook Reader and wanted to know if any of you have found some decent eBooks around software development, preferably free ones as I will probably be using the WH Smith eBook store to purchase the ones I really need.

I know people have mentioned some free ebooks on here before would be good to get a list to download.

Thanks

Ion Todirel
buuu

a PDA would been better IMO

Aasemoon
The Spice Must Flow...

In reply to Ion Todirel

#Jan 11th @ 1:14 PM

Except the purpose of a PDA has 0 to do with the purpose of a Sony eReader.

esoteric
λ

In reply to Aasemoon

#Jan 11th @ 1:56 PM

Well, it can't do as much! A netbook would be better! In fact a laptop would be even better. No strike that, a desktop PC would be even better. On fourth thought a supercomputer cluster would be much better!

Ah, screw the whole thing.....

Ion Todirel
buuu

In reply to esoteric

#Jan 11th @ 2:02 PM

actually it won't, a PDA is very portable and I guess that's a important factor if you use it as a eBook reader, you want it to be as mobile as possible if you want reading eBooks be as comfortable as reading books, from a portability standpoint:

PDA > laptop > desktop

as about the Sony thingie, it has approximately the same size as a PDA, and a PDA can do more things, so I don't see how a "Sony eBook Reader" is so "much" better?

CannotResolveSymbol
{insert caption here}

In reply to Ion Todirel

#Jan 11th @ 6:11 PM

Have you actually seen one of the Sony readers in person? They're much larger than the typical PDA, and text is sized much more comfortably for reading.

TommyCarlier
I want my scalps!

Apparently you guys have not understood the original poster's question. He didn't ask whether the Sony eBook Reader was a good solution. That decision has already been made. He was asking if anyone has found some decent eBooks around software development.

To find some of the free eBooks previously suggested on Channel 9, I'd recommend a search query like site:channel9.msdn.com free ebook in your favorite search engine.

Yggdrasil
Pour me a cab, 'cause I can't drink no more.

In reply to CannotResolveSymbol

#Jan 11th @ 10:37 PM

I think the main difference between the Sony Reader and a PDA is that the Reader uses a e-ink display, rather than LCD. This makes extended reading drastically different. The PRS-700 reader seems pretty cool, actually. I would considering getting one, or a Kindle, if only any manufacturer would to get the hell out of the 1990's and support Unicode already. Seriously!

leeappdalecom
.nettter

In reply to TommyCarlier

#Jan 11th @ 10:47 PM

Thanks for that.

The Sony Reader has a purpose, for one it's e-ink and is much nicer to read than an LCD screen, ive used one.

Second, the purpose of doing this is so I don't have to carry large book in my bag on the way to work, I can't get out my laptop because there is usually no space on the train.

It's small enough to fit in a bag and take on holiday, again I wouldn't want to take my laptop or even a netbook with me, especially down to the beach.

Kryptos
Backup People!

In reply to leeappdalecom

#Jan 12th @ 1:49 AM

I have one and the screen is excellent. The light cover for use in the dark is OK but not great, I got that as xmas present so not used much as of yet.

Reading in the day is great I used it on Holiday in pretty much direct sunlight and could see the screen as good as a book, if fact I would go as far to say the screen is better in the daylight.

The WHSmith store is poor. I think Sony/WHSmith have missed a real opportunity here, they could of had a chance to tie the store/eBook (like iTunes+ iPod) in the UK. I think ever book I've wanted hasn't been there, so I have ended up purchasing from a US eBook store, which to my surprise, worked OK.

Although those eBooks were PDF's and the Sony has some issues formatting those correctly.

Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

In reply to TommyCarlier

#Jan 11th @ 10:47 PM

http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/freeebooks

And we all keep insisting the wiki is dead. Sad

TommyCarlier
I want my scalps!

In reply to Bas

#Jan 12th @ 3:55 AM

Can you show me which other page links to that Wiki entry? Because I'm not able to find it without you linking to it here.

Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

In reply to TommyCarlier

#Jan 12th @ 4:01 AM

I have no idea. It used to be there, but it's gone. I guess removing links is an excellent way of killing off the wiki.

leeappdalecom
.nettter

In reply to Bas

#Jan 12th @ 4:42 AM

Got it today and must say I can't fault it, yes eBooks are overpriced but I guess you are paying for the content not the actual book. I can get most if not all the books I want on an eBook and I had a 8GB SD card lying about that works perfectly with it which means lots and lots of books.

It's light, slim and looks good. The screen is crystal clear and reading on it is far better than an actual book.

It's easy to navigate books and even the Sony software (which is Windows only) works fine. I'm a bit dubious about DRM on Adobe PDF's which needs you to download another application to verify content.

Soon eBooks will come down dramatically in price and these devices will become mainstream just like iPods.

Dr Herbie
Horses for courses

In reply to leeappdalecom

#Jan 14th @ 9:15 AM

Personally, I'm holding out to see what Plastic Logic comes up with (hopefully this year).

I like the A4 form factor for reading, but we'll have to see what the price and final features are like.

Herbie

leeappdalecom
.nettter

In reply to Dr Herbie

#Jan 14th @ 10:46 AM

A4 seems a bit big for me, one of the the good things about this is it fits in my coat pocket Smiley

CannotResolveSymbol
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In reply to Bas

#Jan 12th @ 4:42 AM

I took the liberty of adding the link to your e-book page to the Wiki front page... figured it needed to be accessible from somewhere as it looks like a pretty useful list.

La Bomba
Boing!

Why did you choose this version over the newer touch screen version? Besides price?

Ion Todirel
buuu

http://thinking-forth.sourceforge.net/

Yggdrasil said:
I think the main difference between the Sony Reader and a PDA is that the Reader uses a e-ink display, rather than LCD. This makes extended reading drastically different.

and black and white Tongue Out