The complete Ebook Software guide

The complete Ebook Software guide

I had a lot of problems getting the right ebook reader, along with their download locations. Here is a list I have compiled which might help you guys –

Readers
· Microsoft Reader
Available from Microsoft, this remains the best option for books to be read. To convert txt files to this format, use the MS Word RMR plugin. You also get secure lit files for copywritten work. However, this can support only .lit files.

Type - Freeware
Environments – PC and PocketPC
Website - http://www.microsoft.com/reader/default.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/ppc.asp
Rating – 8/10

· Ice Book Reader Professional
Great Software! With support for almost every kind of book type you can think of, and a database to match. Other than the Microsoft reader, this is the easiest to read.

Type – Trialware – A few limitations, but should be sufficient for all.
Environments – PC
Website - http://www.ice-graphics.com/ICEReader/DownloadE.html
Rating – 8.5/10

· Adobe Acrobat Reader
Reads pdfs and nothing else. Very large, and slow. Even the pocketPC version is 13MB in size.
Type – Freeware
Environments - PC and PocketPC
Website - http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readerforppc.html
Rating – 5/10

· Foxit Reader
Reads pdfs and nothing else. Not too large, and quite fast. However, there are observed inconsistencies in the display.

Type – Freeware
Environments - PC
Website - http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php
Rating – 5.5/10

· yBook – The paperback Emulator.
When you load a book, you will find that yBook will format each one, and only then display it before you. Almost every change you make will result in a more polished ebook. It may take some time to get used to this. It could do with a library as well, though.

Type – Freeware
Environments - PC
Website - http://www.spacejock.com/yBook.html
Rating – 8/10

· uBook
Run of the mill stuff.

Type – Nagware/Trial – nags user, as well as stops autoscrolling
Environments – PC and PocketPC
Website - http://www.gowerpoint.com/
Rating – 6/10

· Mobipocket Reader
Generally pretty decent reader, although for some reason, I have not liked it as much as others

Environments – PC and PocketPC
Website - http://www.mobipocket.com/
Rating – 7/10

One which is missing is the pdb reader (or a reader for palm books). I have not read any books in this format, so don’t really know much about it. Ice reader can reader pdb files.

Book Sorters and Renamers

· vBookSorter – By Vadi

This is simply the best, nothing compares to it at all. Once you have set it up correctly, you will find it almost instinctively doing things which you always wished some software would. Renaming, removing underscores, automatic sorting, Series and a lot more. Vadi, good work!

Type – Freeware
Environments – PC
Website - http://www.geocities.com/vangelis_df/vBookSorter/vBookSorter.html
Rating – 9.5/10