Who Really Reads Ebooks

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Try reading a Kindle Vs iPad for a couple of hours and see how your eyes react. Also bring a kindle / iPad to the beach on a sunny day (where you might normally read a paper book) and observe the differences.

The idea of reading a book of any decription on a beach just seems ridiculous to me, let alone exposing expensive electronics to sand and water.

jimmycrackcorm

I think a lot depends on pricing. I use a Kindle DX for mainly technical computing books and I won't buy paper copies.

I won't spend the usual $30 + on an ebook because frankly I could download the PDF for free. I do however buy them from Amazon when they are priced around $10. It just seems wrong to charge for an eBook the same price as teenager equivalent.

Imho, it's much better to sell thousands of copies at $1 than a few hundred at $10 as it makes for better impulse purchasing.

EileenG wrote: »

I'm still using my phone as a kindle, but I've found a few websites with books I want to read, but they download as ePubs. Does anyone know of an ePub reader that I can download to an Android phone?

Aldiko, but I've never used it so I can't comment on it.

I'm still using my phone as a kindle, but I've found a few websites with books I want to read, but they download as ePubs. Does anyone know of an ePub reader that I can download to an Android phone?

Jimoslimos wrote: »

PDF's - Yes, but not without a few drawbacks. Small screen size (you could use the larger DX but IMO its too big for an eBook reader).

I might be wrong, but AFAIK the Kindle DX Graphite is second-gen software in third gen hardware; as such, the PDF support is not as good as the Kindle 3 (i.e. not all PDFs will be readable on it.)

Jimoslimos

pickarooney wrote: »

Do they read .epubs and PDFs?

ePUB - No, although there is software (free) that can convert non-DRM* protected ePUB to a format recognised by Kindle.

PDF's - Yes, but not without a few drawbacks. Small screen size (you could use the larger DX but IMO its too big for an eBook reader). Inability to change font size (you can zoom but its a tad cumbersome). I've put a few travel books on my GFs and it worked well but good eyesight is essential.

A few people still making the erroneous comparison between tablets and Kindles. Try reading a Kindle Vs iPad for a couple of hours and see how your eyes react. Also bring a kindle / iPad to the beach on a sunny day (where you might normally read a paper book) and observe the differences.

Kindle Vs Nook...........Kindle wins
Nook Vs iPad.............iPad
Kindle Vs iPad............Kindle (as a dedicated eReader)

*IIRC Amazon's problem isn't so much with the ePub format, its more concerned with the DRM protection, which for the most part is owned by Adobe. Amazon have their own copyright protection software and don't want to pay Adobe for use of theirs - of course even if they did pay Adobe it doesn't neccessarily mean all ePub ebooks will work if they are using non Adobe drm protection

chicken fingers wrote: »

Whats the ebook process in a library?

Anybody know much does the government pay in royalties each time an adult borrows an ebook form the library?
And if it requires an actual person to process the transaction, I wonder what that costs in total, salary, pensions etc per book. I'd be willing to bet that the government is paying more per book read than it would cost the individual to buy their own copy for keeps.

Surely this applies to all library books? And I assume that e-books get a small royalty per loan, the same as paper books do.

Perhaps its books out of copyright?

chicken fingers

Whats the ebook process in a library?

Anybody know much does the government pay in royalties each time an adult borrows an ebook form the library?
And if it requires an actual person to process the transaction, I wonder what that costs in total, salary, pensions etc per book. I'd be willing to bet that the government is paying more per book read than it would cost the individual to buy their own copy for keeps.

Haven't checked it out yet, but I was told that in September, most libraries would be offering e-books. You download your e-book, and it vanishes after three weeks, so you don't have to return it. Sounds perfect.

EileenG wrote: »

I heard they could. What can you use for library e-books then?

Library eBooks? whats that?

Chinafoot wrote: »

Don't forget that Kindles can't currently be used for library ebooks.

I heard they could. What can you use for library e-books then?

Chinafoot wrote: »

Don't forget that Kindles can't currently be used for library ebooks.

Do they read .epubs and PDFs?

Antilles

I think the only rational way to decide this is to force everybody to buy and use Kindles for a year. Then after that they can decide for themselves, and those who don't want a Kindle can be put to work in underground salt mines.

FewFew

Right, just went on a Kindle shopping spree.

