A Publishing First for the Palm Computing Platform

Posted on July 29, 1998

Electronic publisher, Peanut Press, LLC, announced that contemporary fiction and non-fiction books straight from publisher frontlists will be available for reading on the 3Com Palm Computing platform beginning early this fall. Through a web-based storefront PalmPilot computer users will be able to download hundreds of newly-published and reprinted books in an electronic format.

Additionally, the company announced its alliance with Tor/St. Martin's Press, a publishing house which publishes the bestselling Wheel of Time series, as well as award-winning science fiction/fantasy authors such as Vernor Vinge, Greg Bear, and Charles de Lint. Peanut Press also has formed alliances with such houses as trade publisher Council Oak Books; self-help publisher Aslan Publishing; and mystery publisher Intrigue Press.

"We're delighted to be offering our books to the handheld market for the first time. As a PalmPilot organizer owner myself, I know firsthand that people use them to read books, and it's turned out to be surprisingly useful for that purpose," said Patrick Nielsen Hayden, senior editor and manager of science fiction for Tor Books. "We're certainly interested in a variety of publishing which frees us from some of the traditional industry overheads," Hayden continued.

"We're thrilled to be the first to deliver top-notch books to the millions of people looking for additional ways to use their Palm Computing platform products and enjoy quality leisure reading anytime, anywhere," said Peanut Press co-founder, Jeff Strobel. "Because our books are securely encrypted for use on individual machines, we continue to attract prestigious publishers and therefore, we'll be adding new titles regularly." Co-founder Mark Reichelt continued, "Electronic publishing is becoming increasingly important; as anyone who owns a PalmPilot organizer or Palm III connected organizer will tell you, the technology is here today."

Peanut Press establishes partnerships with publishers of hardcover and paperback books, obtaining the subsidiary rights to reprint their books for the Peanut Press proprietary reader software. Download time for the average Peanut Press book is about one minute on a 28.8 modem.