Book or PDF?

[Li Kao]

Why only PDF? Why not ePub or mobi format? PDF is far too limited for ebook readers; the layout is static, unlike the other formats.

Kirk, is there a good book format for HTML?

Thanks.

Not sure what you mean. ePub is basically html+css+images in a zip file with a bit of meta data. (If I recall correctly it defines a subset of xhtml1.0 and css 2.x but it has been a while since I read the spec).

[RobertJasiek]

Funny thing is: Today I checked a German law (Buchpreisbindungsgesetz) to see if I MAY set different prices for book and PDF at all. Germany, you know...! But actually I am lucky: If the book is written in a foreign language (English!) and aimed mostly for the non-German market (sure!), then Buchpreisbindung (fixed price for all forms of a book) does not apply. Now that is really good because the same price for a printed and an electronic books does not make much sense: production costs differ extremely!

[Li Kao]

Funny thing is: Today I checked a German law (Buchpreisbindungsgesetz) to see if I MAY set different prices for book and PDF at all. Germany, you know...! But actually I am lucky: If the book is written in a foreign language (English!) and aimed mostly for the non-German market (sure!), then Buchpreisbindung (fixed price for all forms of a book) does not apply. Now that is really good because the same price for a printed and an electronic books does not make much sense: production costs differ extremely!

IANAL, but my understanding is that the Buchpreisbindung only applies to books of one edition. So you can offer an ebook with a different price than the printed edition, just like paperback can have a different price from a hardcover.

[RobertJasiek]

Softcover - hardcover can have different prices. But current predominating interpretation of the law is that ebooks are just another variation (not: edition) of the same book, so it would have to have either the soft- or the hardcover's price:) Different editions (much altered contents) are possible but circumventing the law for its own sake is not ok. After 18 months after a publication, a publisher gets more freedom.

[Xyiana]

Some PDF readers are with reflow feature.

I prefer paper book + smartgo book together

[oren]

Isn't a book cheaper, easier, of higher quality and more lasting value?

Well, I've printed the Kiseido Digital Bookshelf and don't mind it. Whether the book is cheaper than pdf depends on publisher. For the bookshelf, it's cheaper to get the pdfs even if you could get the books.

[kirkmc]

Isn't a book cheaper, easier, of higher quality and more lasting value?

Well, I've printed the Kiseido Digital Bookshelf and don't mind it. Whether the book is cheaper than pdf depends on publisher. For the bookshelf, it's cheaper to get the pdfs even if you could get the books.

It's worth noting that the Kiseido books work well on devices like tablets because of the small page size. Robert, you might want to consider that; the page size, and the font size, of your first book are not as small.

[Chew Terr]

I bought your first book, which I likely wouldn't have done in PDF unless it was significantly cheaper.

[Bill Spight]

Why only PDF? Why not ePub or mobi format? PDF is far too limited for ebook readers; the layout is static, unlike the other formats.

Kirk, is there a good book format for HTML?

Thanks.

Not sure what you mean. ePub is basically html+css+images in a zip file with a bit of meta data. (If I recall correctly it defines a subset of xhtml1.0 and css 2.x but it has been a while since I read the spec).

What I have in mind are two things. First, the ability to click on a link, so that reading is not necessarily linear. Second, the ability to have pop-up windows for such things as definitions, short examples, or footnotes.

[RobertJasiek]

the page size, and the font size, of your first book are not as small.

Page size I am writing on A5 to keep the option of printing a book. Big font is 11 pt, example comments maybe again 10, diagram captions 9. I have chosen a different stone diameter though to make reading diagrams in PDFs easier.

I am not sure with what you compare "not as small". Aren't Kiseido books typically of about the same size? Some Ishi Press books were significantly smaller - so small that I would have to double numbers of pages, which is impossible for printing:)

[logan]

Robert, thank-you for the options.

Nowadays I purchase digital copies whenever possible, so this is the format I would purchase your book in. As for digital format, I think that beginning with .pdf is a good start--perhaps you can add some more options as time permits. And for the price of a digital copy, please choose whichever amount you think is fair to yourself and buyers. I trust your judgement. Good luck : )

[hyperpape]

I think SmartGo books are settling on a cheaper price than paper equivalents, or at least some are. The Go Consultants is $7.99, Killer of Go is $9.99, The Heart of Go Series are $8.99/9.99 (vs. up to $27 in print!).

[RobertJasiek]

The more I think about ePub and dynamic fonts the less I like it. It means that the author cannot show related and comparing information (like correct versus failure diagram) in the same row, unless he prohibits free text flow and introduces static elements again. IOW, 7" tablets or, ugh, smartphones are not the best choice for reading quality books.

[CnP]

I'd probably buy the pdf if it was cheaper - for me there's more of a risk it won't get read as a pdf so I would want a paper copy of I were paying the 'full' price. That said I'd be more likely to buy that pdf as an impulse buy since you get it instantly.

edit: I picked other, because I'd prefer both but paying less for the pdf.

[RobertJasiek]

a risk it won't get read as a pdf

The risk is very low for PDF/A or PDF with a similarly basic file format functionality. If there is still any problem, then changing the PDF viewer (or updating it) and getting one without major bugs is easy enough. I have seen some PDF viewers having problems with Japanese fonts (unicode?) or interactive contents outside the PDF/A scope.