Pocket PC eBooks Watch - eBook and beyond  
 http://cebooks.blogspot.com 

Admit IT duh!
Forecasts of an E-Book Era Were, It Seems, Premature
One problem is that technical snags have prevented millions of users of hand-held personal computers operating Microsoft software from being able to read most publishers' electronic books. Book publishers are counting on the portable computer as a more appealing way to read than the screen of a desktop PC. [Contrary to what Jeff Blackburn's, the so called Amazon Multimedia director, believes that most people will read on Desktop PC (stated in his email on eBooks opening day)]. But after watching the music industry's piracy problems, book publishers insisted that Microsoft add to its software for reading electronic books much stronger safeguards against unauthorized copying than today's hand-held personal computers can accommodate.
As a result, hand-held computers using this software cannot display most publishers' books. (Devices using the Palm software can, making them the most popular way to read electronic books, despite eye-strain from their diminutive screens.) [You can read Palm ebook in Pocket PC using Palm Reader which can be downloaded via PeanutPress.com]
What is more, the most common place for using the device is not on the road but in bed, where two-thirds of customers use it. Mr. Arland said the most popular attribute of the devices was the back-lit screen, qualifying them as an expensive alternative to small lamps for reading in the dark while a mate sleeps.

posted by Jerry permanent link