eBooks -- Enjoy Effortless Entertainment 2

oh yay! I get to be the first comment. that doesn't happen often! LOL

Tiffany

I had my ebook (Sony) since May 2009 and I have no problem with how it feel.  In fact is sure feels like a book to me; and reads like one or two or three...Oh, yeah, mine can hold about 200 books.

wj

Wayne, I am looking into getting a Kindle. I love e-books and I find myself reading more e-books than print books these days.  Penn, I wish I had found e-books sooner but I am glad that I did find out about them.  I like them because I don't have to go digging around for it when I want to read it. 

I've got a Sony too & I really don't notice that I'm not reading a pb - I've even caught myself lifting my hand to the top right to turn the page!

I liked the look of the Kindle but, unfortuantely, they are not available in Canada - something to do with our telecommunication regulations regarding the wireless feature.  I've been really happy with the Sony, of course, 2 months after I bought it they announced a newer one!  It's a touch screen but I'm thinking I might not have been happy with it anyway - I'm so anal - I would hate the fingerprints on the screen!

Do be sure to check on book availability - with the Kindle, don't you have to buy only thru Amazon?  Sony was like that up until July 2008 but they added firmware so now you can download and read any .pdf book.  So I can even borrow from the library and purchase books from Harlequin and take advantage of free book offers.  If you can only purchase for Amazon - the $ could add up over the years.  I don't want to influence you because I really wanted the Kindle (at any price!) but now that I've got some ebook experience I'm glad I didn't get tied to one company or one type of format for the books.

Good luck with your research.  I will tell you that I was considering a small laptop instead of a PDA or a reader (this was before Sony added the firmware) - the ASUS Eee was recommended to me by a number of techies as it is a very small laptop but a bigger screen than a PDA and would be comfortable for reading.  I could only find it online, not in retail so it wasn't something I pursued, then the firmware announcement came out and Sony won the bid!

and I want to spend money on books not tools to read the books, I can't understand why you have to spend so much money on ereaders, why they're so expensive, and why they don't just create ONE basic model and GIVE IT AWAY FOR FREE with the first ebook you buy

okay have extra gadgets that are clip-on, plug-in to add a light or whatever, but I've met a lot of people who think it's ridiculous to spend the money on something that is of no basic use without books you still have to pay for

unless you like spending money on gadgets, but that's a whole different kettle of fish

Hugs

Sadhbh

When I find hear about ebooks, I did wonder why the price was so expensive since they were basically empty...but we don't know the kind of technology needed to creat something like that.  Then I realise it's just like television or a DVD player... We buy the empty instrument that played the DVDs and from which we watch television... It's like suggesting that we should get a DVD player free with our first rental or purchase of a DVD..

That's why I'm pleased with my Sony.  The 100 free classics that I received are worth the cost of the readers.  Multiply 100 by approx $6.00 or more and see what I mean. In essence I got 100 of my favorite books a few of which are on the school's curriculum...and I get to take it to class and show off.

wj

wj

When Lori hosted the Digital Clinic last year I didn't know a thing about eReaders. In fact, I was trying to get the podcasts to work on my Sansa Fuze. I really liked my Fuze - it opened up the world of audiobooks to me. When I first got my Fuze, I was able to download 5 podcasts (my choice) but then eharl updated and suddenly the subscription I had used wasn't available any longer. No more podcasts. So for Christmas, I asked for and rec'd an ipod Touch. It only took me 5 hrs to download iTunes, but now I get every Podcast eharl posts. Yay!

But you want to know about eBooks...Normally, I don't like eBooks. Although I have a laptop, by the time I'm finished writing, I want to relax in my recliner and read. And get my eyes away from a monitor for awhile. So although I had downloaded some free eHarl eBooks on my laptop for emergencies, I haven't read them yet. I've read and enjoyed some of the on-line reads but, not even half of those available.

When I rec'd my iPod Touch for Christmas however, I rec'd a very pleasant surprise...I can read eBooks on it!

For free, I downloaded the ‘eReader' and Stanza appl'ns. The first included 2 classic books. Stanza, also included 2 eBooks plus I found 4 free Harlequin ebooks to download which I did.

Now, I like ebooks. I can increase/decrease the text and change the page from portrait to landscape.

The only thing I can see the Kindle being better at is the page turn function which I believe they have as a nice accessible button.

On my iPod Touch, I have to slide or ‘flick' to the next page. It's not hard, but it means I always need 2 hands to read with it unless I'm sitting at a table with my head bent over it.

But what my husband really likes is that now when we're driving at night, I can read to him since  I don't need a book light and the small light given off by the iPod Touch doesn't interfere with his driving.

Hi Anita!

Some of my stored ebooks had an ipd extenstion and others were in 'MS Reader' but I can read both on my Touch.

I'm curious, the ebooks that you transferred that were in MS Reader, were they secure?  Does this mean you can downloand Harlequin eBooks in MS Reader and transfer them to the iTouch?    

If you're not sure, can you do an experiment and go to the eBoutique and from the top right select Minis and Bundles ... there you have the option of downloading some Round Robin books ... these are free and great for experimenting with

my sister has an iTouch ... I'd love to introduce her to ebooks

thanks!

So I downloaded the ereader, followed what few instructions it had, and it seemed like I was good to go.  But then it downloads my ereader books as an unreadable file... finally figured out how to open those in the ereader format via browsing for it (since it didn't readily give me that option!) and now I'm stuck with wondering how the heck to save the books!  Normally I save them on a flash drive but for the life of me I can't figure out how to save it anywhere that other in the downloaded file it was placed in.  I'm sure there is a save as option SOMEWHERE but right now I don't have have the patience to look for it.

