Nooks for books

JumbleDuck

JumbleDuck

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In case anyone is looking for a cheap ebook reader for sailing ... I've just bought myself a Nook. It's the failing Barnes and Noble attempt to rival the Kindle, but because it's failing prices are plummeting, and I got the Simple Touch Glowlight model for £49 at Argos, down from £120 recently. Look around and the version without glowlight is £29. It's rather more open than the Kindle, so while I haven't bought any books for it yet (I prefer to spent real money on real paper) I've already loaded 64 free books onto it from Project Gutenberg.

Seems a nice bit of kit, works well, easy to use, pleasant to read and if I drop it over the side I've only lost fifty quid.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
I might be getting a reader for SWMBO. Will it download stuff from Amazon, and will it take PDF's?
Click to expand...

No, it won't take Kindle books, but it will take pdfs and epubs. There is a pretty big online Nook shop for ebooks, too, at www.nook.com/gb. I bought my mother a basic Kindle when she went into hospital recently, and the Nook is definitely better - easier to use thanks to the touch screen and a nicer display. Kindle probably better if you plan to buy a lot of stuff, though.
 
JumbleDuck said:
No, it won't take Kindle books, but it will take pdfs and epubs. There is a pretty big online Nook shop for ebooks, too, at www.nook.com/gb. I bought my mother a basic Kindle when she went into hospital recently, and the Nook is definitely better - easier to use thanks to the touch screen and a nicer display. Kindle probably better if you plan to buy a lot of stuff, though.
Click to expand...

Bugger! Looks like the cheapskate approach won't work. Thanks though.:D
 
JumbleDuck said:
easier to use thanks to the touch screen
Click to expand...

I wouldn't want a touchscreen on my Kindle - too easy to press it by mistake when curled up in bed or otherwise holding the thing in a non-standard way. I'm quite happy with my two big "next page" buttons.

Pete
 
prv said:
I wouldn't want a touchscreen on my Kindle - too easy to press it by mistake when curled up in bed or otherwise holding the thing in a non-standard way. I'm quite happy with my two big "next page" buttons.
Click to expand...

I do like those Kindle buttons. However, the Nook does have switches on the frame as well, so you can "turn" that way of you want. I've only used it for a couple of days, but I haven't had any issue with unwanted activations yet.

prv said:
Fairly sure Amazon ebooks have DRM, so a simple change of format won't help.
Click to expand...

The Calibre page is a bit inconsistent, First it says

What formats does calibre support conversion to/from?

calibre supports the conversion of many input formats to many output formats. It can convert every input format in the following list, to every output format.

Input Formats: CBZ, CBR, CBC, CHM, DJVU, DOCX, EPUB, FB2, HTML, HTMLZ, LIT, LRF, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC, PDB, PML, RB, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ

Output Formats: AZW3, EPUB, FB2, OEB, LIT, LRF, MOBI, HTMLZ, PDB, PML, RB, PDF, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ​

but then it says

What are the best source formats to convert?

In order of decreasing preference: LIT, MOBI, AZW, EPUB, AZW3, FB2, DOCX, HTML, PRC, ODT, RTF, PDB, TXT, PDF​

which is odd because neither AZW (original Kindle) nor AZW3 (latest Kindle) are listed as supported input formats.
 
vyv_cox said:
Try Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com. I find it will convert most formats for Kindle, maybe will do the same for Nook?
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+1...

Real cheap skate approach is then Kindle app for your mobile or laptop.. all the readability features without the dedicated hardware.. :D

prv said:
Fairly sure Amazon ebooks have DRM, so a simple change of format won't help.

Pete
Click to expand...

There's a Calibre add on to remove that.. I use it to swap books with the missus and my Dad...
 
'scuse my ignorance, please.

I have a simple Android tablet. Do you mean that I can download and read all kinds of books id I get the Kindle app ? (or, presumably, an epub app for Gutenberg ) ?
 
prv said:
I wouldn't want a touchscreen on my Kindle - too easy to press it by mistake when curled up in bed or otherwise holding the thing in a non-standard way. I'm quite happy with my two big "next page" buttons.

Pete
Click to expand...

I had the basic kindle and found the lack of touch screen a bit annoying. Ended up giving it to an relative and buying an ipad and running the kindle app. Swimbo loves her kindle paperweight and daughter loves her kindle fire. Both have touch screens.
 
sarabande said:
'scuse my ignorance, please.

I have a simple Android tablet. Do you mean that I can download and read all kinds of books id I get the Kindle app ? (or, presumably, an epub app for Gutenberg ) ?
Click to expand...

Take a quick look in the Android store. There are several apps which will do what you want. All free so try 'em and select the one you like - SWMO and I use different apps.
 
sarabande said:
'scuse my ignorance, please.

I have a simple Android tablet. Do you mean that I can download and read all kinds of books id I get the Kindle app ? (or, presumably, an epub app for Gutenberg ) ?
Click to expand...

Yes... download from the app store, or Amazon... I have a normal Kindle, and the app on my phone.. for Amazon content at least it syncs automatically between the two, so whichever device I am using to read opens up at the latest page.. very clever.. must test it with the free books/PDF's etc..

PS. The app is free and is available for a humungous number of different device types...
 
Using Calibre you can easily convert any format to another i.e. PDF to any e reader Nook, Kindle or whatever. Even Word can be converted.
 
JumbleDuck said:
No, it won't take Kindle books, but it will take pdfs and epubs. There is a pretty big online Nook shop for ebooks, too, at www.nook.com/gb. I bought my mother a basic Kindle when she went into hospital recently, and the Nook is definitely better - easier to use thanks to the touch screen and a nicer display. Kindle probably better if you plan to buy a lot of stuff, though.
Click to expand...

It will, with a bit of work.

As an android device it can be rooted (google 'nooter' for info on rooting nooks) Once rooted it has enough memory to install the kindle software and an email client.
I have done this to mine and it has worked succesfully.

if you're not keen on messing about with the firmware, then I would add my name to the list of folk recommending Calibre.
 
sarabande said:
'scuse my ignorance, please.

I have a simple Android tablet. Do you mean that I can download and read all kinds of books id I get the Kindle app ? (or, presumably, an epub app for Gutenberg ) ?
Click to expand...

I've had a Kindle for about 4 years and recently got a tablet. I downloaded the Kindle App, which asked for my email address & Amazon password and 2 minutes later, all the books I'd bought from Amazon appeared on the tablet. Not the ones I'd got from elsewhere, though. There's a load of ebook apps, so I'd be surprised if you couldn't find one thet supports most formats. As I have Calibre on the PC, I can't see any need for more than one, though.
 
Trident 24 said:
It will, with a bit of work.

As an android device it can be rooted (google 'nooter' for info on rooting nooks) Once rooted it has enough memory to install the kindle software and an email client.
I have done this to mine and it has worked succesfully.

if you're not keen on messing about with the firmware, then I would add my name to the list of folk recommending Calibre.
Click to expand...

Why not just install the kindle reader (from Amazon) for Android?
And the Nook reader (from Barnes and Noble) for Android?
And there's a Google reader as well - Just picked up the Three Musketeers - free! (Am I alone in taking pleasure in seeking out free books?)

They all will maintain your bookmarks across devices - even when using multiple users on Android....
Didn't Amazon offer free kindle downloads when you'd bought the hard copy? Or am I thinking of CDs?
 
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