Advice pls re e-books, Kindles etc

Little Quacker in OR · #1 01/01/12, 02:34 PM

I don' know bout anyone else but my place is stuffed with paperbacks! The walls whenever its possible are lined with book shelves! I only keep the ones I re-read so that helps a little but I am thinking its time I considered another option as we are now into the 21st Century! LOL

So, been thinking of something electronic but have NO idea how this type of thing would work. Just want(maybe?) something that I could download books on, nothing else. NO fancy other stuff at all.

Also one of my concerns is(along with not having the slightest idea what I am doing!)is that I am on the old Dial Up service. So would a person have to have a fast internet connection to even use any of the "readers"?

Hope you all can give me some good ideas(Of course you can! LOL) as to what might be my best option or options to look at when I head up to the big city. Sure would like to cut down on all this paper around here that lines the walls!

Thanks and A Happy New Years Greeting to all! LQ

Pam6 · #2 01/01/12, 03:11 PM

From what you are describing it sounds like a Kindle Touch would fit the bill. It is $99. It is an E-Ink reader which is not hard on your eyes. 2 month battery life. It has Wi-fi so you can download from any hotspot...library, Mickey D's, home if you have a wireless router. You can always store stuff to your Amazon cloud and then go somewhere with high speed internet and then download a bunch of books at once if you find your dial up to be to slow. If you are moving to the city there will be a lot of locations that have free wi-fi.

SFM in KY · #3 01/01/12, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Quacker in OR

I don' know bout anyone else but my place is stuffed with paperbacks! The walls whenever its possible are lined with book shelves! I only keep the ones I re-read so that helps a little but I am thinking its time I considered another option as we are now into the 21st Century!

So, been thinking of something electronic but have NO idea how this type of thing would work. Just want(maybe?) something that I could download books on, nothing else. NO fancy other stuff at all.

This is exactly where I was two months ago except that I do have high speed internet now. That said, I know there are ways you can download to your computer and transfer to an eReader but I am not sure of how to do it.

I went with the 'cheapie' Kindle through Amazon at $79 ... the next step up has a touch screen and I prefer buttons/keys ... anything fancier than that is way more technology than I can deal with. I had no trouble getting it up and running and although I did run into a problem about 2 weeks later, I went through their tech support and got a replacement when they decided it was a problem with the reader.

I love it. I don't have to try to find more bookshelf space when the only space I have left is the middle of the living room floor!

I can 'check out' and download books from home through my local library system as they now have Kindle availability on a respectable number of books. I'm still working through the 'free' book list on Amazon as well.

I have bought books by my 'must buy' authors as they have been published and the prices for those books seem a little high to me but they are in line with the price being charged for the new hardback titles that are recent publications by known authors. I do save some as there is no shipping cost, so I'm actually saving $4 on those titles as well by using Kindle.

Otherwise, most of the Kindle prices seem pretty much in line with the paperback prices with a lot of them lower. There are a lot of new or independent authors that are self-publishing in eBook format and many times those books are priced at something close to used paperback prices. I also like the option you have with Kindle to download a sample of a book I'm interested in before buying. That and the reviews will give you a pretty good idea of what you are going to be getting.

I suspect the only 'real' books I will be buying in the future will be books published earlier and not available in eBook format and the art/ artists technique books I occasionally purchase.

tweezle · #4 01/01/12, 03:28 PM

You might also want to look at the Nook Touch. It is nothing fancy, but doesn't lock you into a single format. You can download books from the library and purchase books in various places. It reads the Nook format from B&N, epub format and pdf format.

This also has Wi-fi, but most books aren't very large when they are in epub format (unless full of photographs/graphics). Most are usually a 300-600k, making downloading from dial-up possible. Check out your local library and see what is available online.

Also - Some libraries also carry books in Kindle format, so make sure to check on that as well.

