ebook format

[king of nowhere]

I'm going to buy shadows of self ebook in a few hours, as soon as available. However, I have a concern. I have been told that (some) ebooks come in specific file formats that require specific readers to open. I don't have any dedicated program for ebooks, only adobe reader, and I am worried that I may get an ebook in a format I may not be able to open - unless I also buy expensive programs to read it. My only previous experience in ebooks comes from having bought perfect state, which gave me file in mobi and epub, at least one of whom I could open with adobe. I bought that from sanderson's store, but I cannot buy SoS from there.

Can someone ease my doubts about ebook format? Is there some specific vendor I should use for an adobe-compatible file? Or am I worrying for nothing?

Thanks.

 

P.S. I am in the european union

P.P.S. Since we're here, can you refresh me at what time exactly will the book be available? I can't seem to find the exact information

[Sera]

I don't know in which formats Shadows of Self in particular will be released. As you've seen, common ebook formats are MOBI, ePub and PDF.

 

The good news is that since you don't seem to be bound to a platform (e.g. kindle) you don't need to worry about which one of these you'll be getting, because there are various free—and very handy—programs that can read all of these formats. E.g.:

 

FBReader (Android, Windows Phone, Mac, etc): Reads .epub, .mobi, and with a (free) plugin .pdf.

 

Adobe Digital Editions (Microsoft Windows, MacOS): .epub, .pdf

 

I've used both of these in the past. FBReader, for example, allows you to build a library, has bookmarks, lets you choose font size, family, adjust page brightness and color (...).

 

There is also a free kindle app which supposedly allows you to read their DRM protected ebooks on most devices, excluding Linux I think. I'm not familiar with its latest releases, so I can't speak much about it, but that should be enough to cover Amazon releases at least.

 

P.s.: Just googled Barnes & Noble and they sell the "Nook book" edition, which seems to be either ePub or PagePerfect. (:

Edited October 4, 2015 by Sera

[+Slowswift]

Also, Amazon has a Kindle app, so if you buy it through them you can use that.

[Shardbearer he/him]

You can also preorder on Amazon and you won't have to worry about waiting until it comes out. It will download to your Kindle app (assuming you register it with your Amazon account) as soon as the book is released.