Resolved Weird (duplicate) Books issue...

[PinkyMacGodess]

I can't figure this one out. I mean, Harlan Ellison goes and dies, and I was looking for a book by him, and found these...

Are ALL of these the same book? They seem like it. Weird, isn't it...



It was a cracking good episode of Star Trek, but I don't need 5 ebooks of the same thing. Good grief...

 

[Rafterman]

I can't figure this one out. I mean, Harlan Ellison goes and dies, and I was looking for a book by him, and found these...

Are ALL of these the same book? They seem like it. Weird, isn't it...

View attachment 1858546

It was a cracking good episode of Star Trek, but I don't need 5 ebooks of the same thing. Good grief...

Probably different publishers releasing the same book. Happens a lot, especially with older books.

 

[rui no onna]

I can't figure this one out. I mean, Harlan Ellison goes and dies, and I was looking for a book by him, and found these...

Are ALL of these the same book? They seem like it. Weird, isn't it...

View attachment 1858546

It was a cracking good episode of Star Trek, but I don't need 5 ebooks of the same thing. Good grief...

Looks like 5-issues. The issue numbers are on the top right corner. Possibly comics? I know IDW publishes comics.

 

[wilberforce]

It is chopped up into 5 sections. You need to buy all 5 to get the whole thing.
It annoys me when they do this, especially when they make #1 free to suck you in.
And it does appear to be comics:

Star Trek: Harlan Ellison's City on the Edge of Forever #3 (of 5)

Harlan Ellison's Hugo- and WGA Award-winning teleplay, visualized for the first time! Stranded in the past of old Earth, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock search for the focal point that altered the timestream and changed everything about the universe they knew. And once they find her, they could find t...

www.comixology.com

 

[rui no onna]

It is chopped up into 5 sections. You need to buy all 5 to get the whole thing.
It annoys me when they do this, especially when they make #1 free to suck you in.
And it does appear to be comics:

Star Trek: Harlan Ellison's City on the Edge of Forever #3 (of 5)

Harlan Ellison's Hugo- and WGA Award-winning teleplay, visualized for the first time! Stranded in the past of old Earth, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock search for the focal point that altered the timestream and changed everything about the universe they knew. And once they find her, they could find t...

www.comixology.com

That's because the original issues were released periodically. You could just buy the collected edition.

Star Trek: Harlan Ellison's City on the Edge of Forever

For the first time ever, a visual presentation of the much-discussed, unrevised, unadulterated version of Harlan Ellison's award-winning Star Trek teleplay script, "The City on the Edge of Forever!" See the story as Mr. Ellison originally intended!

www.comixology.com

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Looks like 5-issues. The issue numbers are on the top right corner. Possibly comics? I know IDW publishes comics.

NOW I see it. Yikes... I also didn't realize it was a 'comic book'. The covers don't have that 'comic book look'. DOH^2...

He was a controversial author, and sure loved the controversy, and I don't begrudge his estate to make as much money as they can, but I just wish I had looked very closer to what was going on before I bought the first one (#2) in my library. I haven't read it/looked at it, and was only going through each 'book' trying to get them to download to the Mini, which was a tedious process, and exposed everal books I don't have sequels/prequels to.

Shouldn't (is) there a way to get *everything* to automatically download to a new device? I can't tell how much 'music' I don't have yet. It was a bummer to be in an area with no wifi and sit there, getting all comfortable and ready to read, and find out there was NOTHING TO READ, and not be able to get anything on it. *sigh* I played a game, and tossed it aside, gently, and sat in a funk, defeated by the Apple Books godlike thing... ***KAHN*** Actually more like ***COOK***

 

[rui no onna]

Shouldn't (is) there a way to get *everything* to automatically download to a new device? I can't tell how much 'music' I don't have yet. It was a bummer to be in an area with no wifi and sit there, getting all comfortable and ready to read, and find out there was NOTHING TO READ, and not be able to get anything on it. *sigh* I played a game, and tossed it aside, gently, and sat in a funk, defeated by the Apple Books godlike thing... ***KAHN*** Actually more like ***COOK***

I don't use Apple Books myself. Way too restrictive and I greatly dislike the page turn animations.

