Book Snails Book Group discussion

StarMan has put together a detailed post for those who might be interested in finding out more about eReaders. Please let us know if you have any questions or need further clarification. Thank you StarMan for putting this together for everyone to be able to review. :-)

IMPORTANT: The links below at B&N or Amazon may eventually change, but a Google search or two can usually help out if you are reading this as an old post:

► FREE B&N eBooks, sorted by Bestseller (or you can re-sort other ways):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/free-...

For BARNES & NOBLE shoppers who do NOT own a physical Nook eReader:

► Free Nook ereader apps for smartphone, tablet, or Windows 8.1/10:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/h/nook/...

Or simply go to http://www.nook.com or http://www.barnesandnoble.com , and dig around in the "Nook" menu up top.

Note: There once was the original “Nook for PC” app that let you read B&N eBooks on a regular computers (Windows XP/Vista/7). Sadly, B&N dropped it from their website ~2014, and it is no longer officially available or supported. However, it probably works fine if you still have it installed (I use it often).


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AMAZON.COM customers:

► FREE & Low-Priced Kindle eBooks
(includes many Top-Rated titles, including Romance, Sci-Fi, and much more... and also thousands of out-of-copyright classic titles):
http://www.amazon.com/s/?tag=skim1x15...

Kindle FIRE tablets can be found as cheaply as $49.99 (or less when on sale). But if your budget is ZERO dollars, there are plenty of free Kindle reader apps for your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

► FREE Amazon Kindle reader for PC: https://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/pc/d...

► Or for other devices (tablets, phones, Mac, etc) at:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...

If you already have an Amazon.com account, I believe their "cloud reader" is built-in if you are using a computer (nothing to download). You can simply send Amazon.com eBook purchases (free or not) to it to the Cloud reader when purchasing, and you can then view them on-screen.
Visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom... for more info.

To find and view eBooks you've previously puchased at Amazon
1 ) Log into Amazon.com as usual.
2) Go to Your Account
3) Under Order History, click "View Your Kindle Orders"

Be aware that you technically do not "own" Kindle eBooks. You are buying a license to read them, for as long as Amazon deems fit (they have occasionally been known to delete certain books from Kindles without warning). For most people, this will never happen, and is irrelevant. There are plenty of web discussions on the pros & cons of Amazon's proprietary eBook format verus "open" formats such as .mobi or .epub. Google such if you want to work your dander up.

If you have ebooks in .epub, .mobi, or .pdf format, you CAN send them to your physical Amazon Kindle tablet. It's prefectly legal. Here's a simple way: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,...

For tips & tricks for YOUR particular eReader, try a Google or Yahoo search for terms such as "tips tricks ereader nook simple touch" or "tips tricks kindle paperwhite" etc. PCMag.com and other geek sites are good sources for such info as well.

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If you simply want a free eReader app/program, and don't care to mess with B&N or Amazon apps, these are free and popular:

CALIBRE : https://calibre-ebook.com/ (also available as a "portable" app that can run on a USB stick).

ADOBE DIGITAL EDITIONS: http://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/... -or- http://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/...

Mozilla FIREFOX (web browser) ADD-ON: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fire...

http://www.kobo.com (a Canadian bookstore, formerly associated with Borders Bookstores) also has free eReader apps for PC, tablets, or smartphones. They work much like the Nook apps do. It works perfectly fine for us Yanks (Americans) as well.

This looks interesting as well:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion...

What eReaders do y'all have, or lust after?

Last month, PC Magazine and CNET both reviewed the "best" eReaders of 2016.

PC Mag chose

1st place: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite* $120 - 4.5 stars

2nd place: Amazon Kindle - $80 (WiFi only, no 4G) - 4 stars

(Nook Glowlight Plus*^ [$130] and several others also got 4 stars)


CNET chose:

1st place: Amazon Kindle Oasis* $290 (yikes!)

2nd place: Amazon Kindle Voyager * $200 (ouch!)

(Nook Glowlight Plus*^ took 4th place) - $130

CNET apparently thinks money grows on trees.


* = has built-in light or backlight (all except the cheaper Kindle)
^ = waterproof! (only the Nook GlowLight Plus)

Water resistance isn't a huge selling point for me. If I decide to e-read while in the tub enjoying Hurricaine Hermine, my 5¢ solution works fine:




You can see what GoodReads members say about particular eReader models at: https://www.goodreads.com/ereaders

Wikipedia tries to keep their comparison chart of eReaders up to date: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...


My El Cheapo eReader Awards go to:

1st Place: FREE. The device you already have (smartphone, tablet, or computer). Just download a free eReader app (Nook, Kindle, Kobo, or other) from iTunes or the Google Play store, or from the appropriate website.

2nd Place: $25 or less: Whatever I can find used on eBay.com or ShopGoodwill.com (older Kindles or Nook Simple Touch are fine).