Interesting Debi....

I may not totally understand what the problem is...but I will try to help.  When you download the file, does it give you the option to save or save as?  When I download, I always download to a specific folder so I can find it later.  I think you should be able to do this as well??

 They are unreadable files by clicking on them, but will work once you add it to your any Ereader library.  And you can copy and paste the files to a flash drive or card (thats what I do, to read on my phone.) and then open them up on another computer or phone as long as you have the unlock name and card number. 

For adding the books to your Ereader library...maybe these steps will help:

1. Open Ereader

2. Goto the "File" Menu on the upper left of the Ereader program and click it

3. Click "Add books"

4. Browse to find where you have the ebook stored, for me I have created a folder titled simply "ebooks" where I save my files to as I download them.

5. Click on ebook you want to add, then click "add."

6.  It should now be in your library.

If it is an encrypted ebook, then clicking on it now is when you will have to unlock it.

Let me know if this helps, or if I totally missed what the problem is. I really want it to work for you

Take Care,

Tammy

sort of, but it never gave me the option to save as.  Hmmm.... I'll experiment more when I download another one and see what happens then. 

I agree.. I would like the following.

1.  To make book read

2. The alphabetical list on the reader.

makes it easy to sort and send read books back to the Amazon library. That's a plus for me or I'd have about nine pages of books on my reader.

Roni, I don't know where you downloaded the books from - but I've got several books that are in adobe format, that I've bought from Harlequin and Fictionwise.  When I download them, they open the Adobe Digitial editions automatically.  But from there I've copied them to my reader, as well as importing them to the reader using the reader's software.  I've also used the same software to read the books on my computer, even when not using the internet.  With Fictionwise or the Sony website, I can go and download the book again, but there is definitely a complete file on my pc.  While I haven't been buying and downloading ebooks all that long, I haven't seen anyone else mention just getting a 'receipt', or having to be on line to read.

But speaking of libraries - many of them now have ebooks or audio books that you can borrow and return.

I must admit, I do enjoy eBooks, but I think that's partly because I love my laptop and I'm constantly on it.

But don't think that diminishes my love for actual books any. I still buy waaaaay too many books and have a new obsession with Hardcover books. There's just something so relaxing about cuddling up with an actual book rather than a computer screen, no matter how much I love my laptop.

Hey y'all. I've been reading eBooks for a little over three months, and I LOVE them. I use my iPod as a reader. As soon as my phon contract is up, I'll switch to the iPhone so I can have one electronic device to lug around. :-)

This has certainly been a learning experience. The whole PDF, Digital Editions mess was frustrating. I still have three books on my computer I haven't read because they're digital editions. I'll read them eventually, probably this summer when I have time to read on my laptop. I was shocked since the file said PDF that it didn't open as a reguiar locked PDF file. I'm glad Harlequin explained that on their site. I figure I'm not the only person who ran into this problem. I hope the Harlequin bookstore starts getting their books in eReader format. I have no problem getting them from other outlets, but it would benice to be able to get them a month early like I did with paper books.

I was interested to see Stanza reads MSReader formats. I had no idea. I'll have to go check that out.

I'm excited about eReader format but surprised it's not available for all books.

I do still read paper books that are borrowed, but I definitely prefer eBooks. For the first time in ages I don't have piles of books. Yesterday we were iced in and I could still get one of my favorite author's new releases. Because of the whole instant gratification thing I have to be careful with my book budget though. If I'm not careful I'll spend way too much money!

Thanks Penn for hosting this board and telling me about it! I'm looking forward to reading more.

 Edited to add: I e-mailed Random House about Delicious not being available in eReader format, and they said it's the retailers' faults the boks not available in that format. Interesting. It just shows how little I know about how the distribution of e-content works.

Mary Beth

Can you transfer the adobe DE books to the sony reader? A friend told me the sony reader is not compatible with imacs. That is a bummer.

I'm an imac user so I downloaded ebooks from eharl in adobe digital editions. Well the first time I didn't mean too, I also thought it was a regular pdf. I don't mind DE, but I do not like that I can't transfer this format to my portable device, my ipod touch. I can't convert it using stanza, ereader, or uploading personal content onto fictionwise. If anyone knows how to do this can you let me know, tell us here or email me?

Perhaps someday, if I can afford a Sony Reader, I can upload my adobe DE books there.

 Also, when I downloaded the free books in ereader format, they would not open with Stanza or Ereader on my computer. Stanza wanted a password to unlock it, and Ereader said I needed a newer version of ereader 2.7.1. I have the most recent version available on the website.  I couldn't even find a 2.7.1.

I love reading books on my ipod touch. I often use the black background with the white letters. I hope eharlequin comes up with a format I can easily put on my ipod. Maybe next year I can get a Sony Reader, but in the meantime, I'd like to be able to read the ebooks I bought.

Woo Hoo! I now have more books too read too. This time in eReader so I can read them on my iPod! I'm so happy. :-) I hope this means the next new H/S releases will be available in eReader, too.

Stargirl, to get your .pdb files to open on your iPod in eReader, you need to upload them to your personal content folder on Fictionwise. Once you do that you can download them to your iPod just like always. Hope that helps. It took me a while Tuesday to figure it out.

MB