I use Marvin 3/Marvin sxs (sadly abandonware) which allows me to batch download (DRM-free) EPUB files from my Dropbox account or Calibre OPDS server. Another alternative is FBReader which has a Google Drive sync option that works on both iOS and Android. Of course, non-store linked readers often require DRM-free ebooks so I have to disinfect purchased ebooks via Calibre plugins.

If you don't want to mess with disinfecting ebooks, then I find both the Kindle and Kobo apps easier to deal with for managing content than Apple Books. Caveat, due to DRM, ebook purchases are non-transferable between these different apps.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I find both the Kindle and Kobo apps easier to deal with

But is the Kindle app as brain dead as the actual device? (Random related baggage: I had an earlier version of one, but I really didn't like the interface. It just felt too clunky for me, plus it was a 'paper white', and I didn't care for the display. Call me a snob, but it wasn't worth it for me to keep it, so I gave it to my mom, who promptly declared I was her favorite offspring, pissing off the other sibs. (I also gave her an old iPod 1st gen Nano prior to that, with case, and she made the same declaration. I got an angry email from the female unit, and an angry call from the male unit over 'my attempts to win her over with expensive gadgets'. They made more money than I did, so 'guilt'?)

But anyway. Thanks. I may look into it at some point.

 

[rui no onna]

But is the Kindle app as brain dead as the actual device? (Random related baggage: I had an earlier version of one, but I really didn't like the interface. It just felt too clunky for me, plus it was a 'paper white', and I didn't care for the display.

The issues with the Kindle UI are it has a super slow processor and e-ink refresh rate is much slower than LCD—basically, the reasons Kindles get really good battery life. Not sure when you bought yours but it's also been receiving regular firmware updates and the updated UI has improved quite a bit (series grouping, better filtering options, etc).

With that said, the Kindle app UI for Android and iOS is optimized for smartphones/tablets so it's not as limited/simple as the e-ink readers. Personally, I find the UI for the Kindle app better/more functional than iBooks.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Imo, Kindle App beats Apple Books hands down on the iPad - uses more of the screen, has more settings options, and the font just looks nicer. But you have to buy books on Amazon.com (can't do it through the app like you can with Apple Books). Not sure what your thoughts are on Amazon and all that but ... I moved my library to Apple Books a few years ago and haven't been terribly happy but still dealing with it. (Books are usually more expensive, massive margins especially on the iPhone and sometimes some really weird font/spacing issues).

Haven't dealt much with Kobo but I know a lot of people who like it.

I wish I had stayed with Kindle for my library years ago.

 

[rui no onna]

Imo, Kindle App beats Apple Books hands down on the iPad - uses more of the screen, has more settings options, and the font just looks nicer. But you have to buy books on Amazon.com (can't do it through the app like you can with Apple Books). Not sure what your thoughts are on Amazon and all that but ... I moved my library to Apple Books a few years ago and haven't been terribly happy but still dealing with it. (Books are usually more expensive, massive margins especially on the iPhone and sometimes some really weird font/spacing issues).

Haven't dealt much with Kobo but I know a lot of people who like it.

I wish I had stayed with Kindle for my library years ago.

One reason I don't buy books from Apple - you're completely locked down. Considering I've never owned Macs until the M1 MBA and I like to dabble with Android every now and then, the lockdown was unacceptable.

With Kindle and Kobo, apps are available on multiple platforms and I can always convert using Calibre.

 

[BigMcGuire]

One reason I don't buy books from Apple - you're completely locked down. Considering I've never owned Macs until the M1 MBA and I like to dabble with Android every now and then, the lockdown was unacceptable.

With Kindle and Kobo, apps are available on multiple platforms and I can always convert using Calibre.

