Which Electronic Publishing Format Is Best for Me?
by Eva ALmeida of
eBook Basics
I get asked this question often and my reply is usually
"Why limit yourself to one?" As many experienced epublishers
have discovered, it is a preferred business practice to offer
their customers as many different formats as possible.
Two extremely popular formats are HTML and PDF since
both are readable by PC and MacOS computers. The reader
can either access a password-protected directory of your
website and read online in HTML (or from a CD-Rom or
Floppy) or download the PDF files and read using Adobe
Reader (which most computers have now and it is free to
download.) An excellent site on PDF is at
http://www.planetpdf.com
HTML Compilers, or ebook compilers (as I call them) basically
gather up all the files in a directory (usually html,
images, etc.) and compile them into an .exe format.
When the reader clicks on the program, the ebook
executes the file and the reader can read right on their
browser.
Disadvantages include the fear of viruses since they are
possible in .exe formats but not .pdf files. Other problems
can occur if hackers are able to crack your passwords
or even compatibility issues with different browsers due to
faulty HTML coding. Despite its downfalls, compiled ebooks
are becoming more and more popular and I have hundreds of
visitors downloading primarily .exe files at free-ebooks.net
I do check 95% of the ebooks submitted for viruses there
and have never detected on in an ebook, but it is possible.
If you are thinking of using the .exe format, you may want
to check http://www.ebookcompilers.com for reviews of the
different compilers available and their features such as
the ability to set a time limit on the ebook for trial
downloads. I am definitely a supporter of the .exe
format but remember that the reader needs to have a
Internet Explorer installed for most compilers on the
market (with the exception of a few such as WebExe
and HTML2EXE)
Other formats that are cropping up include .lit files
for the Microsoft Reader supported by Amazon.com and
Barnes&Noble. If you plan to publish .lit files,
you should check http://www.overdrive.com soon since
they offer the writer software now for $69.00 instead
of $149.00 for this holiday season only.
PocketPCPress.com
publishes all of it ebooks
exclusively for the Microsoft Reader, so if you need any
pointers, email Doug Clapp -- He mentioned to me that they
also accept manuscripts -
http://www.pocketpcpress.com
There are other formats for ebook reading devices
such as the REB1100 (using RocketWriter software at
http://www.rocketebook.com/RocketWriter/ ) and Palm
handhelds. The former is supported by Barnes and Noble,
so it may be a way to increase your online exposure by
publishing in this format, if you have requests for it.
Formatting for Palm handhelds using PDB files doesn't
seem to be as popular unless you are giving away your
ebook for free. One of the eauthors that I contacted
said that in an informal survey that he conducted --
PDB files to be the least requested unless used for free
ebooks. Visit
http://www.peanutpress.com for information
on publishing in PDB or
http://www.mobipocket.com
Well, this just gives you a rough idea of
the many
formats available for publishing your ebook... there
are other possibilities such as flashbooks and much
more on the horizon.
Online since 1998, Eva's
online expertise is electronic books or ebooks. In fact, she is the brains
behind the all-in-one, ebook tutorial package,
eBook Basics.
eBook
Basics,the
complete ebook publishing solution including a selection of informative
videos, ebooks, software, cover art templates and tutorials to make your
publishing efforts a breeze and write the ebook you have
always wanted to publish. Today is your day to be a self-published author!
