What criteria you can use to decide which HTML compiler is best for making your ebooks?
Here you have some points that can help you to compare between different HTML compilers.
Does it require Microsoft Internet Explorer?
Most compilers require Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE), and they will not run on a system without it (like Windows 95 or NT), also the new security restrictions in Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista may interfere with ebooks depending on MSIE.
HyperMaker HTML doesn't requires having any browser installed, so it can run on any Windows system, from Windows 95 to Windows Vista.
Do you know what kind of computer system your users have?
Are you sure that MSIE is installed and properly configured on all your potential customer's computer?
A common problem with MSIE based ebooks is than if anything breaks the connection between the ebook and MSIE, the ebook will not work at all. Any rogue program that modifies MSIE (like spyware and some plug-ins that adds functionality to MSIE, but breaking some MSIE functions) can cause trouble. Also the security settings in MSIE may block access to your ebook.
Security matters: are the files kept inside the eBook or they are expanded to the hard disk?
The main advantage of using HyperMaker, over distributing your website in plain HTML format is security. Your readers must not be able to modify the eBook, and they can only access the pages you want, unless they type the correct password.
To know how secure is an HTML compiler, look at the temporal directory of your computer while the eBooks is running. If many files appear there when your eBook is running that means that, your compiler is decompressing all you valuable data to the hard disk, before showing it. This way is neither secure nor effective.
HyperMaker supports creating eBooks up to 2 GB size and it doesn't decompress the HTML pages nor images to hard disk. A 2 GB eBook can easily contain 6 GB or more of compressed data (be aware that only text files are usually compressible). Imagine decompressing such amount of data at run time! HyperMaker only decompresses temporarily non HTML content (like Word, Flash or Acrobat documents) to the hard disk, so all your data and images are secured.
Also, check what kinds of passwords are supported. A good compiler should offer different ways to generate passwords, ranging from the most secure to the most user-friendly (and unsafe).
Other important point is how you can generate the passwords. Does the software allow you to generate passwords online? If it does, are you free to choose any payment processing system or do the processing yourself, or you are constrained to use some specific service. Along with HyperMaker registration we provided three online password generators, written in PHP, Perl and ASP.
Compatibility
After compiling your eBook try running it on different computers, using different flavors of Windows, like Windows Vista, XP, 2003, or older Windows versions like 95, 98, 98SE, ME, NT 4 or Windows 2000 both logging as Administrator and Restricted User. HyperMaker eBooks can run on any Windows version, from Windows 95 to Windows Vista, both under a Restricted User or Administrator account.
HyperMaker supports most of the HTML 3.2 specifications with many additional popular HTML 4 enhancements, but it doesn't support scripting nor dynamic HTML.
Commitment
Do you have free and fast technical support, before and after buying the program? Do you have technical support for unlimited time?
How long has been the product in the market?
We have been developing HyperMaker since 1996 and we offer speedy and unlimited email support.
And last but not least
Do not believe all the hype you read! Do not believe reviews! Webmasters earn a commission for each sale they make, so they are biased.
The only way to know if an ebook compiler suits your needs is by testing it yourself and checking the eBooks on as many different computers as is possible, to make sure they are compatible with different Windows configuration and hardware.