One alternative to Google Book (formerly Google Print)
Search Engine watch has reported on a less controversial alternative to the Google Book Search (formerly Google Print). Less controversial, of course from the standpoint of Book publishers and those with concerns about Google’s potential for their size and leverage.
Ebrary, is the alternative. What frustrated me is what I saw when I went to the download link for their plugin…
Linux Plugin Not Available
We have detected that you are attempting to access this book from a Linux-based browser, which is not yet supported by the ebrary Reader. However this technology is currently under development and is exptected to be made available in the near future. Please keep checking back on our site on the download page for updates.
I was going to try the plugin out in wine to see if it runs, but given that I’m disinclined to even try…. however, I change the browser agent string for konqueror wiht a few clicks to Internet Explorer 6 on Win XP and I’m greeted wiht the prospect for downloading. Unfortunately, it opens up a blank page without offering to save a file, (Activex?) I’m not going to bother investigating further. Maybe a linux version will be available at some point. At least Google Books seems to be cross-platform.