Reading iBooks on macBook Pro??

I have come to the conclusion that if Apple is not willing to port this to the Mac that I will not invest in iBooks for books I use for work (either for furthering my knowledge or for reference). I will stick with reads for iBook where it does not matter, once I read them, if I can't read them anymore.

Disapointed in company the prides itself with having a focus on an excellent consumer expereince. This lack of iBook for the Mac certainly smells like arrogance.

Since iBooks has reached version 2.0, one has to wonder if Apple is purposely denigrating Mac OS X as a platform for reading books (or at least books that are purchased from the iBookStore). For a while it seemed reasonable to assume it was just a matter of priority and that an OS X version would be forthcoming. As odd as Apple's behavior about OS X and the iBookStore is, what is even more odd is that reports in the press seem to disregard it as a matter even worthy of mention.

At this point we are left with the odd situation that Amazon has more regard for Mac users than Apple! The Kindle port to the Mac is not very impressive but at least it exists. This whole matter has the unpleasant smell of a pointy haired boss about it. Mac OS X and iOS have so much in common (under the hood) that what requires explanation is why there is not a Mac version on iBooks. Someone had to decide NOT to create a Mac version for it to not exist this late in the game. So the only rational source for commercial books is the Knidle bookstore, not the iBookStore.

Just to add a little context recall that the iPod became more than a niche product because Apple made the wise decision to expand into the Windows market by making iPod software and iTMS available on the Windows platform. In the current case of iBooks not only has Apple ignored the Windows platform, it has apparently decided not to support Mac OS! To repeat their iPod success in books there should be iBooks (and bookstore) for Android, Windows 8, the Amazon fork of Android, webOS, Sinclair, TI 99/4A, and for pete's sake Mac OS. (OK, I added a few extras there but iOS only seems hopelessly timid).

.ibook format is very similar to .epub format.

If you unzip it, you can get a directory of HTML files and reader in your brower.

I just find Nook for Mac can open it.

shenzhuxi wrote:

.ibook format is very similar to .epub format.

If you unzip it, you can get a directory of HTML files and reader in your brower.

I just find Nook for Mac can open it.

None of that will be of any use with a paid-for book with DRM from the iBookstore, which is what most people want to read on their Mac and why this thread exists.

I also find iBooks worthless without a Mac ability to read what I purchase. I guess maybe if enough complain then maybe we will see a application of iBooks for Mac. Frankly this is why I advised my wife against buying a iPad and instead she bought a Nook Color. She reads books and she finally decided the iPad was too much focused on media like video and music and selling apps. then on being a true reader. If your going to do any kind of media weather it be Music,video, magazines or books. You need to have them be accessible to as many devices as you can.

Ok I concur about appalling lack of port to Mac but after installing Kindle reader on my various PC's I also recognize need for that coverage as well. If Apple is to succeed over Kindle ultimately the will have to take thatlunge as well.

The solution is now here....use the app Reflections on your Mac and mirror your iPad2 or iPhone 4S screen to your Mac in the full screen mode and......VOILA! iBooks displayed for easy read on your Mac! Fantastic!!!

but it wont open books purchased in itunes. the page comes up blank.

jowells79 wrote:

but it wont open books purchased in itunes. the page comes up blank.

Correct. Neither ADE nor any other app will let you read paid-for books from the iBookstore with DRM on your Mac. They have to be displayed on an iOS device (as it says on every purchase page).

This is nice to know but Apple is still mysteriously deliquent in its lack of support for Mac OS X. If you don't have complete access (that is, the full use of the iOS device while you are reading), you still can't read iBooks you have purchased. Kindle does not have this defect.

Why wouldnt you expect it in ITunes? ```````you can watch Video and Listen to Music in there.

theodrak wrote:

Why wouldnt you expect it in ITunes?

I forget -- that was 2 years ago. I no longer expect anything at all...

On iOS devices the iTunes app is for purchasing items while Music (or iPod), Video, and iBooks are for viewing. On the Mac iTunes has over time become a rather ungainly sprawling mess. On the other hand Preview on the Mac already does an increasingly better viewer app for pdf files. Including the ability to read iBooks would be a nice step toward simplifying step.

The frustrating thing about this is that with OSX Lion the Mac was *meant* to be 'demoted' to just another 'device'. Apple wanted the IOS devices and the Mac to all acces the cloud and all be independant from each other.

No iBooks app on the Mac == major fail. Add it to the list with the Mobile Me / iCloud confusion.

None of which would be so hard to swallow if Apple would just provide the commuity it's worked so hard to build with some decent feedback.

😐

Can you tell me how you actually imported the ibook into Digital Editions?

Thanks