When comparing Harlequin vs iBooks Store, the Slant community recommends iBooks Store for most people. In the question“What are the best eBook stores?” iBooks Store is ranked 5th while Harlequin is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose iBooks Store is:
Users can self publish their own eBook via the iBooks store.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Books other than romance novels
Harlequin does offer eBooks that are not of the romance variety with a worldwide selection of action, suspense and adventure.
Pro A self publishing of sorts
Harlequin use to offer self publishing under the name Harlequin Horizons but under criticism was spun off and renamed DellArte Press. So users can self publish with DellArte Press but it will not be under the moniker of Harlequin.
Harlequin does still offer a way for anyone to submit their book to them but it is no guarantee it will be published.
Pro Self publishing
Users can self publish their own eBook via the iBooks store.
Pro Send eBook as gift
iBooks recently updated their store to where users can send eBooks as gifts to their friends and family.
Pro Sells textbooks
iBooks has textbooks for sale with a store wide rule of offering them at lower prices then what is seen on college campuses.
Cons
Con High Prices
Averaging to about 85% of a hardcover price the eBooks on the Harlequin store a pretty pricey.
Con Limited to only Harlequin eBooks
The selection of eBooks on the Harlequin eBook store is limited to only Harlequin eBooks, which are mainly romance novels.
Con iBooks uses its own DRM scheme called Fair Play on .epubs sold in the store
iBooks does use .epubs for its eBooks but sadly they are encrypted with their own proprietary DRM called Fair Play. This means any .epub that has Apples DRM purchased from iBooks will not be able to be used in other .epub eBook readers.
Con Forced to use iTunes or an Apple product
There is no webpage for the iBooks Store which means there is no way to browse Apples eBook selection without using one of their device or installing iTunes.