Bought two of the fecking things (possibly poor logic here, but I decided to start buying Christmas presents now as I may find myself unemployed nearer to the event.). Amazon is such a pain in the ass.

It knows I'm in Ireland, there are Irish flags everywhere and it's charging me more money for my ebooks. Soooo... why is it when I click on the big kindle add, it lets me add the US only version into my cart. Annoying.

Then I try to buy a cover for it, and it turns out the cover can't be shipped outside of the states.

This is quite annoying, there are just constantly errors in your order, but no warning until you press the payment button. Gah!

Also, I'm not a fan of the "Kindle + special offers" deal. It sounds like you're buying a Kindle on special offer, about $20 off the price, but what it actually means is your Kindle will start showing adverts whenever you're not reading something on it! I think I'd rather pay the $20 and not carry around ads for the lifetime of the product.

Chinafoot

Don't forget that Kindles can't currently be used for library ebooks.

BostonB wrote: »

Well the screen is designed for reading books, specifically.

Whats the weight difference between a tablet and a kindle with the same screen size.

I think the 10" Kindle DX is about 50g lighter than my Android tablet of the same size. The 6" in kindle is about 70g lighter than a 7" version I think.

Regarding the scren, I honestly don't know. I haven't tested a Kindle for more than 5 minutes or in the dark or sun.

BostonB wrote: »

Kinda hard to impulse buy from that, then read it there and then.

Then get a Kindle.

I buy a huge number of impulse kindle books for $3 or so. At that price, I don't have to justify it to myself, I just go ahead and buy, and if it turns out to be a lemon, I don't feel too cheated.

The last time I went on holidays by myself, I ended up with a crowd of wrinklies who wouldn't talk to me, and I was travelling Ryanair light. If I hadn't had a dozen books on my Kindle ap, I'd have been sunk. As it was, I caught up with all my reading and enjoyed myself anyway.

Kinski wrote: »

Depends on the book. Though often there is little difference. Don't buy hardcopies from bookshops here - shop on bookdepository.co.uk instead.

Kinda hard to impulse buy from that, then read it there and then.

pickarooney wrote: »

Likewise the small screen of the Kindle would be a major issue for me, but it's swings and roundabouts. If I wanted a small screen device I'd get a 7" tablet and lose 250g....

Well the screen is designed for reading books, specifically.

Whats the weight difference between a tablet and a kindle with the same screen size.

BostonB wrote: »

I think the extra weight is a major issue, not something significant.

Likewise the small screen of the Kindle would be a major issue for me, but it's swings and roundabouts. If I wanted a small screen device I'd get a 7" tablet and lose 250g

What the difference in cost in eBook and regular books? Books in Ireland are very expensive, especially as an impulse buy.

.

Depends where you're comparing to. I always fill up on English books when I'm home at about two quid a book.

BostonB wrote: »

What the difference in cost in eBook and regular books? Books in Ireland are very expensive, especially as an impulse buy.

Depends on the book. Though often there is little difference. Don't buy hardcopies from bookshops here - shop on bookdepository.co.uk instead.

What the difference in cost in eBook and regular books? Books in Ireland are very expensive, especially as an impulse buy.

I think the extra weight is a major issue, not something significant.

And thanks for reminding us what a pleasant individual you are to discuss with.

chicken fingers

pickarooney wrote: »

By the time they understand the concept of fashion in literature they'll be well able to read themselves and probably have their own e-readers.

I don't really see the difference, apart from the versatility of the tablet and the weight, which is about 600g compared to 300g for the Kindle. I don't have a kindle or a nook, mostly because my tablet does the same job.

1) Its just an example, their friends in school might be talking about a specific book and they might want it.
I did this the other day with my niece who was sick and wanted a specific book for bed and she was delighted.

2) If you don't really see the difference where there are huge differences, fair enough, thanks for posting and sharing your ignorance of the topic at hand.

chicken fingers wrote: »

What about when your kids really want you to read them the latest and greatest book, which you don't already have?

By the time they understand the concept of fashion in literature they'll be well able to read themselves and probably have their own e-readers.

We're talking about ebook readers, not tablets, there is a difference, do you own a kindle or nook?

I don't really see the difference, apart from the versatility of the tablet and the weight, which is about 600g compared to 300g for the Kindle. I don't have a kindle or a nook, mostly because my tablet does the same job.