 New Shadowrun fiction anthology released!, Spells & Chrome is out, with 15 new stories, one Stackpole reprint |
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 May 18 2010, 12:18 AM
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#51
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 251 Joined: 17-March 10 From: Bug City Member No.: 18,315  |
QUOTE (darthmord @ May 17 2010, 05:54 PM)  Part 1 - I'm not sinking a few hundred dollars into a dedicated book reading device. I'm a dead tree person and will be until the end. You could use your computer or cell phone.... |
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May 18 2010, 01:15 AM
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#52
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The King In Yellow Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,922 Joined: 26-February 05 From: JWD Member No.: 7,121 |
Well, computer beats pone in my book, but that's personal taste. Also, the paper will never offer the searchability of a file. There it really loses out.
Still, why epub format, not .pdf. |
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May 18 2010, 01:47 AM
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#53
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 595 Joined: 12-May 05 Member No.: 7,392 |
FWIW, I'm not here to declare the death of print, or the superiority of the electronic product. There are positives and negatives about electronic versions, but if you came to my home, you'd see that I love physical books. Just love 'em. Catalyst management people tend to feel the same way. So we're not giving up on print just yet. For print-heavy, illustration-light things like fiction, I think ePub/Kindle works better than PDF--text resizing and reflowing can improve the reading experience.
Re: Rotten Apple 2, that should include info on Brooklyn, the Bronx, and criminal syndicates in NY. Jason H. |
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May 18 2010, 06:29 AM
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#54
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Target Group: Members Posts: 45 Joined: 6-March 10 From: San Fernando Valley, PCC Member No.: 18,250 |
QUOTE (JM Hardy @ May 17 2010, 05:47 PM) <<snip>> Re: Rotten Apple 2, that should include info on Brooklyn, the Bronx, and criminal syndicates in NY. Jason H. Two, count them two books for NYC and only a partial for LaLa Land?(Corporate Enclaves) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif) We demand equal time! Grexul |
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May 18 2010, 07:04 AM
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#55
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 604 Joined: 1-December 08 From: Sacramento, California Member No.: 16,646 |
QUOTE (Grexul @ May 17 2010, 11:29 PM) Two, count them two books for NYC and only a partial for LaLa Land?(Corporate Enclaves) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif) We demand equal time! Grexul [sarcasm] Bah! You should be used to the media East Coast bias. Just don't expect it from a West Coast team. [/sarcasm] |
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May 18 2010, 10:20 AM
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#56
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 992 Joined: 2-August 06 Member No.: 9,006 |
QUOTE (Grexul @ May 18 2010, 01:29 AM) Two, count them two books for NYC and only a partial for LaLa Land?(Corporate Enclaves) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif) We demand equal time! Grexul Bah...who cares about Los Angeles? Its all about Seattle! Everywhere else is unimportant. The proof: Seattle has gotten more book time then any other city. Heck, correct me if I am wrong, but are not most of the novels set in Seattle? |
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May 18 2010, 12:37 PM
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#57
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,078 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 67 |
QUOTE (Grexul @ May 18 2010, 02:29 AM) Two, count them two books for NYC and only a partial for LaLa Land?(Corporate Enclaves) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif) We demand equal time! Well, the multiple NYC books might bring NYC close to the word count that Los Angeles got in Corp Enclaves. |
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May 18 2010, 02:36 PM
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#58
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Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,548 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 |
Let me ask, what's the inter-compatibility of different formats/devices? If I buy a "kindle" book, will it work in Adobe reader, will ePub work on those new Sony readers, etc.?
(I have been considering buying a digital reader at some point in the future, but I don't know much about them.) |
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May 18 2010, 02:59 PM
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#59
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Prime Runner Group: Retired Admins Posts: 3,929 Joined: 26-February 02 From: .ca Member No.: 51 |
ePub is a standard, open format. Therefore, it will work on many devices/piece of software, in slightly different ways. It's basically just HTML + CSS + some wrapper stuff.
