Microsoft Free eBooks

alz · 07-07-03, 02:59 PM

Found on techbargans.com:

Microsoft is giving out three free e-books each week through November. Requires their free reader and free activation (Requires a Passport account) Some good titles are promised from authors like Amy Tan

alz

07-07-03, 05:07 PM

Just did the update to Reader and downloaded a couple. Works great!

07-07-03, 05:47 PM

The promo is running for like 26 weeks. And it's supposed to be popular authors, too. I did see on the website that you cannot download ebooks from a previous week. So if you think there is a chance you want to read any of the titles, download them as they come out.

07-07-03, 06:00 PM

They're running the free Ebook campaign for 20 Weeks. Just thought I'd clarify.

I started reading one of this weeks offerings called [U]A Short History of Nearly Everything[/U] . It's profound and working out to be the best thing I've read all year.

The worst thing I've read all year: Michael Crichton's [U]Prey[/U]. That book was two scoops of poop.

CSharpMajor · 07-07-03, 06:15 PM

Thanks for the great tip. Good to have a good "book" during the summer.

shdytxmn · 07-07-03, 07:32 PM

[QUOTE]A Short History of Nearly Everything [/QUOTE]

Really a cool book!

07-07-03, 08:00 PM

jahloysius: i agree w ur observations about crichton's prey. he is slacking, it doesnt even compare with timeline or sphere. (but notice that crichton really just subscribe to the maxim of stealing from the best. you get the eerie feeling that he is just updating classics by adding a sprinkling of technobabble:hide: :hide:

edbro · 07-07-03, 10:20 PM

Want next weeks books today? Here are the links.

[url]http://12.149.108.82/Authenticate.Asp?Id=179&Book=Luck[/url]
[url]http://12.149.108.82/Authenticate.Asp?Id=179&Book=Sinister[/url]
[url]http://12.149.108.82/Authenticate.Asp?Id=179&Book=Shorty[/url]

These will get you; The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Sinister Pig by Jospeh Hellerman, and Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard.

You're very welcome:cool:

Ted Mozer · 07-07-03, 10:57 PM

I downloaded and installed the current versions of Reader to my Axim and the PC it is Active Sync'ed to. I have a .NET Passport. No matter what I do (including following the instructions on the site about deleting cookies) I can not activate either version of reader and, thus, not download any of the "free" ebooks.

Any suggestions??

I will try from my notebook tomorrow (since it is sitting at work).

CSharpMajor · 07-07-03, 11:35 PM

Thanks, Edbro for the links for next weeks! Ted Mozer, I'm having half of your problem. I get the books downloaded, and I can see them on my desktop. I've copied them to my Axim, but my Axim won't open them. Argh.

edbro · 07-08-03, 12:00 AM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by CSharpMajor [/i]
[B]Thanks, Edbro for the links for next weeks! Ted Mozer, I'm having half of your problem. I get the books downloaded, and I can see them on my desktop. I've copied them to my Axim, but my Axim won't open them. Argh. [/B][/QUOTE]

Have you updated the Reader on your PPC? Have you placed the books in your "My Documents" folder, or a subfolder of My Docs?

Now I have a question. Can the books be downloaded without having the PC version of MS Reader installed? I don't want it on my computer but when I deleted it, I could no longer download the books, even though I have the reader activated on my Axim.

viviank · 07-08-03, 01:22 AM

Yeah, I have the same problem as edbro. I could download the special ebooks only when I had the PC version of eReader, but as soon as I deleted it, the website doesn't recognize that I have the latest version of the PPC version on my Axim. But the website
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/reader/promotions/free_shop.asp[/url] specifically says to install and activate "your computer and/or Pocket PC"

Mythos · 07-08-03, 08:25 AM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Ted Mozer [/i]
[B]I downloaded and installed the current versions of Reader to my Axim and the PC it is Active Sync'ed to. I have a .NET Passport. No matter what I do (including following the instructions on the site about deleting cookies) I can not activate either version of reader and, thus, not download any of the "free" ebooks.

Any suggestions??

I will try from my notebook tomorrow (since it is sitting at work). [/B][/QUOTE]
I had similar problems to activate. When loggin in to passort I was sent right back to the login page. When I signed out of passport and deleted all cookies I finally made it work.
Hope this helps.

pawolf · 07-08-03, 08:41 AM

After reading the above I have to smirk a small smile and wonder why
1 - People go thru this just to fetch a "free" book
2 - Why they wouldn't prefer a hardcopy and
3 - if they insist on ebooks why not truely free from Proj Gutenburg or BlackMask?

07-08-03, 09:29 AM

are you installing the FULL version of the update....if you are updating the PPC...there are two versions to choose from.:

If you are running PPC2002, you need to download the FULL version of the update.

If you are running PPC2003, you need to download the smaller file of the update.

If you have downloaded the correct version of the update, then I don't know what the problem could be (?).