I wrote to Barnes and Noble to ask them which computers and which programs are needed to publish books with Barnes and Noble, and here is their response...
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Hi Tony,
Thank you for writing to us.
Most authors write their books in a word processing software program, such as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Mac Pages, or Google Docs. These programs are perfect for the writing process, but may not be ideal for printing because what is shown on screen may not translate faithfully to the printer. Spacing and page breaks may differ, for example. A document that looks tidy online might appear awkward when printed, so if you’re uploading an MS Word document as your interior, be sure to double check your interior digital proof. Remember, too, that we don’t accept interior documents in WordPerfect, Mac Pages, or Google Docs. While we accept print-ready MS Word documents for the interior, you may want instead to choose a print-ready PDF file for your interior, which will translate exactly what’s on screen to the printer. No matter the computer or machine, a PDF will print the same way because it’s in a “locked format.” Having a locked-formatted document is great for knowing exactly how your book will look when it’s printed. A print-ready PDF does have limitations, though. There are a few rules to make sure the PDF version of your manuscript results in a good-looking book. We’ll walk you through the steps for converting from a word document to a PDF if you choose to do so, and help you avoid the pitfalls of these limitations.
The Barnes & Noble Press Business Team
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Salute,
Tony V.