**highlands** · #5 01/01/12, 04:35 PM

I read a lot of technical documents on our iPad, iPodTouch and computer but I would not yet want to be buying books in general as digital copies because the vendors are using copyprotection and formats that are not widely readable. I don't want to be forced to read my books on any particular device. I don't trust the manufacturers to continue to support old software or hardware. Apple, Microsoft and other vendors all have a bad record in this regard. This is a tremendous amount of old content they no longer support. Meanwhile, my paper books are still readable after 25, 50, 100 or even 200 years (handle with care). When the digital copies offer long term lives then I look forward to buying them that way. Until then, I'll stick with copy that doesn't require a particular vendor, operating system, software, hardware or electricity.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa

Wolf mom · #6 01/01/12, 04:47 PM

I have a Kindle and STILL go to the library -

I used to go to garage sales & load up on paperbacks, then found that aside from having too many books in my home, they were not newer releases and not all the topics I desired to read.

Newer releases on Kindle still cost a bunch, so it's off to the library 15 miles away (one way) every other week.

SFM in KY · #7 01/01/12, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highlands

I don't trust the manufacturers to continue to support old software or hardware. Apple, Microsoft and other vendors all have a bad record in this regard. This is a tremendous amount of old content they no longer support. Meanwhile, my paper books are still readable after 25, 50, 100 or even 200 years (handle with care). When the digital copies offer long term lives then I look forward to buying them that way. Until then, I'll stick with copy that doesn't require a particular vendor, operating system, software, hardware or electricity.

All very valid concerns. However, for me the Kindle is almost a necessity as I have limited 'real' book storage space and I am at the point where if I want more bookcases, the only place I have to put more is in the middle of the living room floor ... which isn't truly an option.

Also, in my case, I have lost ALL of my 'real' books to fire twice in my life, so total loss definitely isn't limited to digital copies.

Molly Mckee · #8 01/01/12, 05:06 PM

Check with your local library to see what format they loan books in. I got the nook color last summer and I love it. At that time our library didn't offer kindle books, however they do now. I don't have to go to the library and it saves me a 40 mile trip.

My DH has a sony e-reader that a friend gave us. It's fine if all you want is a reader. I like the color nook because I can use it to go on line as well as read. I can also get magazines, apps, kids books. For me the deciding factor was what my library supported-

pistolsmom · #9 01/01/12, 06:08 PM

I am a very avid reader and also sell books for a living. ( Sadly, I do not sell the type of books I read!) A friend was wanting to sell her Kindle and lent it to me to try. I could hardly stand it.....I much prefer having the actual book in my hand. ( Not to mention being able to trade them between friends.) That being said I also noticed that although yes there are free books you can downlaod the authors I just have to read were rather expensive. I have taken to attending library book sales and buying books there and also donating books I have read to libraries or organizations holding sales for fundraisers.

SFM in KY · #10 01/01/12, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pistolsmom

I much prefer having the actual book in my hand. ( Not to mention being able to trade them between friends.) That being said I also noticed that although yes there are free books you can downlaod the authors I just have to read were rather expensive.

It took me awhile to get used to reading on the Kindle but it got easier and I really like the fact that with my eyesight not as good as it used to be, I have the option of enlarging the print so it is actually easier to read.

There aren't a lot of authors I buy as soon as each new book comes out but the Kindle price is about the same as the just-released hardback price, less the shipping charges (I don't have access to a good bookstore). The other authors that I like to read but don't want to keep to re-read are usually authors that my local library carries ... many are now available in Kindle download and those that aren't I can check out as I've always done.

But the bottom line for me is I simply ran out of places to add bookcases to keep the books I was buying to keep and re-read.

Mulegirl · #11 01/01/12, 10:29 PM

Our family has been using the Nook, and everyone really likes it. It does seem to be more flexible about formats than the Kindle is right now, and my mother's been having an easy time both downloading books from the library and "side-loading" PDFs from her computer. I have the color Nook (well, had--my dear little son managed to actually break it last week), and was mostly using it for child-entertaining games at the moment, but have really liked it for reading as well. It's backlit, which makes it a little trickier in terms of adjusting to avoid eye-strain, but it is possible to do.

blooba · #12 01/01/12, 11:51 PM

And for those with slow or no internet there is Kindle Touch 3G available for only $149.

