Re: Microsoft Reader... argh!
On 07/08/01 10:26:34 -0500, Andrew Perrin wrote:
> I'd like to assign a book for a class this fall that is published only in
> hardcover and in something called "Microsoft Reader" format. The MS
> Reader format is about 1/2 the price, which matters (I don't like to make
> students pay more than necessary, particularly at a public
> school.). According to Amazon, the MS Reader is available only for
> Windows. Does anyone else know about this gizmo, what the format is,
> etc? I'm not willing to let Microsoft have a monopoly on my class, so if
> in fact it's Windows-only I'll either not assign the book (and let the
> publisher know!) or make them go with the expensive hardback.
>
As a continuing student, I'm glad to hear that professors like
yourself think about students' bank accounts. Thanks!
Personally, I like to have access to a nice text with actual pages. I
can take it anywhere and not worry about hosing my PDA/eBook reader or
whatever, and I'm not be chained to my computer (although some in my
family believe that's happened ;-) ). If the eBook was in HTML or some
other format easily decipherable by other party's technologies, I'd
say go for it, but since it looks like it's MS' attempt to secure the
eBook market for itself, I would avoid purchasing/recommending it in
that format. Can you imagine a world where trees are no longer cut
down to produce paper for books (yay!), yet the only format available
is MS' (boo!)? If MS disagreed with a publisher's views, they could
yank their licensing. Scary stuff.
I would write the publisher and let them know how you feel whichever
way I went though.
Just my two pennies.
--
Mark Wagnon <mwagnon1@home.com>
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