Oh, by the way, I just found out that if we want to enter our book in a Blurb contest, we have to purchase our book first. I already own a copy of my book. So do my friends. My book costs me over $80. That, on top of the entry fee, amounts to a considerable investment -- especially in a contest where the finalists are picked by online public voting.Are Blurb's contests just a way for Blurb to sell more books? Oh, by the way, I just found out that if we want to enter our book in a Blurb contest, we have to purchase our book first. I already own a copy of my book. So do my friends. My book costs me over $80. That, on top of the entry fee, amounts to a considerable investment — especially in a contest where the finalists are picked by online public voting.Are Blurb’s contests just a way for Blurb to sell more books?

2009-09-20T16:10:57Z

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I think it's great that Blurb is doing contests. However, I wonder if the current contest trend of online "public voting" is the right way to select finalists... I've entered a couple of photography contests that use online public voting (and have watched several others from afar), and it always seems the people with the most friends, and the most email addresses win.Contest promoters try to prevent voting fraud by only allowing one vote per person, but there are numerous ways to vote multiple times without being able to be tracked. And, the more votes you can scrounge up for yourself, the better your chances.I've seen some very good entries get pushed out of the competition (and some truly bad entries take their place) solely because one person was better at drumming up votes than the other. It had nothing to do with the quality of the entry. (Just look at the fiasco created by Lenovo's "Win Your Dream Assignment" competition.) I guess what I'm trying to say is that public voting creates an atmoshphere of competition to see how many votes we can round up, as opposed to seeing how many unique visitors actually like your product. It's no longer a competition to see who's product is best. it's a race to drum up votes. The best product doesn't win, but the most prolific vote-getter does. Is this really the best way to choose the Best Blurb Book? I think it’s great that Blurb is doing contests. However, I wonder if the current contest trend of online "public voting" is the right way to select finalists… I’ve entered a couple of photography contests that use online public voting (and have watched several others from afar), and it always seems the people with the most friends, and the most email addresses win.Contest promoters try to prevent voting fraud by only allowing one vote per person, but there are numerous ways to vote multiple times without being able to be tracked. And, the more votes you can scrounge up for yourself, the better your chances.I’ve seen some very good entries get pushed out of the competition (and some truly bad entries take their place) solely because one person was better at drumming up votes than the other. It had nothing to do with the quality of the entry. (Just look at the fiasco created by Lenovo’s "Win Your Dream Assignment" competition.) I guess what I’m trying to say is that public voting creates an atmoshphere of competition to see how many votes we can round up, as opposed to seeing how many unique visitors actually like your product. It’s no longer a competition to see who’s product is best. it’s a race to drum up votes. The best product doesn’t win, but the most prolific vote-getter does. Is this really the best way to choose the Best Blurb Book?

2009-09-20T15:55:26Z

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I recently (and reluctantly) installed the new software on my Pro Mac, hoping that its incredible power (16GB of RAM, dual Quad Core Xenon processor, and 4 internal 750GB hard drives) would help speed things up.Unfortunately, the program runs as slowly as it did on my weaker PC. And, I think I might have an idea what the problem is...Every click, every font correction, every edit, literally every single move within the program requires 15 to 30 seconds before the software is ready for another move. Could it be that the "Always Save" function causes the program to pause and save after every "event", slowing down the creation process? Could it be that if this function were modified or turned off that the software would run faster? Is anyone else having problems with their 100+ page photo books? I recently (and reluctantly) installed the new software on my Pro Mac, hoping that its incredible power (16GB of RAM, dual Quad Core Xenon processor, and 4 internal 750GB hard drives) would help speed things up.Unfortunately, the program runs as slowly as it did on my weaker PC. And, I think I might have an idea what the problem is…Every click, every font correction, every edit, literally every single move within the program requires 15 to 30 seconds before the software is ready for another move. Could it be that the "Always Save" function causes the program to pause and save after every "event", slowing down the creation process? Could it be that if this function were modified or turned off that the software would run faster? Is anyone else having problems with their 100+ page photo books?

