Comments on: Most Important Post 4: Kindle as Publishing Platform

By: Tom Colvin

Tom Colvin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:53:16 +0000

Just discovered a clever and information video comparing the Kindle 2 and the Sony E-Reader from CNET. Go to: http://cnettv.cnet.com/2001-1_53-50005463.html?tag=nl.e415

By: Sébastien B.

Sébastien B. — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:42:54 +0000

To answer your question: Yes, CbC works with SoftOffice TextMaker (while it still need MS Word installed).
I’m not sure TextMaker is that popular, at least in France. Everybody tends to use either Word (on the main computer) and OpenOffice (on other secondary computers, to limit the global cost on MS products).

By: Sébastien B.

Sébastien B. — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:32:37 +0000

Can’t wait reading what’s next. I’m always delighted by your posts Tom. Thank you for putting so much efforts to the benefit of the community.

Chapter by Chapter now accepts “alternate editors”, like Open Office. But MS Word is still mandatory for some operations (gathering the docs in one doc file, etc.). So, don’t expect using CbC without MS Word installed…

Sébastien

By: Tom Colvin

Tom Colvin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:54:22 +0000

Sebastien, I actually agree with your three points. But there’s more to the story, which I will post sometime this week.

On another topic, I’m pleased to see that Chapter By Chapter now works with Open Office. Any possibility of compatibility with Softmaker Office, which I understand is very popular in Europe? I’m using it from time to time and like it.

By: Sébastien B.

Sébastien B. — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:42:51 +0000

Hello Tom,

I don’t share your views about ebooks. My comments below:

1) A text is short or is printed:
I think ebooks are ideal for short articles, newspaper, sports, politics, etc, but – as for me – it can’t replace a novel. I don’t know anyone (even in the youngest friends of mine) having read more than 10 pages in an ebook. At the office, when a document is too long to read, it’s printed. Period. And all those who are doing so are below 30. So, that’s not the old school behavior. In fact, ebooks are like texts on the internet: I wouldn’t print them if they are too long.

2) The endless irrational attachment to paper:
But the most crucial point against ebook is elsewhere: the relationship we have to paper is insanely irrational. Especially for readers. Huge readers can’t imagine to read on anything but on paper. Maybe this can change over time, but as long as kids learn at school with printed book, and raise themselves to reading and literature via real books, I wouldn’t give a buck to ebooks future…
In other words, I strongly feel that ebooks are condemned because paper is simply perfect to readers. And you can’t replace anything once you’re in heaven.

3) Uploading is burying:
Finally, sorry to say so, but the publishing platform of ebooks is simply a non-sense (in your post, this is done via Kindle, but that’s the common tale of self-publishing when a new support comes in). Publishing is all about selection, that’s not a media question. Once everyone has his two or three novels on Kindle, Amazon will do what they do on the main webstore: select the novels in the frontpage. This would be the new hope of authors: getting lost on a portal and *hope* that word-of-mouth will bubble up them to the homepage. Tomorrow, you won’t just upload your books there, you will bury them there.

Sébastien B.