MyScribe Equals Fail

My College DeVry University has made the decision to switch their online text books to MyScribe. I have spent the last week working with the system and contacting both DeVry and MyScribe support and have found the MyScribe system to be woefully lacking. MyScribe is an online book reading system provided by CafeScribe this reader is just that you can read highlight and add notes but you have to be on a computer to access it. I, like many of my online classmates, purchased an Ebook for my previous classes so I could bring my textbook with me wherever I go. As with most online students I have other daily activities such as work, commuting, and other travel that takes me away from my computer. This switch to a solely computer based system has killed my ability to read my text book when away from home. Yes, MyScribe allows you to transfer the book to a USB drive (ie. A thumb drive) for use “away from home” but, as I had to explain to DeVry University, that still requires a computer. The MyScribe system takes closed source to extremes unlike the previously used system of Adobe Digital Editions, as stated earlier reading a book on MyScribe is limited to use only through their reader that can only be accessed on a computer. Adobe Digital Editions is accessible through the computer and through Ebook readers such as my Sony PRS-505 . MyScribe and Adobe have the same DRM (digital rights management) abilities to prevent copyright infringement so that is not an issue. Both systems appear to provide free software to read and just charge for the actual books, so that is also not an issue for competition. I have been unable to find any logical, financial, or preferential reason for the switch. The actual useability of the computer software to read the books though is an issue of contention I have. The MyScribe software has an annoying strong blue default color scheme that I have yet to find a way to change, which distracts from the text. Whereas Adobe has a Black background color that helps to emphasize the text and even though I have not found a way to change this default color scheme I don’t feel a need to do so unlike with MyScribe.
Some of the lesser but still annoying issues I have found are, MyScribe defaults on my computer to a two page view that, for me, is too small to read and when I changed it to default to a single page view it automatically sets the zoom to 256% which, for me, is way too large and limits text per page to the point where I am constantly scrolling. Another issue I have with MyScribe’s software is the fact I cannot Minimize the screen by clicking on the windows taskbar. This is a habit and a function I find critical because when I jump between screens I have to click on the little task bar icon to switch to another program, and when I switch I Minimize the window I’m on to allow easier access to the desktop should I need to launch yet another program. Examples of the programs I use simultaneously are the text book reader software, Microsoft Word for the reports or related homework, FireFox for internet access, and Itunes for my background study music. All of which I toggle between through the task bar. Another issue I just found while toggling is you cannot access a right click menu through the MyScribe software in order to Minimize, Maximize, Restore, or Close. All of which are functions I regularly use especially the Close function, because the close function through right click as it is easier than clicking on the task bar icon at the bottom of the screen and then moving the mouse up to the top right of the screen to click the Close button.

With these issues of lack of portability, distracting background color scheme, missing common functions, and poor “ease of use” I ask. Why would anyone let alone a university see the MyScribe system as a good choice? Why would anyone let alone a university switch from a flexible worldwide accepted system such as Adobe Digital Editions to the very limited and poorly designed MyScribe system? Because I cannot find any logical, financial, or preferential reason myself.


Update Note: Some potential solutions have shown up since I first posted this blog. While these or any potential solutions are still not being offered by the responsible parties for this technological farce. There are a couple freeware programs that seem to work the way we wish MyScribe could and should. Check out PrimoPDF and PDFCreator For more information please read the comment section of this post for other readers opinions and suggestions. We are not alone, or helpless, thanks to the hive mind of the internet.