I have a new e-reader, and it's a Kindle Paperwhite. The primary reason I have it is that I got it for free, along with the case, from my guy's employer. He gets points every year from work that are redeemable for stuff online, but he never uses them. If he retires next year he will lose all the points, so we decided to cash them in this year. I first tried to talk my kid into getting a tablet (he also had enough for a small one of those) but she wasn't interested in that or anything else that was available.I've made peace with finally having a Kindle, too. I've resisted getting an e-reader for years, until the family bought me a Nook. That finally died on me earlier this year, and (even if I could afford it) I'm not sure getting a new Nook is a good idea. I worry about B&N and what's going to happen to it after the holidays. So I've been reading e-books on my desktop for the last couple of months to compensate, and it's difficult to finish anything because of the big monitor in my face.
Honestly, I'm not thrilled to be supporting Amazon, but I was already buying from them a few e-books that I couldn't get from any other bookseller, and rental textbooks for my college kid. A lot of my favorite authors have gone exclusive with Amazon, so a Kindle is necessary if I want to continue to read their work, especially when they publish in electronic format only. I can keep telling myself I didn't pay for the e-reader, so it doesn't count, but of course it does. I want to support my author pals more than I want to boycott Amazon, so it's an easy decision.
I also have the chore of transferring all my unread my e-books from my desktop Kindle reader to the e-reader. I decided to move one e-book at a time, and read it before I transfer another file, which will allow me to avoid having two TBRs. The only thing I have done is start putting my name in for ARC e-books at Library Thing when there is no paper copy available in their Early Reviewers Program. Having a Kindle may help me get more free books that way.
I'd like to take the Kindle with me when I'm away from home, too. For one thing it's a lot smaller and lighter than the Nook, and the non-glare screen is easier on my eyes. It would be nice to have some books with me when I'm waiting somewhere, or maybe sit and read at the park or an outdoor cafe. This might open up a whole new way of reading for me, especially when cooler weather rolls around soon.
Now if I could just figure out how to keep the damn thing from turning itself on . . . .
I tried to support Barnes and Noble and bought several nooks, but they never really came through. B&N was always a late and short when it came to technology. And I never had good experiences with their support. I really love my Kindle. I love preordering and changing my mind, love the Kindle deals, and simply it is so much easier than B&N.
ReplyDeleteI was recently forced to return to my Nook after I received my monies from the settlement. And I find my Kindle so much easier.
I think you will very much enjoy your Kindle.
Sandy L
I can't help you about the turning on by itself thing. I can tell you I too, finally succumbed to the eReader convenience. I have a Samsung tablet though because I didn't want to be locked in to a unit that was either tied to Amazon or only did books because I didn't want to take my laptop everywhere when I travel. But it really is a lot more convenient than lugging a dozen paperbacks around!
ReplyDeleteYou can, if you like, get Calibre and then transfer all your Kindle books to Calibre on your computer. Drag and drop, Calibre does the rest. That way you have a personal backup of all your books, so if Amazon decides to act up and snatch books back, you still have them.
ReplyDeleteUnless you install a lock-breaking plugin, you'll still only be able to read them on the Kindle. Amazon depends on the convenience to have you in its clutches and keep you locked down to the one outlet. But you can work with a Kindle, and get your books from anywhere.
Buy ebooks from other places in Kindle format (mobi or azw) and load them on to Calibre. You can actually get them in any format, as long as they're unlocked, and Calibre will convert them for you when you upload them. You can contact Calibre by sticking a cable in your computer or by wirelessly connecting, using Calibre Companion (not sure if you can do this on a Kindle, but if you can get Calibre Companion for your Kindle, then you can do it that way).
Calibre will load the books to the right place for you, once you've allowed it to connect. If you have Calibre open, when you connect your Kindle with the computer, Calibre will ask you if you want it to manage your device. Click yes, and the job's done. Then right-click on a book, and choose "send to my device" and it does the rest. You can choose a bunch of books, too.
Calibre is free.
I've found my Kindle Touch useful for years. I read Project Gutenberg works on it, and I've started buying discounted books through BookBub and BookGorilla. I still read printed books, of course, but it's hard to do under the covers (the wife likes to turn out the light early, so I make do with a book light under the covers. No, I am not ten years old!)
ReplyDeleteI've also found it useful in my work. I can make kindle versions of my manuscripts (using KindleGen) and proof them on the Touch. I highlight mistakes and add notes as needed.
When I was reviewing books, I did join one service, but got quickly irritated with it and stopped. Books were badly formatted, or so larded with DRM that loading them onto the Kindle was more trouble than it was worth. I hope Library Thing is easier for you.
I don't know too much about the kindle, but you may want to consider something link DropBox. You can upload any file to it, and as long as you have network access, you can download whatever files you like to your kindle. I do exactly that with my tablet. The big advantage to the tablet is there are multiple readers for Word Docs, PDF, mobi, epub, etc... so I can read any type of ebook. I do like the PaperWhite screen better than the tablet, but you can't have everything, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit of a tech junky, but there are things I won't get. A smart phone for one. I have a kindle Paperwhite, an older one, and my Galaxy tab. I've been reading e-books since way back in 2003 when fictionwise wasn't owned by B and N. Silly question? Doesn't your kindle have wireless capabilities? If you have access to a wireless network, you should be able to download your kindle books directly from Amazon, since they can be read on multiple devices, and if you download a paritially read novel it should hold your place on the new device.
ReplyDeleteI'm considering buying a Paperwhite myself. My last ereader drives me crazy and though I've avoided Kindles it may just be the solution. Until then I read on my desktop... ugh, not always the best thing but that's the way it is for now.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see you're back posting (and feeling better), you've had so many ideas that have helped me along the way especially with my bits of writing.
Ron B
Free is always good. I have a nook, but I find reading on an i-pad easier--and cheaper since I borrow it from hubby.
ReplyDeleteMost of my online purchases are from Amazon. Occasionally I'll use Jet.com but invariably Amazon beats them on price 9 times out of 10.
I use a tablet. Mine is a Nexus 7, the 2013 one. It's perfect for what I want. I don't do anything on my phone except make calls and text. I hotspot it to my tablet instead. I have the Kindle ap, have just uninstalled the Nook ap, but I use Moon+ Reader everyday, which I use epub format. It's in colour, I can turn the brightness up and down, choose whatever font I want, and change the font size with one swipe.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to choose the format, and I love the colour. I have Facebook, browsers and maps, amongst other things.
I love my iPad but it's very heavy so I've just ordered a cheapo android 7" tablet to take away with me on day trips etc. I hurt my shoulder / collarbone recently by having the iPad in my backpack along with lots of other stuff, and walking around an event for hours. I was in agony for a week so a lighter unit will be the way forward.
ReplyDeleteWith your kindle desktop app this means you have an amazon account. Go to your account info and simply click all the books you want to transfer to your kindle ereader. it will save your spot as Fae mentioned earlier. I'm nervous about BN's future as an author who publishes wide so my readers can access me however they choose. Getting jittery about nano too.
ReplyDelete