Ebook readers

[Lisa Cinnamon]

Me and the boyfriend were talking last night and the subject of my blog got brought up. He knows that a lot of the books that I read right now are ebooks since we are currently living with his mother and all of my physical books are in storage. So the question got brought up whether or not I would be interested in having an ebook reader. Of course I've already asked myself this question about a hundred times. Finally knowing that he was willing to buy me one (yay!) I done a little bit of searching last night and I'm really interested in the Kindle. 

The idea sounds really great to me at the moment, but I don't want to get it and use it for a month and never pick it back up again. What do you guys think? Have you had any experience with a kindle, or any ebook reader for that matter? Is it worth it in your opinion to buy one? 

[Federico Moramarco]

I've had a Kindle 1 for several years and just pre-ordered the Kindle 3 which is now selling for the relatively low price of $139. I read the Kindle 1 regularly, and the new model has many more and better features. But for me it supplements, and doesn't replace hard copy books. The Kindle though has lots of "free" books available so if you're interested in reading classics in addition to contemporary books, you can get lots of them on your kindle to take with you when you travel. I recommend it highly. And by the way, I just started a blog here on book blogs, so if you're interested, check it out at http://bookblogs.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=1fzz7f3gok5yi

[Barbara Hightower]

I finally did get the ipad yesterday and so far love it. Everything did come over from my kindle and I got the other free e-readers on it. I like being able to get more books from different places then strictly Amazon, even though they are still my favorite.

[Maria Hesh]

I am so envious! That's my Christmas wish. (I will say, though, that the Kindle 3 sounds mighty attractive at $139.)

It's just that I know I could use the iPad for lots more things and get a lot more out of it. Of course, as has been noted before, it also costs a lot more money.

Have fun with your beautiful new iPad.

[Shari Bergquist]

I've had my nook for about a month and I love it. I actually bought a Kindle, Nook , and a Sony pocket ereader. Used them all for a week and then sent the sony and kindle back. the nook was by far my favorite! Good luck

[Linda]

I really like my nook. It is to the point that if I have the physical book and the electronic version (it has happened a couple of times) I prefer to read it on the nook. I can adjust the font for old lady eyes and I find that I read faster. I have purchased books from a variety of places and downloaded library books.

[Joe Kennett]

http://www.magcloud.com/browse/Issue/102532 JoeWaWa's Jooke-Primer #1
Free download for Apple ipad's

www.joewawa.com

[Barb D.]

I'm hoping someone can answer my question here. I am thinking about buying an e-reader as I'd like to review the digital books available from NetGallery (and I'd like to read them on something other than my laptop). I've read that if I choose a Kindle, Amazon may charge a small fee for me to access the "Free books" from various sources. Can someone tell me what exactly the fee is, and if they think the Kindle is worth having to pay a fee occasionally. Thanks!

[ManOfLaBook.com]

I get books on the nook from Net Galley without any issues at all and without any extra fees at all.

How rude, charge you a fee for reading a free eBook which you got from a third party. As a well known "fee hater" that would be enough for me not to get the Kindel.

http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

[Barb D.]

Thanks for the help! I have to agree with you as a fellow "fee hater"!! There is just something "big brotherish" about this fee issue. Sell the machine, sell some books, but allow free enterprise and don't police it....maybe I'm just being cheap.....:)

[Lindsay]

I have a Kindle 3 (newest one) and have have not yet paid a cent for anything I have on it. There are free books available to download directly from the Kindle Store, or if you download onto your computer from Project Gutenberg, Manybooks, the Baen Free Library, etc. in Kindle or .mobi Format, you just plug the USB cord into your computer and drag and drop your new files in.

Looking at NetGalley, it seems that they won't download a Kindle format file directly to you, which means that for each file sent to (yourname)@kindle.com, which converts a file to Kindle format and downloads it to your device, there would, yes, be a small fee, usually 15 cents to a dollar, depending on the size of the file.

I don't use NetGalley, but to get around this for other formats (like when I want to send a .doc file to my Kindle, but have them convert it to Kindle format), I send the file to (name)@free.kindle.com. You might be able to do this with Netgalley, or they might not let you. Using that address, Amazon converts the file, and then either emails the converted file to my email account, so that I can plug in my Kindle and transfer it that way, or if my Kindle is connected to a Wi-Fi network it just downloads the file for free.

oh, here's some info about other people finding ways to get NetGalley content to Kindle for free:
http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/2010/06/netgalley-kindle.html

TL/DR: There are lots of free ways to get stuff to a Kindle, but yes, the biggest disadvantage of the device is the split in the industry between Kindle/Mobipocket format and the more universal ePub. Getting NetGalley content to your Kindle looks like it can be totally free, but it takes an extra step or two.

Hope that makes sense!
Lindsay
The Blue Fairy's Bookshelf

[Barb D.]

Hi Lindsay! Thank you so much for the information! I'm going to have a look at the link and see if I can come to a decision as to what I'm going to get. It does seem like Kindle has the edge on the market and has the most experience in the business. I had a look at an iPod Touch today - which I want desperately - but as an e-reader....I don't think so! I appreciate your help!.

Barb
Sugarbeat's books