3rd Place: ~ $50: Amazon Kindle Fire 7" tablet. If you don't already have a tablet, this item is both a [somewhat crippled/customized] Android tablet and an eReader. It ain't no iPad mini, but if you want to read magazines in COLOR and be able to do other stuff as well, it's a bargain -- if you can live with the 7" screen (bigger versions are available). Downside: short battery life, no reading in bright sunlight, on-screen "offers" blatant advertisements (unless you pay $15 more to opt out).

If you can't decide, check with your local library. Many now will "loan" eBooks, but may only support certain devices. This could be a deciding factor for you fellow el cheapos thrifty folks.

You know you use bubbles for said bathtime! LOL I use my son's iPad mini for my kindle needs at the moment. I don't normally ask Santa to see if I have been good this year. We have Santa focus on the child. However, I think that I might break that pattern and ask him nicely for an eReader/Tablet. I will never turn solely to it, as I love the sights, sounds, feels and smells of books. I just am able to get a lot of free books online and I don't want to miss those opportunities. Thanks for putting all of this info together StarMan. I will be reading this for sure to try and make it easy on my husband....errrrr I mean Santa when the time is right. :-)

B&N free Nook ebooks link seems to have changed (as it often does):

Try http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/free-...

or

https://www.thebalance.com/places-to-...

Thanks for the update!!

It's been a while since we commented here, so...

Has anyone purchased an eReader in the last year or so?

Do you have an opinion on Kindle vs Nook, or e-Ink (greyscale) versus LCD (color) eReaders/tablets?

Which model would you recommend to a Book Snail, and why?

Does your local library participate in Overdrive or other eBook loan programs? If so, which eReader(s) do they support?

(I haven't used anything newer than a Nook Simple Touch, so I'm out of touch!)

I love the free Kindle app. When I borrow ebooks from my library I typically get 3 options: Kindle, Overdrive, or read online. Kindle is always my first choice because you can post status updates to Goodreads directly from the Kindle app itself. I also like that it learns your reading speed and can then tell you how long it will take you to finish a chapter (or the book itself).

I have always had a Nook so I probably will never get a Kindle. The newer Nook is great since it is based on the app. The app and Nook sync with each other. It's great.

Most people will say Kindle is better, but honestly don't agree. I have seen a Kindle wipe out everything. Books, photos, apps, etc.

I have not had that issue with Nook. If my newer Nook breaks I have my old Nook Color that I have had since 2011. (I got the new one for 29.99 when it was on sale. Honestly do not regret my decision.)

Thanks, Angela and Erin. You both make excellent points!

I'll likely stick with my old Nook Simple Touch as long as it works (I love the weeks of battery life), but I'll definitely consider all options if/when it dies. Sadly, my backup eReader -- an old Kobo Touch -- has already croaked.

StarMan wrote: "Thanks, Angela and Erin. You both make excellent points!

I'll likely stick with my old Nook Simple Touch as long as it works (I love the weeks of battery life), but I'll definitely consider all op..."

How long have you had your Nook Simple Touch?

Angela wrote: "How long have you had your Nook Simple Touch?

A little over 2 years. Got it used, but in good condition for under $20. It's fine for my purposes, and I'm geek enough to disassemble it and replace the battery if it comes to that... unless I decide to embrace something more current.

It's basic but with good features (easy on the eyes, charge lasts a long time, can read in direct sunlight, easy to add .epubs to it).

If I were a big magazine reader, the color tablets/readers might be more tempting.

StarMan wrote: "Angela wrote: "How long have you had your Nook Simple Touch?

A little over 2 years. Got it used, but in good condition for under $20. It's fine for my purposes, and I'm geek enough to disassemble..."

That's really great. (I rarely read magazines.) Good thing about Barnes and Noble is if your Nook breaks they are saved on your account so once you switch over to the new one they will all be there.

Amazon comes clean about how the 3G shutdown will affect older Kindles...

Some customers get a free Kindle Oasis, some get a $50-70 discount for a new one and just two weeks to take advantage of it:

https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/07...

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Official Amazon info at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...

Amazon device trade-in program: https://www.amazon.com/l/9187220011

Amazon Is killing the ability to download your purchased Kindle eBooks to your computer

IF you wish to download your ebooks, do so before 26 Feb 2025:

1. Go to Amazon.com, sign in, and click Accounts & Lists > Content Library > Books.
2. Navigate to the book you want to download and click More actions > Download & transfer via USB.

Or video instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pRNk...

Full story: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/02...

Side note:
While many Kindle users have never downloaded their ebooks, now might be a good time to consider doing so. Amazon has been known to occasionally remove eBooks from Kindles without warning, or to update certain ebooks with "edited" (sanitized/woke) versions -- without your permisssion.

Thanks for the heads up Starman. I'll stick with my paper books.