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May 18 2010, 03:21 PM
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#60
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 204 Joined: 16-June 07 From: Finland Member No.: 11,928 |
QUOTE (nezumi @ May 18 2010, 05:36 PM) Let me ask, what's the inter-compatibility of different formats/devices? If I buy a "kindle" book, will it work in Adobe reader, will ePub work on those new Sony readers, etc.? (I have been considering buying a digital reader at some point in the future, but I don't know much about them.) Little to no compatibility between Kindle and other readers. Out of the box you can't read the kindle format with other readers, or open ePubs on the Kindle. There are various converters around that can get around this, though, as long as you're willing to lose some formatting. BattleCorps provides both Kindle and ePub formats with their products, as you're probably aware of. In general, Kindle supports less formats than other readers (AFAIK, without checking the facts). I have a 5" Astak EZReader Pocket Pro, which supports "20+ open formats", and I've been very happy. No wireless, but at least Big Brother won't be deleting my books without my consent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) The MobileRead Wiki has a nice comparison matrix, if you want more information. -- Oh, and I really liked the anthology! Keep the fiction coming and let the old hats have a go at it, as well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) |
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May 18 2010, 03:27 PM
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#61
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,245 Joined: 27-April 07 From: Running the streets of Southeast Virginia Member No.: 11,548 |
QUOTE (Kid Chameleon @ May 17 2010, 08:18 PM) You could use your computer or cell phone.... Current batch of smart phones are not good enough IMO. Need better tech including rollable screens. I have multiple computers & laptops. I will happily use PDFs as they are easily read and searched. That's fine for a rule book. Novels belong in dead tree and in my hands, not on a computer screen. |
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May 18 2010, 03:53 PM
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#62
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 251 Joined: 17-March 10 From: Bug City Member No.: 18,315 |
QUOTE (darthmord @ May 18 2010, 09:27 AM) Current batch of smart phones are not good enough IMO. Need better tech including rollable screens. My iPhone works really well for that. And I found it in some bar, somebody just left it there. Shaped a bit odd, but man can that thing fly.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif) |
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May 18 2010, 04:10 PM
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#63
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The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 |
iPhone . . overexpensive hipster crap . . *pats his Archos 5g*
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May 18 2010, 04:28 PM
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#64
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The King In Yellow Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,922 Joined: 26-February 05 From: JWD Member No.: 7,121 |
I fail to understand how you can read a book in letter stamp format.
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May 18 2010, 04:45 PM
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#65
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The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 |
barely . .
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May 18 2010, 04:58 PM
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#66
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 174 Joined: 16-March 10 Member No.: 18,299 |
QUOTE (hermit @ May 18 2010, 11:28 AM) I fail to understand how you can read a book in letter stamp format. Isn't that what optic augmentation is for? @=) I find it reassuring to know that if my power goes out and my cell phone battery dies, I can still read my dead-tree versions by sun, candle, or oil lamp. Though I admit the only reason I haven't gotten an e-reader is that, IMHO, the e-readers as a separate device will be out of vogue in no more than five years. E-readers will become platform independent software that can be downloaded on laptops, netbooks, tablets, PCs, and cell phones (as the user desires) and part of the This-Device-Does-It-All drive that technology seems to be evolving toward. |
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May 18 2010, 05:11 PM
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#67
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Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,548 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 |
QUOTE (Zormal @ May 18 2010, 11:21 AM) The MobileRead Wiki has a nice comparison matrix, if you want more information. Thank you! Quite handy! |
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May 18 2010, 06:20 PM
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#68
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Shadow Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 |
QUOTE (Catadmin @ May 18 2010, 05:58 PM) I find it reassuring to know that if my power goes out and my cell phone battery dies, I can still read my dead-tree versions by sun, candle, or oil lamp. Sigh. If my mobile battery dies and my power goes out, that's the only way I get enough time to read my dead-tree versions. : ( |
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May 18 2010, 07:17 PM
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#69
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 211 Joined: 26-December 08 From: Longmont, Co Member No.: 16,709 |
Just a quickie. I'm reviewing the anthology on my blog (see sig). Pretty good so far although the Dirk one was a bit irritating.
