Kindle or tablet

[Fantasie 19]

I use the free Calibre programme to organise my books. Download anything in almost any format (except copyright protected kindle) and Calibre will convert it instantly to the whichever format works best for you on whatever reader you have. Well worth it, specially as its free!

I use Calibre as well - there is a free add on that removes the DRM (NB. not copyright protection - it is purely encryption to stop you copying Amazon books) from Kindle content allowing you to transfer it to another Kindle (should you wish ) means the SWMBO and I can buy a book, and each read it on our own, separately registered, Kindles....

 

[HoratioHB]

Any comments on alternaivers to the kindle if you want an e reader? The kindle seems the market leader but are you tied to amazon/kindle? I might be better disposed if they paid their share of taxes? The Nook seems a good piece of kit but I am told the software is clunky, do established high street booksellars like WH Smioth, Blackwells and Waterstones do e books and what format/hardware is needed?

Waterstones have now signed a deal with Amazon and all their e-books will be sold that way - hence they now sell Kindles. The whole publishing world is in major upheaval at the moment and I reckon I will take years to settle down. Its a VHS/Betamax war with far more contenders. Meanwhile Amazon do seem to be the market leaders.

 

[lustyd]

Waterstones have now signed a deal with Amazon and all their e-books will be sold that way - hence they now sell Kindles. The whole publishing world is in major upheaval at the moment and I reckon I will take years to settle down. Its a VHS/Betamax war with far more contenders. Meanwhile Amazon do seem to be the market leaders.

That's a shame I like Waterstones. Guess they won't be around long now though.

 

[lustyd]

OMG. Do you not understand the word?

A compromise is "Something that combines qualities or elements of different things".

Do you really have an iPad, an iPad mini, a Kindle, a Kindle fire and several other devices? I doubt it.

Yes, and 3 Sony tablets among others. Do you understand that for someone that only wants to read there is no need for a compromise?

 

[25931]

I'm very grateful for all the info.
I've just bought a Paperwhite.Amazon won't deliver to Portugal so I bought a new one on Ebay (with guarantee) for a few bob less.

 

[ukmctc]

I am a complete novice in these matters so I would appreciate some advice.
I like the idea of being able to read books on an electronic device. Is a kindle so much betterfor this purpose that it warrants the considerably higher price ? If so which model and if not what is the best alternative ? Thenking you all in advance.

viewsonic 7, £150, its also a mobile if required and accepts any chip. It does everything and more that the ipad and others do.

 

[ianj99]

Yes audible is good used to use them on long night watches, and being an Amazon system they will transfer to any device registered to your Amazon account like kindle books. Mrs Maxi has all her audible books on her kindle as well as her MP3

I think I'll go down the 'Audible' route as I already have a laptop and I noticed there a quite a few BBC radio plays available as well which are obviously potentially even more entertaining than just a straight narrative.

Make your kids earn their pocket money - get them narrating your favourite books for next summer hols...

 

[sam_uk]

Any comments on alternaivers to the kindle if you want an e reader? The kindle seems the market leader but are you tied to amazon/kindle? I might be better disposed if they paid their share of taxes? The Nook seems a good piece of kit but I am told the software is clunky, do established high street booksellars like WH Smioth, Blackwells and Waterstones do e books and what format/hardware is needed?

I have a load of (20 gig) of .PDF files & books that are not handled well by the inbuilt browsers in E-readrers.

If I had a kindle I could not access this library.

After a bit of research I got a Sony PRS T1 a bit more expensive than the locked down kindle. It's a Android device that can take a 32 gig SD card.

After rooting it:
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRST1_Rooting_and_Tweaks

You can then install the kindle Android app. So not only can I access my entire .PDF library, I can use it just like a kindle & access all their books too.

You can also install almost any Android app.

 

[shak]

I prefer Kindle because a like reading and a read a lot. Besides a tablet, is bad for your eyes if you are reading for many hours.
Here i put you a blog when they speak about the ereaders and tablets ( in spanish): Comprar ebook