Thank you for the informative review and response. I have also tested the Boomerang List Builder and can confirm what you say. It is easy to use and it works.

If you want to try this kind of system but don’t want to use .exe format, then it is possible to set up a similar kind of system yourself by uploading a .pdf file to a locked directory. But once someone has downloaded the .pdf file they could simply pass it on and the recipient wouldn’t have to apply for a password…

I like the idea of live eBooks – “hosted as a website but viewed through an eBook creator browser”. That might be the solution to a 100% DIY solution.

What “live eBook” software would you recommend to do the job?

Thanks.

David H

It does wrap the product in an .exe format, so yes, you are correct an eBook wrapped in BLB will not work for Mac or linux users.

However, I do have to say that I’ve been selling eBooks for nearly 3 years now and as far as my own products are concerned I’ve never had any complaints about the three or four `live’ exe ebooks that I sell. In fact one of them is my best selling eBook.

I know there is a compatibility problem with IE7 and a some .exe eBooks created with a certain ebook creator software but as my eBooks are `live’ – which means they are hosted as a website but viewed through an eBook creator browser, there have been no problems at all.

Having said that, I do also create eBooks in PDF format and like that format very much. But with regard to my `live’ .exe eBooks, I’ve only ever had one person email me and ask me for a PDF version as they were a Mac user.

`In theory it might sound like you will get a lot more subscribers, but in practice, does it really work?’

I have to say a resounding `yes’ it does really work. At the end of the day if people are signing up to your list and it’s targeted, then that’s great – e.g. I have a baby niche and wrapped one of my free eBooks in BLB – my eBook is now being distributed virally on eBay and I get a few sign ups every day from readers – and I didn’t even give them the eBook in the first place, it was distributed for me, but I get the sign up and, of course, the subscribers are all people who are interested in my niche.

I do understand what you are saying about .exe but I also think that in general there is a lot of paranoia about .exe format products. And as I have come across so few MAC users, I am able to cater for them too, by simply responding to their need with a PDF version if I have to.

Thanks, anyway, Donna, for your question. I will add to my review, that the product was designed for Windows only – an omission on my part.

Best wishes

Paula Brett

If it does that eliminates all Mac and Linux users. If a product is good I will sign up for the authors mailing list just from a link in the book. But if I can’t even read the book there’s no chance of getting a sign up from me?

In theory it might sound like you will get a lot more subscribers, but in practice, does it really work?

Even when I used Windows PCs, I simply wouldn’t buy books in .exe format. If I got free books in that format I’d delete them as soon as I unzipped them. If I paid for them I’d ask for a refund. I’m not sure how many other people feel the same, but I know I’m not the only one who hates .exe books.