Funnily enough I mused on Kindle MOBI / AZW format re Redbooks on Twitter just now. (You can guess what I got for Xmas.) :-)
I'd like to have the discussion on how to format for Kindle with the right people. In ITSO (the Redbooks people) we use Framemaker (at a fairly ancient level) so I'm not sure whether that could be taught to emit MOBI / AZW / Epub etc. I would think Information Development (Product Manual Writers) are using something else (once was Bookmaster, which I still use myself) and I don't know what the options are. It seems to me emission of HTML is a good intermediate step. I have to say even the O'Reilly books for Kindle are of quite variable quality, formattingwise. I'd be happy to have the discussion with appropriate IBMers and customers (the latter giving us some idea of demand for mobile reading formats). Anyone? Thanks, Martin Martin Packer, Mainframe Performance Consultant, zChampion Worldwide Banking Center of Excellence, IBM +44-7802-245-584 email: martin_pac...@uk.ibm.com Twitter / Facebook IDs: MartinPacker Blog: https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/blogs/MartinPacker From: John McKown <joa...@swbell.net> To: IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu, Date: 01/01/2012 16:17 Subject: IBM manual formats Sent by: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu> I like having IBM manuals be readable in electronic form. Personally, I prefer using the Web and BookManager format over PDF. But I cannot easily download those and view them offline. On the other hand, the PDF manuals are a royal PITA to me, except on my Kindle DX. Which is why I have a Kindle DX. They are a PITA because PDFs are formatted as a portrait mode, letter (or maybe A4) sized page. And since many of the manuals are two column, that means paging up and down while switching sides to read. The problem with the BookManager format, in addition to the "not offline", is that I sometimes cannot read the diagrams. They aren't formatted correctly. Now, one of my favorite magazines has gone "digital only". I have an Android app on my Xoom tablet which displays their magazine like a regular magazine - letter sized portrait. HOWEVER, they also have .mobi and .epub formats for reading on cell phones and other devices. I am wondering how difficult it would be for IBM to publish their manuals in .mobi or .epub format. This would make them much more readable on cell phones or other media such a the newer Kindles or Nook ebook reader. It would even help on netbooks, laptops, and desktop as it wouldn't force the letter sized pages onto a device which cannot render them nicely. Just a thought. -- John McKown Maranatha! <>< ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN Unless stated otherwise above: IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and Wales with number 741598. Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3AU ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
