Kalahari net introduce cross platform ereader software:

The large South African online book sellers, kalahari – have produced a software packet to enable  one to buy ebooks from them.   Whilst this software, which is free, makes use of Adobe Air, which is sort of like Amazon’s Whisper Air system, which allows you to synchronise your ereading over several devices, I am still a bit at a loss to know why they chose to go this route, rather than simply to sell ebooks on line in the more normal way.

Anyhow, they have done this, and it works with both Macs and Windows based machines – bad luck for you who use Linux, but such is life.

Basically you download and install the software on your computer, organise your Adobe ID (so you can read DRM protected ebooks) on up to three devices and off you go.

This software works with either PDF or ePub, so you are OK for most ebooks, the others you can convert with Caliber of course.

The whole process is as I describe it here:

1) Users need to download the kalahari.net reader for either Mac or PC. While this is a fairly simple task to accomplish, be aware that you will need an Adobe ID to install it. Once your computer is authorised, then you will be able to download your eBooks to a maximum of three different devices.

2) There are two different ways to browse for the eBooks that you want to purchase. When visiting kalahari.net, click on the eBooks tab to gain access to the complete library of available eBooks. Alternatively, you can browse the regular Kalahari.net bookstore and look out for the product description which reads “also available as an eBook.” By clicking that link, you will be re-directed to the eBook shop, where you can proceed to the checkout and purchase the title.

3) Once payment has been successfully completed, users will need to navigate to the “Library Box” section, from where they can begin to download eBooks.

4) Once you have downloaded the eBook, then you can save it to the device which you will be reading it on. According to kalahari.net, “if you connect an eReading device to your computer, the kalahari.net Reader will detect that it’s connected, and will show the documents on that device in a new Bookshelf”.

So, that is not too complex I suppose, much as one has to do with most ereaders, with the possible exception of the Kindle and iPad.

Now watch the video:

Kalahari have taken the trouble to place a video showing how this all works on Youtube, so you can now watch it and form your own opinion as to whether you feel this is a  useful way for you to purchase and organise your ebooks…..

In fact this is good news for South Africans, as it opens up the possibility to buy books locally that are cheaper than paper books normally are in South Africa, and for this reason, if no other is to be applauded, but I am still puzzled at the method they have chosen to do this……

Link:   http://www.kalahari.net/help/ebooks.aspx#step1

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