Posted by: kurtsh | May 20, 2005

TOOL: Word2002/2003 Read-in-Reader Add-in

Wow!  I didn’t even know we released this… and this has been available for over a year!

A long time ago, Word XP/2002 had a plug in available for it that enabled you to make your own eBooks in Microsoft Reader format.  This format is similar in nature to Adobe Acrobat PDF files but has the added advantages of:

  • EASILY READABLE:  Microsoft Reader is specifically designed for reading on Tablet PCs, Pocket PCs, or Laptop screens.
  • PROTECTABLE:  There are ways of controlling distribution of the content through Digital Rights Management.  You can actually "get published" by going through a eBook publisher online:  http://www.microsoft.com/reader/us/shop/publishers.asp
  • NON-EDITABLE:  There’s basically no easy way to edit the content of a Reader book.  Meanwhile, it’s quite easy to buy a copy of Acrobat these days and edit unprotected .PDF files.
  • COVERS:  Since the orientation of the format is for eBooks specifically, it has facilities that enable you to put "digital bookcovers" on the eBooks which are the graphics and text that the user first sees when they open the eBook.  This differs from just "the first page" in that it’s always presented to the reader.
  • EASY TO USE:  Creating eBooks is as easy as using Microsoft Word and pushing a button to start the wizard to create your own eBook.
  • COMMERCIAL EBOOKS:  There are tons of commercial eBooks published using Microsoft Reader.  Check them out online at Amazon.com or any of the publishers out there:  http://www.microsoft.com/reader/us/shop/default.asp#eBookstores
  • FREE!:  The add in is totally free!  How can you beat that?

Anyway, I’m stoked because the plug in used to not work in Word 2003 and it looks like they updated it last year to work with Word 2003 without any fanfare and I never knew it.  I’ve made more than my share of eBooks in the past and now… let the printing press begin again!

DOWNLOAD WORD 2003 – EBOOK MAKER:  http://www.microsoft.com/reader/developers/downloads/rmr.asp

DOWNLOAD MICROSOFT READER:
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/default.asp

 

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