I tried it out, they are awfully dark. It’s like all the text is in bold. Ah well, back to Vista. When (if) they release a Linux version I will jump back on the Ubuntu bandwagon.

Thanks for your help.

The fonts are very readable, just different.

As far as HTML goes, yes it could all be HTML or XML – I believe the NFO files that Folio uses are akin to some type of HTML/XML. But it would be nice to have an app that was a bit more powerful than your browser; powerful search functions would be most handy.

As far as PDF goes – yes I’ve done it. You can export NFO files form Vedabase into RTF files then convert them to PDF. Doing large files will grind your system to a halt but taking it bit by bit works a treat. I then used Acrobat 8 to fully compress them and convert them to PDF. Oh, that’s right Adobe had a problem with the proprietary fonts but I found a way around it by using an open source text editor before converting. Anyway, long story short – yes you can package the books in the Vedabase verbatim and even have them as separate books, bookmarks an’ all, but packaged as one.

The only trouble with this is the search function is tediously slow and diacritics don’t show up in the search results. Although I’m sure Adobe might be able to make a patch for a small fee.

Wow, a cross-platform app in the works? That’s great news. And yes, I believe that Linux will be the OS of the future. I have had an on/off love affair with Ubuntu for a few years now. I’m not currently using it for 2 reasons; 1. My nvidia graphics card is a nightmare to get working in 8.10, and 2. The Vedabase.

I previously had the Vedabase running under Vmware – it’s completely free and a totally awesome emulator.

Now that you have given me the pointers on running Vedabase naively on Linux I am very tempted to give it a go again.

When you say the fonts are wobbly, are they perceptibly readable?

Cheers,
Lorenzo.

Prabhupada always said that something should be charged for books distributed on the street. I get that. If people pay a little for something, they’re more apt to read it. But Vedabase is for devotees. It’s not wanted at all by nondevotees.

There is, however, a cross-platform system in the works. I don’t know anything more than that about it though. I believe it’s being developed by the Archives. This was a year or so ago that I heard about it, so who knows now.

But I see it like this – many of the devotees who get Vedabase (that aren’t sannyasis, etc) are very computer savvy. Most computer savvy folks are anti-copy protection and very pro-open source.

More and more devotees are switching to linux. I think you’ll see a change with the next Vedabase edition. If I’m wrong, it’s only because ISCKON just doesn’t get it.

Thanks for the email. Not long ago I sent a rather lengthy letter to the GBC along the lines that Srila Prabhupada’s writings should be free for the world to read. I stated therein that currently as it stands those in third world countries – heck even the average westerner – must fork out a small fortune to get access to his transcendental teachings.

I commended the efforts of projects like Vedabase.net and Vanipedia.org but pointed out their shortcomings as well; they require an internet connection, and they are far from complete even after all these years.

I pointed out that currently the only complete works of Srila Prabhupada is the Bhaktivedanta Vedabase – $400 a pop. And that in reality this could be free. How? Well the expenses for producing the Vedabase are as follows:

- Proprietary Software: Vedabase runs on Folio Views, for which ISKCON has to pay a licence to use.

- Proprietary Fonts: I believe (but am not entirely sure) that these fonts cost money.

- The writings of others: There is a lot of non-Prabhupada writings, by which I’m sure ISKCON has to pay for.

- Copy protection: The ridiculous Safedisc copy protection is an unnecessary and large expense.

So, the solution I proposed was this: Develop a free open source piece of software that is akin to Folio Views (A fairly easy task for programmers). Use open source fonts – yes, there are plenty of free open source fonts for Devanagari and other scripts. Exclude the writing of others and only have Srila Prabhupadas – no more licensing fees, and lastly ditch the copy protection.

I then had a dream that this CD could be shipped anywhere in the world for the price of postage – wow, people in third world countries getting everything Srila Prabhupada wrote, reading it on their Ubuntu systems – for 3 bucks!

Of course, they replied saying that it is an interesting idea and they will discuss it – haven’t heard anything for a year now.

Cheers,
Lorenzo Rubbo-Ferraro.

I also have paid for the full version of Vedabase plus numerous upgrades. I have several older versions that require the dongel, and the latest: 2003.1

I had no success installing any of them on Ubuntu using Wine (using Vmware was fine, but It would be nice to do away with the Windows installation).

I never had a cracked version, nor can I find one on the net. Eric could you email me please.

- Lorenzo