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The Kitchen Table

Kindle-type readers

14 years ago

I was wondering which brand to get, and how difficult it is to download the books. Also, do I have to pay for the books, or is it like a library where you get to "borrow" the book for a couple weeks?

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Comments (11)

vala55
14 years ago
I have a PDN which I like and I can use it at the local library just like borrowing a hardback book. It is only on loan to you and will become inactive when your time is up. You may be able to renew it like a hardback but not sure about that. Or I can buy books from Barnes and Noble. There are also free books out there.
heather_on
14 years ago
I have a Kindle and have paid for a few books but a lot of the books I get from Amazon are free. Some of these free books are really good books that are put on free for a short time only....sometimes for a few hours and sometimes for a day or so. I check the free book sites frequently and download them asap. If you live in the States, you can download them from the public libraries on loan as well but that option hasn't come to Canada yet.
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just keep in mind that android tablets let you install the kindle app and the nook app so you can have all of those on one device. It really depends on your needs and wants as to what you get. the tablet with the best sound that I have owned was the vizio it had 3 speakers so no matter which direction you held it in you had stereo and the sound was fantastic. Wish more manufacturers would be more interested in the sound quality and take a lesson and put at least 3 or 4 speakers on them. I often struggle hearing with the one small speaker especially on my phone. I love love love my new Asus transformer tf300 10" tablet with dock but it too could use some improvement in the sound and speaker department. My husband still absolutely loves his lookbook in fact he now has his and mine and I am trying to make him transition over to my Vizio tablet so he has more options and can do other things on it. He is fighting me he wants to stick with his lookbook he is not a fan of the touch screen he keeps touching things by accident then I hear swearing lol. He is not a good student is all I have to say LOL That lookbook is extremely light weight you will not likely find any tablet that is that light.
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Hi Oakleyok! Our 3DS got together and gave us an Ipad for our 31st anniversary on Sept 1 - so we have had it now 6 weeks. I LOVE it! It will be a bit more mine than DH but the guys thought of it so I could #1 use it as a Kindle type reader (love that) and #2 use it for a wireless internet device around the house (love that just as much as #1). We have wireless throughout the house but my computer is a tower in the office so I find myself in here too often. DH has a laptop he moves around with him. They gave us the Wi-Fi version thinking I would not take it out of the house that much and also would not want a monthly expense just for that opportunity. We all have smart phones so we have mobile internet where ever we are. A couple of things to keep in mind about it though - it really is just a large screen iphone without the phone and without the camera. It does not load websites as fast as my computer. Even looking at this site and scanning replies in a thread, I easily get momentarily ahead of it. My eyes can at times get very weary and my computer screen is really huge so I find I love the ease you can expand the font size on the ipad and also love reading books on it - an illuminated screen is really nice. The battery charge seems to last a long time (days) but it is still very new. Our main techie son keeps telling me not to be afraid of adding "apps"...that is what it is there for. Many are free, some are really inexpensive - .99 to 3.99. I like cooking/recipe sites, news, decorating, etc. You can load Iphone and Ipad apps on it - the difference is that the Iphone apps look smaller - they are sized for the Iphone. You can expand the screen but you do lose the clarity. The apps made for Ipad seem better. I am planning on expanding my apps to include art, drawing, music etc.....just haven't done it yet. A good friend who is up Ventura county (north of LA) got one for Mother's Day. Within a week she traded up to the other version where there is a monthly charge - she says she takes it with her everywhere, like going out to dinner with the family. That is not my deal, I don't feel the need to have it everywhere (I also don't answer my cell phone in the shower but have several friends who do....) This friend is an Iphone user so she is much more familiar with all the apps than I am at this point. It is a very fun and useful gadget, it does not compute like a computer - I do a lot of typing of documents and excel work for DH and that will best be done on a computer. Also, they generally don't "print".....though DS says there are some apps you can get to send things to your printer, I don't have that yet. Overall I give it a big two thumbs up.....
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Download the free (and very reputable) Calibre program and then you can get the library books in ePUB format and convert them to Kindle (.azw) format. Pam_25f -- I don't know why Windows Player is entering into this at all. Download the Kindle book to your computer, and make note of where you've saved it. It's easiest if you create a folder and name it "Kindle downloads" or something like that. Connect your Kindle to your computer using the USB cable that came with the Kindle. Now, open "My Computer" and go to the folder where you downloaded the Kindle book. Now, do the "copy/paste" thing to copy it to the "Documents" folder on your Kindle. Disconnect your Kindle from the computer, and you'll have the book on it, available to read.
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gardenspice
14 years ago
With the nook, you can lend and borrow books from other users - you connect online.
Check the Amazon start page today. Amazon just announced their lending library for Amazon Prime members who are kindle owners. I ordered a Fire the first day they were announced. It should arrive in two weeks.
Pieonear
14 years ago
Here's the link re the Amazon lending library.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000739811
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
the main things you need to consider do you want a reader that can handle many types of formats so you can get books from multiple websites, if you do then you should consider ones that use epub format that is the most common format and also what the library uses. For example kindle uses one specfic format(azw) that is more limited, you can get it from amazon and there are a few other free sites that offer that format.
If you have one that uses epub you can get a copy of anyones epub, I have shared some of mine with others, you just email it to them and they put it on an sd card and into their reader, Amazon is more protected and they do have a lend feature now as do a few others.