2009-07-15T19:06:06Z

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Actually, I have been corresponding with a tech support rep named Mark. So far, he's provided the standard suggestions of reducing image filesize, removing unused images, and upgrading to version 1.9.9... all of which I have done.I've been using BookSmart on my HP laptop (2GB RAM, 160GB hard disk, 50GB free space). But, I'm afraid to put it on my Mac. I can't say running BookSmart on my PC is actually "buggy", but it's flaky enough to cause me to hesitate putting it on a pristine isolated Mac that will never see the risk of downloaded material.  Actually, I have been corresponding with a tech support rep named Mark. So far, he’s provided the standard suggestions of reducing image filesize, removing unused images, and upgrading to version 1.9.9… all of which I have done.I’ve been using BookSmart on my HP laptop (2GB RAM, 160GB hard disk, 50GB free space). But, I’m afraid to put it on my Mac. I can’t say running BookSmart on my PC is actually "buggy", but it’s flaky enough to cause me to hesitate putting it on a pristine isolated Mac that will never see the risk of downloaded material.

2009-03-13T15:16:07Z

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I've had the same issues that JLGHammond is having. I've tried to print to PDF, but even after running it all night (with no other programs open), it still hadn't gotten past page 3. And, when I try to print straight to my HP printer, it only prints 31 pages (and takes several hours). Is 31 a magic number of some kind? I'll bet there is a limiter in the software somewhere.I don't need to proof the book for color or clarity at this stage. I'm just checking the layout. But, with a book currently at 177 pages, half of which are full-page photos, and weighing in at over 2GB, I'm beginning to think that proofing to my own printer isn't a possibility. I'm upgrading BookSmart 1.9.7 to version 1.9.9, but have heard horror stories about layout problems when importing an existing book. I’ve had the same issues that JLGHammond is having. I’ve tried to print to PDF, but even after running it all night (with no other programs open), it still hadn’t gotten past page 3. And, when I try to print straight to my HP printer, it only prints 31 pages (and takes several hours). Is 31 a magic number of some kind? I’ll bet there is a limiter in the software somewhere.I don’t need to proof the book for color or clarity at this stage. I’m just checking the layout. But, with a book currently at 177 pages, half of which are full-page photos, and weighing in at over 2GB, I’m beginning to think that proofing to my own printer isn’t a possibility. I’m upgrading BookSmart 1.9.7 to version 1.9.9, but have heard horror stories about layout problems when importing an existing book.

2009-03-11T22:29:51Z

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Time to make a correction...I've given BookSmart 8 hours to "cache", and it's still running incredibly SLOW!It sometimes had difficulties prior to the upgrade, but now, it's just impossible to work. Every single change I make takes at least 45 seconds, and the program stalls while that 45 seconds ticks by. This isn't just a "once-in-a-while" occurrance. This happens whether I'm editing text, adding pages, changing fonts, moving photos, moving pages... you name it.Granted, BookSmart is a lot better than any other "bookmaker" I've tried (and I've tried MyPublisher, Lulu, and others), but it's prohibitively slow. Even Photoshop CS3 operates faster. Why? Time to make a correction…I’ve given BookSmart 8 hours to "cache", and it’s still running incredibly SLOW!It sometimes had difficulties prior to the upgrade, but now, it’s just impossible to work. Every single change I make takes at least 45 seconds, and the program stalls while that 45 seconds ticks by. This isn’t just a "once-in-a-while" occurrance. This happens whether I’m editing text, adding pages, changing fonts, moving photos, moving pages… you name it.Granted, BookSmart is a lot better than any other "bookmaker" I’ve tried (and I’ve tried MyPublisher, Lulu, and others), but it’s prohibitively slow. Even Photoshop CS3 operates faster. Why?

2009-03-09T19:07:44Z

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I, too, notice that everything takes a while upon first opening the program. However, ANY modification to the spine text, even after the program has been running for several hours, still takes an eternity. And, it's just the spine text that I have trouble with. Once all the images have loaded, everything else works fine, but trying to enter or modify text in the spine takes several minutes. I, too, notice that everything takes a while upon first opening the program. However, ANY modification to the spine text, even after the program has been running for several hours, still takes an eternity. And, it’s just the spine text that I have trouble with. Once all the images have loaded, everything else works fine, but trying to enter or modify text in the spine takes several minutes.

2009-03-09T11:48:28Z

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