The Ubuntu community has contributed 13963 ideas, 66846 comments, 1291785 votes
Idea
#9287: eBook Repository and browser
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Written by technosaurus the 30 May 08 at 22:53.
Category: Education.
Related to:
Nothing/Others.
Status: New
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Description
Add a repository for creative commons / public domain / "free" ebooks.
Could be used for:
Ubuntu documentation
Project Gutenberg
Wikibooks
...and many more
The ebooks would simply go to a folder called ebooks (and a categorized sub folder if specified). A simple launcher in "Places" would provide access via Nautilus for browsing capability (using thumbnail views of ebook file types)
This would provide great benefit to Edubuntu users in particular due to the availability of classic literature in Project Gutenberg and the textbooks from wikibooks.
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Comments
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bert.ubuntu wrote on the 30 May 08 at 23:39
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I don't think it's Ubuntu's busyness but I agree with this idea because it would be very good to search free books just the way we search free software.
That idea could contribute to Ubuntu's marketing putting it as an education defender in partnership with the Gutemberg project, for example.
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JYC wrote on the 31 May 08 at 05:12
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I don't think we need a repo to mirror all the books on Project Gutenberg's page already. Why not just make a special installer program? I know, let's make the installer *BROWSE* thru the Project Gutenberg website! Let's call it a browser!
All kidding aside, making a special installer program that would download the books from the Project Gutenberg website (or have a mirror under Ubuntu's domain) would be much more time- and space-saving than having a repo (which would be larger than having compressed text files, because .deb files have all that extra info).
Plus, repos are typically used for apps and stuff that need to be periodically updated.
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bert.ubuntu wrote on the 31 May 08 at 16:23
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I think technosaurus is not restricting his idea to Gutemberg... it was just an example.And what is he problem about continuously upgrading the books or leaving them static ?
The difference it would make is that we could search locally for books in the same way we do for software. Easy to search an install is really what makes the difference in Debian for many people btw.
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jhoger wrote on the 31 May 08 at 17:02
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Why would this be better than a web site that indexes and allows downloading of free eBooks (which there are a few around)?
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technosaurus wrote on the 4 Jun 08 at 03:52
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Having ebooks in a repository would allow us to easily browse and select several ebooks at a time such as for an Edubuntu classroom or a library setting with LTSP thin client kiosks.
The classic literature (such as those found in project Gutenberg) could be pretty much static, whereas wiki-textbooks could be maintained with current upstream updates roughly twice a year or so.
Writing a whole separate program to browse one of the many sources of ebooks would exclude the others, whereas writing a script to package them would be just as easy if not easier, with the added bonus of single-source, easy browsing and compression (more than makes up for all the DEB stuff)
Readily available and easily browsable ebooks would also be an outstanding enhancement to the Ubuntu mobile edition, since these types of devices typically make great ebook readers.
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JYC wrote on the 4 Jun 08 at 05:25
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I should really emphasize my last point.
Repos are for stuff that ARE PERIODICALLY UPDATED! If you have a large cache of debian packages...sure, it's about the same thing, but you don't have a thousand machines checking this repo for upgrades (which there aren't) every day. Seriously, repos are for documentation at most.
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mohbana wrote on the 9 Jun 08 at 00:03
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Nice idea.
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kingtermite wrote on the 18 Jun 08 at 18:35
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This idea caught my attention. I've a software engineer who's recently moved to Ubuntu and been looking to write some software. I think this idea has struck me well, although maybe not totally in the way you wish (hope so).
I think I'm going to try this task (or something similar). I work full-time and have limited time to work on things, so don't expect something next week. ;)
My idea is more of an eBook/Project Gutenburg browser/reader. It goes along with a generic idea I've had for YEARS. I'd like to set it up so that you can browse Project Gutenburg (or possibly other website). You can read book on the screen (try to make it "easy on the eyes") or save it locally in such a way the program will let you keep bookmarks and notes.
If you have any questions or suggestion, please send them to me. king underscore termite [%AT%] hotmail *$dot$* com
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