Peter Rukavina has a new e-book reader. No, it’s not an iPad, or a Kindle. It’s not a Kobo, or a Sony Reader. Rather, Peter’s new ebook reader is a human being named Shawn, who runs a local copy shop. On his blog, Peter outlines his e-reading solution:
- Find book in Google Books.
- Download PDF.
- Email PDF to Shawn.
- Pick up printed and bound copy of book at Kwik Kopy a few hours later.
Last week, Nora talked to Peter about combining the best of ebooks and the best of printed books. A shorter version of this interview will air on an upcoming episode of Spark, but you can hear the full, uncut interview below, or download the MP3. [runs 9:02]
Play audio:
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This afternoon I heard a Sparc staffer (Dan Misener?) on CBC Halifax Radio 1's Mainstreet describing the march of e-textbooks into university classrooms. My blood ran cold when he said how the new model was a license to have the text on an iPod or similar for about 40% off the cost of a real book, but with the license ***expiring at the end of the class***. I can imagine where this is going. You don't take the course without an approved license for the course e-textbook. Digital Rights Management (DRM) has just landed the ultimate cash cow into the laps of English Lit 1001.
Peter's PDF to paper solution is wonderful, but if the Academy imposes a DRM-friendly solution on its consumers then there will be no escape for students needing credentials. We who just want to read will still be free, but for how long?
Hi, John. Indeed, my tech column this week was about e-textbooks and e-textbook piracy. The service I mentioned is called CouseSmart, which is a partnership between the big five textbook publishers in North America. Their e-textbooks are time limited. Most of the books I saw have 180-day time limits, like this one: http://www.coursesmart.com/9780534647278
Awesome! I haven't gotten behind the whole ebook reader thing. I still love paper. I put some ebooks on my iPod and it's less than ideal. What a great low tech way!
I don't own a reader, but have been reading e-books for nearly 10 years. Started reading on my laptop, then on my Palm Pilot. Still read on my laptop and netbook, and now on my Blackberry. I love reading on the BB because I don't have to remember to stick a special device in my purse–my BB is always in my pocket. Paper is fine, but for ecological reasons should be reserved for special applications.
Do you use an app with the BB? I got the Kobo app for mine, but I haven't tried it out yet.
I turn pages on my kindle generally with the tip of my nose when I am lying down. (and given that I read in bed, this is most of the time)
Good point Patrick. I see people putting their e-readers away when the flight takes off and lands, but I keep my books out.
I'd read books on a e-thing if they
came up with an app to make it smell
like it came from a used book store.
Nora mentioned she plays music on her eyeglasses, is that right?
I would get an ereader if they played books like Tom Cruise's glasses
in MI2 where he could see video superimposed on his vision.
Then, streaming like subtitles at the Opera, I could read
at every 'idle' moment, at traffic lights and boring meetings
and it'd make dog walks less risky.