Are resources on Logos better than Amazon Kindle?
Ok, thinking about getting Logos. Also trying to decide what package to get and what add-ons. My question is this, some of the resources are cheaper through Amazon Kindle (for example the Holman Commentaries are $150 through Logos, $120 through Kindle). What's the advantages/disadvantages to using Logos and Kindle? I mean, is it better to get the resources through Logos even if they are more expensive? Better to go through Kindle, if they are cheaper?
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Hi Bill. Welcome to the Forums! [:)]
There are some resources that you will find cheaper other places. Sometimes they are cheaper in Logos. In my mind, the primary reason to get Logos resources is the ability to serendipitously discover through a search that a resource you had forgotten about has just what you need. If you have your resources spread out through 1)Kindle 2)Nook 3)PDF's ,etc., you have to go and search each of those places. WIth Logos, you do a search once and its done!
In case you weren't aware, Logos is also about to launch Vyrso, a Christian e-book store. The difference between Vyrso books and Logos books is that Logos books are more richly tagged. Vyrso books will be everything from Christian living to Novels. Vyrso books, will also be in your Logos Library. While I could care less about having Amish romance novels in my research library, I would like to have books by Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschell, Dave Ramsey, etc. that might not make it to Logos. Yes, I could purchase those books on Amazon, but if its a book I would like to use for illustrations or sermon prep, I will definitely look for it in Vyrso first.
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Bill said:
Better to go through Kindle, if they are cheaper?
They may be less expensive but I would not purchase resources in Kindle format that I can get in Logos if they are primarily used to study, which most of mine are. Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE9foAh7ZRI
Navigating even in a Bible that is in Kindle format, to me is very slow and klunky. Now there are some classic Christian books that are either free or cost 99 cents, for example Pilgrim's Progress, Of the Imitation of Christ and many other public domain works that are in Kindle or .mobi format. Reading in Kindle is a pleasure; I use Bible software for study and research.
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Hi Bill,
welcome to the forum.
Bill said:What's the advantages/disadvantages to using Logos and Kindle?
I think Alabama gave you some good ideas. For me, these are two totally different things. Kindle, other e-readers as well as PDF and websites for online reading are visualization tools - reading machines. You save paper. Logos is a research system. You may read a book on both - that's not the point. But with Logos, you will have access to a library of ressources, which are interlinked. So your commentary fill flow in parallel to a number of bible translations. When the author uses a Greek word, you'll have a number of Greek lexicons integrated just by doing the mouse-over etc. I think the best way to see this is by testing it for yourself (the Logos engine and a number of resources are free, see www.logos.com/4ways and search the Wiki for "free books" ) and maybe looking into a number of the free videos accessibkle from the wiki.
The concept of the integrated research library leads to the fact, that the more ressources you have in logos, the better. I personally bought books from Logos I already have in paper, just for the search capabilities. Others tell the same. So, if I were to see a price difference as you put it (150/120) for a resource I want/need, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Logos resource. Actually I'm contemplating to use Logos' cool new self-publishing feature "Personal Books" to transfer resources I only have in other digital formats into the Logos Library.
Hope this helps,
Mick
Have joy in the Lord!
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Hmm, could I just as well get the kindle version and use the PBB to convert it to logos version and use it with logos just the same?
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Bill said:
Hmm, could I just as well get the kindle version and use the PBB to convert it to logos version and use it with logos just the same?
I don't know about the methods to get data from a Kindle (since the Kindle exists, there are always discussions about the DRM built into the Amazon formats) and from what I read elsewhere, publishing a complete book with footnotes, references etc. may be cumbersome and time-consuming. Even if it worked technically (can't comment on licencing issues), I wouldn't invest many days for a fistful of dollars saving.
Mick
Have joy in the Lord!
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Bill said:
Ok, thinking about getting Logos. Also trying to decide what package to get and what add-ons. My question is this, some of the resources are cheaper through Amazon Kindle (for example the Holman Commentaries are $150 through Logos, $120 through Kindle). What's the advantages/disadvantages to using Logos and Kindle? I mean, is it better to get the resources through Logos even if they are more expensive? Better to go through Kindle, if they are cheaper?
It depends on your reason. If you're just planning to read a book straight through without much interest in cross refs, footnotes, etc, then finding the cheapest copy of the book is a good way to go. But if you have an interest in being able to easily read cited Scripture references, footnotes, cross references, etc, then Logos is definitely the way to go. (Note: Kindle and others do generally add footnotes, but I like Logos' implementation *much* better. Following footnotes on the Kindle or iBooks is a pain!)
For myself, I always check Logos first if the book I want is a devotional/theological/commentary/etc. Just having the tagged Scripture references makes it worth it. Add in the additional tagging and benefits with searching the resources, using them in Passage Guides, etc, and it makes sense to spend a little more money for the Logos copy.
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Bill said:
Hmm, could I just as well get the kindle version and use the PBB to convert it to logos version and use it with logos just the same?
Bill, if there is a will, there is a way. I am sure there is SOME way to do that, but it may be well beyond yours or my capabilities. I have the kindle reader and recently purchased 5-6 books that were on a .99 cent sale (some were religious, but none were available on Logos currently). I do not know where the book files are kept, what file format they are in, or how to convert them if I did. For arguments sake, lets say that you know the answers to all three of those questions. Building a "Logos" quality resource would be difficult and time consuming in PBB. Building a Vyrso quality resource, would be much more doable. In your original post, you said you were looking at getting the Holman Commentaries. With this resource, you are looking at creating a Logos quality resource (rather than just Vyrso). A project that large would be ridiculously time consuming.
By the way, The Holman NT Commentaries are included in the Silver Package for $999.95.
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Bill, experientially, here are a couple points, some were raised by others already:
- Kindle: easy reading "regular books" straight through. Navigation is a bit more clunky. I just bought the Quest SB and find it quite annoying to navigate. And the commentary notes are sandwiched in with the bible verses, so reading a large chunk of scripture is not smooth. perhaps I can turn this "feature" off, but I have not discovered that ability in the short time I have owned it. When using my common prayer book, I can't easily jump to "August 15". I can go to the TOC and click "August" and scroll scroll scroll till I get to it, or I can search for "August 15" and click on the appropriate link. I DO like that I can highlight on my Kindle and take notes, which I cannot do for Logos books while reading on my iPod touch.
Peace
I like Apples. Especially Honeycrisp.
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Bill -
I noticed this and thought I would share it with you. Each resource is marked with a description in the info panel for that book. Here is a key to those descriptions. FWIW - "eBooks" equals "Vyrso."
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