e-book edit pro vs. adobe 5.0 compiler

in need of advice asap

[neophyte]

I am ready to compile my Word-produced manuscript into e-book form to be marketed on the internet and am in a quandary as to which software to purchase:
Adobe is a reputable name but its price of $369 (here in Israel)is rather steep. If I do not purchase at this price from the sole distributor(get a better deal online)I would
have to pay $200 for one-year telephone technical support.
I am of the pre-computer generation, and still not terribly adept, so the prospect of foregoing technical support is out of the question.
I have tried the e-book edit pro demo and found it user-friendly. They provide a video tutorial for users with purchase. The list of features covers all the bases adobe does - and the e-books it compiles open on adobe reader. The price is $89! So I keep thing: Where's the catch?
Writing is not my career (the e-book is an outgrowth of my professional field) and I need the compiler for only the one compilation - and, if the book is reasonably successful commercially, possibly an audio enhanced version in the distant future.
Common sense dictates that you don't buy a truck if a van will suffice.
Yet I still have the niggling feeling that I might be missing something here.
If anyone has experience using e-book edit pro in e-commerce, please advise asap -as I have to make a decision within a week or so.
Appreciatively, 'neophyte'

[digitalghost]

<bump>

Hoping someone will chime in on this one. I use Adobe.

Oh yeah, welcome to Webmasterworld.

[kevinpate]

I'm at minimum, semi-dangerous with a keyboard in my hands.

If I were wearing your shoes, I'd be looking at total value and not the price. Support provided costs may be a cash outlay but major time saver.

The value of the saved time is an individualized question, but I'm not at all opposed to a higher price if it brings the value of less struggle time down the road.

[davemarks]

If you're only going to use it once (at least to start of with would it not be better to find a printers or similar who can do it for you at a small charge)

I think adobe even offer the service on their website...

[Jenstar]

Sorry, I was away this weekend, and missed this one. Okay, here is the scoop on eBook Edit Pro vs. Adobe. Each has its pros and cons.

With eBook Edit Pro, you are limited to Windows users only. It is not cross platform, so you are leaving our an entire segment of computer users. If you ebook topic is on something that would tend to be used by a large number of non-Windows users, definitely do not use this one.

You will also need to create all your entire ebook in html, and then convert it into their format. But since it is in html, you can include things such as flash, cgi, php, javascripting. I am pretty sure you can also include video and audio within it as well.

I also believe that a user needs to be connected to the internet to view the ebook, and all your files (html files, images, etc) need to be online (which would also mean you need to be able to allow remote hosting of your images) but this means you can also update the ebook "on the fly" so each buyer's ebook is automatically updated as you do. But it also means you cannot easily sell this book via CD-ROM and mail, if a person might use it on a computer without internet access.

With Adobe, it is cross-platform. But users need to be able to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view their eBook in Adobe format. That said, I bet a good 80% of computers already have it on their computers. And if they don't, it is a free download from Adobe.

With Adobe, you can convert html or Word documents into PDF, including all the images, fonts, etc which are imbedded right into the .pdf file.

Yes, it is very pricey, but you can also convert it online for a few of $9.95 a month through Adobe - and you also get your first five free before you have to pay.

Now, that all said, I researched this just a little over a year ago, and tried both these exact formats myself when compiling ebooks, and here is my humble opinion. I found eBook Edit Pro a little clunky for my tastes. I have downloaded ebooks in this format since then, and I still not particularly like the format - the squished down webpage with scroll bars and their "page turners" doesn't work for me. That said, I know people swear by it. I also didn't like the idea of shutting out all users who didn't use Windows, or those who didn't happen to be connected to the internet. So, I chose to use Adobe instead (first used the freebie version until I knew it was the one for me, then purchased the software).

I hope this helps!
Jen