E-ditor Pro
Web Compiler 98
Neobook  
Super Winbook  
The Writer's Dream

 

Web Compiler 32
http://www.webcompiler.com/

$149US or 99 pounds sterling.

If you can put together a web site, then Web Compiler, which sells for US$149US or 99 pounds sterling, and E-ditor PRO at $69.95 are by far the easiest to use. This is because they're HTML compilers which allows you to take a collection of HTML, either from a Web Site you already have or maybe HTML you prepared specially, and turn it into a single self-contained "executable" file, ready for download. Very little technical knowledge is required to use these two programs.

Web Compiler can handle almost anything you can do with a web site, including:   embedded video and audio; built in searching; Javascript, but not Java; and you can even use forms and shopping cart type applications, as long as it's being read while connected
to the net.

Another feature is that the underlying HTML can be made inaccessible, and groups of pages can be protected with passwords, allowing information to be restricted to authorized users, or maybe even sold.

A downside of Web Compiler 32 is that it only works on computers using Windows 95 or 98. Though an older 16 bit version is available for Windows 3.1 users if there are any still around. There is no Mac or Linux version.

Writer's Dream
http://www.zdnet.com/swlib/

Writer's Dream, is the grandfather of e-book programs, and has around longer than the Internet. Both the DOS and Windows versions use plain ASCII text files that you create with any word processor. Then add sound and graphics, and compile the result
into one stand alone .exe file. The unregistered version works fully, but doesn't allow you to create files that you can distribute. Writer's Dream works with Windows 3.1 and is only $39 if you decide to keep it.

Writer's Dream is a nifty program that lets you quickly and easily produce electronic paperless books, newsletters, or other documents. Start with plain ASCII text files created with any word processor or text editor. Then add sound and graphics, if you wish; .wav. .bmp, and .wmf formats are supported. Each book, which is compiled into one standalone .exe file, can have 100 chapters or more. You can specify background and title colors, plus choose whether to let people copy selected parts of your book to the Clipboard or print. This unregistered version allows you to create ebooks for evaluation purposes only -- you can't distribute them until you purchase the program. DOS and 32-bit Windows versions are also available.
System Requirements:Windows 3.1
Purchase Information: Shareware: Free to try, $39 if you decide to keep it.

 

NeoBook for Windows 95
http://www.neosoftware.com/neosft03.html#neobook_w
NeoSoft Corporation 

Neobook came second on my list. It's an impressive authoring system, and though it's not as easy to use as Web Compiler, it's just as versatile You can use it to create and compile a standalone multimedia application using pictures, sounds, video,
hypertext, and other elements. Plus you can add custom push buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, and text entry fields to create an interactive learning environment. Again it's Windows 95 only.

NeoBook is an impressive authoring system for interactive catalogs, newsletters, training materials, and more. Create and compile a standalone multimedia application using pictures, sounds, video, hypertext, special effects, balloon responses, text, and other elements. NeoBook supports most common image, video, and sound files; and a floating toolbar makes creating and editing elements easy. Drag and drop files; and add custom push buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, and text entry fields to create an interactive learning environment or an automated slide show with special effects transitions. NeoBook is designed with intuitive tools and actions that make creating a professional-looking presentation quick and easy.
System Requirements: Windows 95
Purchase Information: Shareware: Free to try, $199.95 if you decide to keep it.

 

Super Winbook
superwinbook registered version is $39.95
http://superwin.com/super.htm

With the Super WinBook 98 Compiler you can easily and quickly produce your own winbook. The Compiler is a word processor that also compiles and compresses all of the book files into one file and prepares the book for deployment.

If you already have your book in Text (*.txt) or Rich Text (*.rtf) files, just load them into the Compiler, make changes, add sounds, and compile them. In a matter of minutes your book is ready for distribution.

The Compiler can even compress all of the winbook files in a zip file or a self-extracting executable file.

If your book is in another type of file, Write (*.wri), Word (*.doc), PageMaker (*.pm6), Word Perfect (*.wpf), or any other type, from that word processor just save (or export) the file as a Rich Text Format (*.rtf) file. Then load it into the Compiler and proceed.

If you haven't written your book yet, use the Compiler to write it.

The Super WinBook 98 Compiler is shareware. You may download it and use it. It is fully functional, except that the winbooks produced by it have a warning screen between each page and may not be distributed.

If you produced a winbook with the shareware version, changing it over with the registered version is as easy as opening it and pressing the Compile button.

The 16 bit version for Windows 3.1is a 1.031 mb .zip file, and the 32 bit version for Windows 95/98 is a 1.051 mb .zip file.

 Currently there's a special offer running. For a limited time Superwin will change your winbook made with the shareware Compiler into a registered winbook for FREE. To get this free offer you must meet the following conditions.

Only one per person.

The WinBook must be FreeWare.

You must give them permission to post your book on their website.

They reserve the right to reject any winbook for any reason.

Instructions:

All you have to do is download the shareware Compiler and use it to produce your WinBook. Zip the WinBook (the *.swb file), attach it to email, and send it to freebook@superwin.com. They will unlock the *.swb file and post it on their website. Please note : If you think that you will get the Registered version of the Compiler from this Free Offer, please READ AGAIN. The Free Offer only returns to you the book that you produce unlocked.

Reviews courtesy of