For free books you will find many many more free books in epub format since it is the most widely used format. You can of course buy them also at many online book sites.

The android tablets which have ereader applications on them can be used for pretty much the same things you use a pc for, surfing the net, email, read magazines, watch youtube, listen to music and view pictures all of that plus you have a ton of games and other applications you can download for free and some for pay.

IT is very easy to download books, most of them you just use the browser to go to the site you want to get the book from and choose to download it and it goes right to the device, I prefer to download all of my books to a folder on my computer then from there put them on my SD card and use the SD card in my tablets, that way I can move the SD card to which ever one I want to use. I keep all the books on the sd card and leave the memory on the device for the apps.

I have put up some reviews on here and the computer help forums on a few different tablet/readers. I currently own a Pandigital Novel tablet, a Sylvania tablet and a lookbook color ereader. I enjoy them all.

this is a very good blog I recommend to those looking it has a lot of good info.
The eBook Reader Blog
Plus they list places for free books quite often

Prices vary dramatically, the sylvania tablet I have was just on sale for $99, a very good price for a starter that does a lot. You do not have to invest a lot of money to get a good tablet that does what you want.
User
14 years ago
I have the look book, I only used it a few times. It's ok. The battery seems to run out too quick for me.
dee_can1
14 years ago
"If you live in the States, you can download them from the public libraries on loan as well but that option hasn't come to Canada yet."

I have Kobo and I download books from the library all the time, and I'm in Canada. So this option is available here; I'm not sure if you were just referring to the Kindle, though. Kobo isn't as restricted.
curlysue
14 years ago
I don't know about any of the others but I love my Kindle. I just go to the Amazon site and it of course keeps track of all the books I have downloaded and gives me reccomendations for books I might enjoy. When I find one I like, I just click on the download to my Kindle, and within seconds I have my book. I have never paid more than .99 for a book, and so far, they have all been good books. The battery life is great. I mean I can read a whole book on a full charge. If your battery life runs out to fast, it may be because you have your e reader connected to the internet. Once I download a book I disconnect from the net. I carry my Kindle in my purse everywhere I go, That way if I'm ever stuck somewhere I can entertain myself for hours.
wildchild
14 years ago
I agree with everything Curlysue said. Love my Kindle.
sukindle2
14 years ago
If you need about kindle information, you can read the website that I recommended. The site are full or kindle tips and information that you need. ok. just visit this site. >>>>

Here is a link that might be useful: kindle review
roseluver
14 years ago
I love my Kindle. Please read my post "Kindle problem solved". I have over 250 books on mine and have never bought one. I too download the free books and do it daily so I don't miss one that won't be posted but a day.

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