Carl |
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May 19 2010, 12:23 PM
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#70
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The King In Yellow Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,922 Joined: 26-February 05 From: JWD Member No.: 7,121 |
Continuing my little review ...
Wetwork Nice, pretty standard Shadowrun tale. Durr for the Ultramarine cybersuite, but there's been worse references already (Dead Names, I am looking at you), so meh. Not good, not bad, average. But fun enough to read. Big Jake Nice one, albeit a repetition of the "I have been hiding for so long and all my ware is obsolete but I still kick ass" theme of The Good Fight. Also average, hence, though the writing's nice. |
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May 19 2010, 02:31 PM
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#71
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 254 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,768 |
Epub is a open, completely DRM-free format. And you don't need a smartphone or dedicated reader to read it. There is, in fact, a Firefox extension that does it quite nicely, and which I found after like, 5 minutes of googling. So I can't really say I find the objections against epub valid. This and the Findley omnibus were my first experiences with epub, and I found it to be a better format for this kind of long, text-only, layout-independent books than PDF would be.
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May 19 2010, 02:44 PM
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#72
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 992 Joined: 2-August 06 Member No.: 9,006 |
QUOTE (Bira @ May 19 2010, 09:31 AM) Epub is a open, completely DRM-free format. And you don't need a smartphone or dedicated reader to read it. There is, in fact, a Firefox extension that does it quite nicely, and which I found after like, 5 minutes of googling. So I can't really say I find the objections against epub valid. This and the Findley omnibus were my first experiences with epub, and I found it to be a better format for this kind of long, text-only, layout-independent books than PDF would be. You know what is a better, DRM-free format? Dead Tree! |
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May 19 2010, 02:51 PM
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#73
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 254 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,768 |
Dead tree is usually not better for me, especially when it comes to books not already available in Brazilian stores. While I like a good paper book now and then, I'm not such a Luddite that I'd pay the outrageous shipping fees most stores charge me and wait 3+ months for delivery when there's a much cheaper and faster alternative at hand.
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May 19 2010, 02:57 PM
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#74
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 748 Joined: 22-April 07 From: Vermont Member No.: 11,507 |
QUOTE (Bira @ May 19 2010, 10:31 AM) Epub is a open, completely DRM-free format. And you don't need a smartphone or dedicated reader to read it. There is, in fact, a Firefox extension that does it quite nicely, and which I found after like, 5 minutes of googling. So I can't really say I find the objections against epub valid. This and the Findley omnibus were my first experiences with epub, and I found it to be a better format for this kind of long, text-only, layout-independent books than PDF would be. Many thanks for the info, the HTML conversion this extension creates is great for laptop reading, and ports well to my now ancient PDA.P.S. I am definitely a bibliophile–a well crafted hardcover is a work of art in itself. I prefer fiction in paperback (over hardcover), only because its more comfortable to read in bed or while traveling. Having said that, searchable versions of the other 42 Shadowrun novels would give me a wealth of background material for playing Shadowrun. |
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May 19 2010, 05:43 PM
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#75
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Prime Runner Group: Retired Admins Posts: 3,929 Joined: 26-February 02 From: .ca Member No.: 51 |
QUOTE (Cardul @ May 19 2010, 10:44 AM) You know what is a better, DRM-free format? Dead Tree! Comparing electronic vs. paper formats with an eye towards what is "better" is fine, but you can only draw a conclusion _for yourself_ or people who have exactly the same habits and needs as you do. Electronic reading formats and paper reading formats are different enough that each of them has a serious pro/con list, and anyone who thinks paper "wins" for everyone, everytime, is delusional. |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 11th March 2026 - 12:08 PM |
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