Yeah, I moved my Kindle library to Apple using Calibre and an old Kindle <cough> in 2017/8. Still works today but that's only one direction. Yeah. Can't go Apple to anywhere else. Course, found that out after I had purchased a few dozen books.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Just to clarify @PinkyMacGodess - if you have an old kindle, it's easy to <cough> the DRM on Kindle books with Calibre and move them out of the Kindle ecosystem. <cough cough>.

I haven't used a Kindle as a reading device since the first 2-3 generations long long time ago. Screens too small and ui way too slow for someone who reads pretty fast. Most of my books (history) are full of color pictures and lots of text.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Yeah, I moved my Kindle library to Apple using Calibre and an old Kindle <cough> in 2017/8. Still works today but that's only one direction. Yeah. Can't go Apple to anywhere else. Course, found that out after I had purchased a few dozen books.

Hmm. And pay more for each 'book' too. I've heard of options, but never considered them. Might revisit that issue...

The Kindle was like 8-years ago. Mom's long dead (RIP) and female unit 'stole' the Kindle, but oddly returned the wifi AP setup for it for mom. Now she won't talk to me, so I guess I won in the end. Family, huh...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Just to clarify @PinkyMacGodess - if you have an old kindle, it's easy to <cough> the DRM on Kindle books and move them out of the Kindle ecosystem. <cough cough>.

I haven't used a Kindle as a reading device since the first 2-3 generations long long time ago. Screens too small and ui way too slow for someone who reads pretty fast. Most of my books (history) are full of color pictures and lots of text.

Hah, just posted the disposition, and approximate age of the Kindle in question.

Yeah, the screen looked 'muddy', and it seemed to lag, and the buttons were confusing, and the whole experience wasn't as nice as the iPad. I had thought of using it to fill with manuals and use it as a reference tablet for the business, but really never 'fell in like' with it...

So it's possible to cross load a Kindle? With what? Hmm... But given my experience with jail breaking, it'd go south in flames. It's long gone though.

I found the Wired Magazine that had the screen with that special issue really intriguing. The 'screen' was really quite nice. I can't remember where it went. I may have tried to disassemble it, but I can't find it anymore. Drat...

 

[BigMcGuire]

Hah, just posted the disposition, and approximate age of the Kindle in question.

Yeah, the screen looked 'muddy', and it seemed to lag, and the buttons were confusing, and the whole experience wasn't as nice as the iPad. I had thought of using it to fill with manuals and use it as a reference tablet for the business, but really never 'fell in like' with it...

So it's possible to cross load a Kindle? With what? Hmm... But given my experience with jail breaking, it'd go south in flames. It's long gone though.

I found the Wired Magazine that had the screen with that special issue really intriguing. The 'screen' was really quite nice. I can't remember where it went. I may have tried to disassemble it, but I can't find it anymore. Drat...

I haven't used a modern kindle so I may be the wrong person to answer this - @rui no onna probably knows... but

My old kindle can definitely be side loaded with books via Calibre. It just has to be in the format that it wants (mobi or something like that).

Anything magazines highly recommend iPad. I've been reading books on iPads since the iPad 3 - never looked back.

 

[rui no onna]

Hah, just posted the disposition, and approximate age of the Kindle in question.

Yeah, the screen looked 'muddy', and it seemed to lag, and the buttons were confusing, and the whole experience wasn't as nice as the iPad. I had thought of using it to fill with manuals and use it as a reference tablet for the business, but really never 'fell in like' with it...

So it's possible to cross load a Kindle? With what? Hmm... But given my experience with jail breaking, it'd go south in flames. It's long gone though.

I found the Wired Magazine that had the screen with that special issue really intriguing. The 'screen' was really quite nice. I can't remember where it went. I may have tried to disassemble it, but I can't find it anymore. Drat...

Buttons? All the Kindle Paperwhites only have one button (power/sleep-wake). Nowadays, Kindles are operated primarily through touchscreen except for the high end Oasis which features page turn "buttons".

Unfortunately, there's no fix for lagging and small e-ink readers are an awful fit for PDFs and other technical books with lots of images and diagrams.

Yes, it's definitely possible to sideload a Kindle. Bit of a hassle though hence why I tend to use the iPad unless I have a migraine.