DS Daily: Novelty
by JC Fletcher 
{ Dec 1st 2008 at 9:00AM }
Nintendo finally got around to showing off the UK release of their book compilation, now called 100 Classic Book Collection. Some of us are way into it, while others see it as cashing in on the public domain. If 100 Classic Book Collection hasn't already captured your attention, what features would elevate it in your estimation? Is there a certain function or interface element that would make Book Collection more useful or more tempting? Or is your disinterest simply related to the selections on the cartridge?
If you are eagerly anticipating the collection, what about it attracts you? Specific inclusions in the catalog? Something about the interface? Pure portability?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brasque @ Dec 1st 2008 10:04AM
Man, this would have saved me a small fortune during my lit. degree.
WriterFuzz @ Dec 1st 2008 10:28AM
Whilst doing my master's degree in book science, I've had a look at several e-reader type devices. Although this collection is more appealing (as it can be used on an already existing device, as opposed to having to spend a small fortune on a new one), I've never really gotten into reading books from a screen. Personally, I still prefer the feel of the actual paper.
Turbo @ Dec 1st 2008 7:09PM
Same here, especially when people thin you are playing games instead of reading.
aj @ Dec 2nd 2008 3:03AM
I like the smell of old books. I like to freebase antiquarian book shops. There was actually an article about how this specific type of mold that grows in old books can get you high. Which is.....interesting...
And if you drop a book, or spill something on it, it's no big deal. That 300$ Kindle, though, you'd better not spill coffee on that thing.
aj @ Dec 1st 2008 10:28AM
It is a total cash in on the public domain. But that doesn't make this any less awesome.
....I wish importing a game from the UK wasn't hideously expensive here in Canada. Stupid worthless loonie....
Raru @ Dec 1st 2008 10:52AM
Oh please.
Moonbooks.net an R4 or similar device, and you can
have all the public domain books you want on your DS.
Heck, with Comicbook DS and about 5 mins or less you can convert ANY PDF to be used on the DS too.
Moonbooks.net :
http://64.22.79.219/ down at the moment, will be back up soon
Do not forget
http://manybooks.net/
where you can find a mega ton of public domain
books as well as AUDIO BOOK versions
of the same public domain books, also for
FREE in mp3 format!
If anyone is curious how to get manga/comics/pdfs on to the DS Just ask.
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Dec 1st 2008 3:16PM
+1 R4
And do not forget http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page too.
Roto13 @ Dec 1st 2008 11:25AM
Nintendo Wi-Fi?
wut?
Mert @ Dec 1st 2008 2:20PM
You can download new books, the cartridge comes with space for about 20.
ecco6t9 @ Dec 1st 2008 12:35PM
It cost them about $4 to make, they'll sell it for maybe $40 yet I won't care.
Kimiko @ Dec 1st 2008 12:11PM
The Japanese version might be interesting reading practice some day.
Covarr @ Dec 1st 2008 1:07PM
It has a good selection, but I can't justify spending money on it since it's all freely available anyway. Maybe if there were a few non PD books it'd be worth it.
Wee @ Dec 1st 2008 5:50PM
Oh wow. And if I ever downloaded the rom on my R4, I would be a pirate because...?
aang1818 @ Dec 1st 2008 9:21PM
I can't see this appealing to anyone who has a library anywhere around them.
Seriously, this is a really bad idea. I can get behind games like Flash Focus, Brain Age (or I could if the handwriting/voice recognition actually worked), Crosswords, Nintendogs, and other half decent games aimed at casuals, but this is just too much. Not to mention that it will probably be almost entirely composed of stuff that can be found for free on the internet legally (such as Shakesphere). The only way this would appeal to anyone is if it were super cheap, or if someone didn't have access to a library or the internet. I'm sorry to say, but this is one of the stupidest idea I have heard from Nintendo yet.
On the other hand, I guess they are doing this because practically 0 cost will go into it, so the few morons buying it will probably get them a profit in the end.
DukeXC @ Dec 3rd 2008 1:23AM
The price, the fact that it's a product compoed of public domain books, none of those are the problem.
The problem is just that the DS isn't designed for ebooks.
I've tried the moonbooks reader on my CycloDS before, the screen quality is absolutely abysmal. The pixel count is fine for gaming, or reading short bursts of dialogue in large font, but when you squeeze down the font size enough that it's at all *useful* as an ebook reader, the font is unpleasantly aliased. This is *why* devices like the Kindle and the Sony Reader have a market - their screens are designed to emulate the look of paper, most specifically in its *readability.*