Enhanced eBooks -- Penguin Style

Penguin's much vaunted enhanced eBook version of Pride and Prejudice was released last week.  I am so appalled by stupidity exhibited here that I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record on the subject -- major publishers evidently don't get it!  I mean, they REALLY don't get it!

Here is Penguin's idea of an enhanced eBook :

• The text is linked to a little over 300 notes at the end of the book.  Notes like this: The name of this estate is a clue to its extent.  A "park" is the landscaped grounds surrounding a stately house, grounds that could be quite extensive.
• To read these notes you must bookmark your place in the text click through to the note and then fumble around with the bookmark feature to get back to where you were.  And all that hassle for a gem like:  The name of this estate is a clue to its extent.  A "park" is the landscaped grounds surrounding a stately house, grounds that could be quite extensive.
• The first enhancement is a guide to how to navigate the enhanced version.  Any enhancement that need 3 pages to explain how to use it, needs to seriously be rethought!
• Filmography -- lots of words describing films.  How dumb is that?  Not a link in site.  Not a graphic in site, never mind a video clip.
• 19th Century Reviews -- more words giving opinions about this book from long dead white guys reviewing it
• Chronology -- a dated tour through Jane Austin's life.  Wikipedia does a better job.
• What Austen Ate -- recipes for dreadful English food; no pictures and no links
• How to Prepare Tea -- Oh goody!!
• Austen sites to visit in England -- a flat line drawing map with a few words about the towns involved. 
• Map of sites in the novel -- more lines and words.  No color no variation!  What about Google Earth for at least a little color?
• Behaving your self -- etiquette and dancing.  Very useful!
• Illustrations of Home Decor, Architecture and Transportation -- WOW!  Finally something graphic.  Don't hold your breath for anything interesting!  The only color on any page is the red letters used to explain the illustrations.

Unbelievable!!!  No color except on the cover and as a way to rub in the lack of color in the illustrations.  No video -- You Tube has over 2000 pieces of video about Jane Austen.  And 2200 videos on how to make tea.  No sound -- not even a sample of the dance music.

What makes me want to cry is the monumental inability of a mainstream publisher to think beyond paper and the idea that an eBook is only another way to represent paper. 

I am beginning to wonder if it's a plot to kill eBooks.  You know, make the most awful example you can of a digital book.  Present it as something enhanced and wonderful.  Give the people the idea that eBooks are necessarily stupid, boring and hard to use. 

Can you think of a better way to kill eBooks?

del.icio.us Tags: ebooks,e-books,penguin,enhanced ebooks,jane austen

Discounted eBooks - November 7, 2007

Music is a hot topic as we head into the Holiday season and here are two of the best eBooks on the topic; incredibly different and both entirely riveting. Catch the new Baldacci boook and the brand new eBook edition of Everlasting at a great special price. Finally, The Day I Stopped Being Pretty is one of our most requested titles ever; after reading it, I know why! Use coupoun code A7BW3 when checking out this week to receive the additional 10% discount. Happy Reading!

Slash eBook edition Slash, Hudson, Saul, Bozza, Anthony From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. It is also an intensely personal account of struggle and triumph: as Guns N' Roses journeyed to the top. . . Slash is everything the man, the myth, the legend, inspires: it's funny, honest, inspiring, jaw-dropping . . . and, in a word, excessive. More Info List Price : $23.95 Your price $18.43 (Using your 10% discount and $ .97 points1 in eBook Reward points)

Stone Cold eBook Edition by: Baldacci, David Oliver Stone and the Camel Club are back in their most dangerous adventure yet, a war on two fronts. Casino king Jerry Bagger from The Clooectors is hunting Annabelle Conroy who conned him out of millions. Stone and his colleagues Reuben, Milton, and Caleb marshal all their resources to protect Annabelle. More Info List Price : $18.99 Your price $14.61 (Using your 10% discount and $ .77 iin eBook Reward points)

The Day I Stopped Being Pretty eBook edition by: Lofton, Rodney This raw and gritty story spans twenty-seven years as Rodney faces racism, homophobia, rape and coping with being HIV positive. It is a story that shows the face of growing up black, living gay and loving positive. . .Triumph over adversity and the ability to find the love we all search for, self love. More Info List Price : $9.99 Your price $8.54 (Using your 10% discount and $ .45 in eBook Reward points)

Everlasting eBook edition by: Woodiwiss, Kathleen E. "The first lady of the genre" (historical romance) returns with her most breathtaking masterwork to date-a glorious celebration of a secret love that is dangerous, irresistible, forbidden. . . Abrielle is betrothed to a monster. And the well-being of everyone she cares for demands that she honor her promise. More Info List Price : $19.95 Your price $15.35 (Using your 10% discount and $ .81in eBook Reward points)

MUSICOPHILIA by:Sacks, Oliver Oliver Sacks’s compassionate, compelling tales of people struggling to adapt to different neurological conditions have fundamentally changed the way we think of our own brains, and of the human experience. In Musicophilia, he examines the powers of music through the individual experiences of patients, musicians, and everyday people— More Info List Price : $17.95 Your price $13.82 (Using your 10% discount and $ .73 in eBook Reward points)

Our guarantee: If you have bought one of these titles in the last 15 days we will gladly offer you a coupon for the difference between this price and the price you paid; just contact us.

eBooks About ...

Tell us what books to discount Visit this group and make a suggestion . . .we want your comments and suggestions!