It uses cell service to give you free unlimited internet for book downloads for life with no monthly charge(coverage may vary depending on area)

It also has wi-fi for when you are in a location with it.

gilberte · #13 01/02/12, 06:51 AM

Get the $79 Kindle, you'll never regret it. You can download books to it from your PC through a usb connection even on dial-up. Our speed averages 28.8 kbps and the average book takes three to five minutes to download, and it's not complicated at all.

yikes · #14 01/02/12, 08:16 AM

How do you pay for the book?
What do you do if there are download problems? Sometimes a download (or a picture) will stop half way through, what do you do?

ceresone · #15 01/02/12, 08:30 AM

My only suggestion is that we swap books! I want a paper book that I hold to read, old fashioned, I suppose, but I just dont think I'd like the new fashion.

SFM in KY · #16 01/02/12, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yikes

How do you pay for the book?
What do you do if there are download problems? Sometimes a download (or a picture) will stop half way through, what do you do?

I have an account with Amazon as that is where I've bought most of my books over the past several years. Payment is handled through that account. I download a book and I get an emailed statement/receipt for that book, even the ones that are 'freebies' ... those just say $0.00.

I have never had a download problem, but I did have a problem with my first Kindle. I emailed/called Kindle support through the Amazon site and talked to a 'real live person who speaks English as a first language' who was also competent up to her level and immediately bumped me up a tech grade when we got to something she didn't know.

I've had a couple of problems with buying/receiving regular books that I've bought over the last 5 years through Amazon as well and both times those issues were handled the same way. Help/tech support is something they apparently work at seriously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceresone

My only suggestion is that we swap books! I want a paper book that I hold to read, old fashioned, I suppose, but I just dont think I'd like the new fashion.

I've done this quite extensively through PaperBackSwap (you may want to try that) for several years myself. You list books you have and if someone wants one, you send it to them, you pay the postage and you get 1 credit. If someone lists a book you want, you request it, they send it at their expense and 1 credit is deducted from your account. It works very well IF the book you want is listed and if people want your books and keep your credit account healthy. I've found it to be a very good source for some of the older books I'm replacing that were lost in the fire some years ago but the newer/ more popular books usually have a long waiting list.

You are allowed to 'loan' some (not all) Kindle books as well. You can apparently download/send it to a friend's Kindle, though I've not tried it myself. I will probably try it one of these days as I have a friend in Denver who has a Kindle and reads many of the same type of books I enjoy.

Belfrybat · #17 01/02/12, 08:57 AM

I have the Kindle keyboard unit and love it. Most of the books I download are free since I use the library for just-released books (I'm too cheap to pay $10+ for a paperback book).

If you are an Amazon Prime member, besides free shipping and free videos, you can also borrow one book a month, and those are of the just-released variety. Ther are also a greater variety of free books for Prime members. But since I've downloaded over 700 free books in the past year, I'm obviously finding more than what I can read.

ladykena · #18 01/02/12, 09:16 AM

I have a kindle fire. I love it. Most books I get are free. I too was having a stotage problem. I was concerned that I would prefer the "old fashioned. Way " but I don't. Miss it. I have a cover so I can gold it like a book. I really like that I can read in the dark and can adjust the size of the font. My one drawback is I cant share books with my best friend. She is antitech so I may need to get her a kindle too.

CountryWannabe · #19 01/02/12, 12:29 PM

I have the kindle with the keyboard, too. I love it. I am a book-a-holic and was in the same boat as you - bookcases overflowing everywhere. I tend to download just the free books and download more modern releases from the library. (I'm cheap, LOL) I love the e-ink screen. It is much easier on these old eyes.

We have wifi here at home, but if you don't you can download onto your computer and copy onto your kindle - it took me a bit to figure it out, but it really isn't hard. Or you can spend a little time in a place that has a free hotspot and do it there.

Oh! blooba mentioned the 3G Kindle - I had forgotten about that. It has free 3G for downloading (though depends on where you are as to how good that is)

Of course - you could just download the free apps. from Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook) onto your computer and see how you like using them before deciding whether to spring for an ereader or not.

Mary

buffalocreek · #20 01/02/12, 01:40 PM

Why pay for kindle when you can get it free for a PC? Google free Kindle for pc.

Google "free e-books" for thousands of free ebook downloads. Why pay for them?