Here is another useful site for Kindle owners: ereaderiq
It lists free non-public domain stuff available on Amazon as well as discounted titles. You can also sign up for email alerts.
Amazon adds and subtracts titles from their free list every day so check back often.
Also, be sure to set your region the first time you go there.
Where does one get the add-ons? I like the looks of this product and am thinking about converting back and forth between a Nook and a Kindle.
I’m in trouble, now. I’m using a different web browser, and my SIL installed Win7, so NOTHING I had before is set up the same and I can’t find a damn thing. I can’t even get Calibre to look like it did before. I’ll have to wait until my SIL can edjumicate me.
The changes to my laptop were made to fix a gaming problem I had, and the conclusion now is that the video card is pfft, so I need a new laptop. That will be transferring and reinstalling EVERYTHING.
I think I’m getting a headache.
Sometimes just picking up a paperback is…EASIER, yanno?
~VOW
If the product is non-DRM’ed, you should be able to do it as-is. Otherwise, do a search on “Apprentice Alf” who has instructions and links to a site which has the add-ins for download.
Disclaimer: I do this only for personal use, never to share, in a way that does not (in my mind) violate the spirit of the law in the US. And as best as I understand it, it’s NOT illegal to do such things to your own data.
Anyway - it’ll take you about 2 minutes to get a plugin installed and configured - then Calibre does the rest seamlessly.
Speaking of which - I can’t say enough about how useful Calibre is. Please consider making a voluntary contribution to the developers!
Caution: Idiot Alert!
What’s DRM?
~VOW
Which I don’t object to, in principle - I mean, I bought a book from B&N or Amazon and have no moral or legal right to share it with everyone and their brother, but I can share it with family members (spouse/kids) who have access to the same account.
BUT - this can prevent me from using it in the future if my credit info changes (some Nook books disappeared when my card expired, and reappeared when I updated my card info on file with B&N). Or if I’m using a different device (Palm is dead, wanted to use those books on the replacement device, couldn’t do that because they had DRM preventing me from converting them).
The bit with the expired credit card was disgraceful. I should not have to maintain an ongoing relationship with the company, in order to keep reading things I had purchased AND ALREADY DOWNLOADED.
'Nuff ranting on that, that’s another thread.
Most of my opinions have already been voiced in this thread. So this will probably be a lot of repeats. But here goes:
I was an early Kindle adopter. Very early.
And I love it to death. I’m a heavy reader. It’s supplanted my physical books by probably 90%.
Reasons it’s great:
All my books on one small tablet sized device. I carry everything I read everywhere. Great for travel.
e-ink really is good. I mean really. It’s easy on the eyes. I’ve read for multiple hours without any strain or problem; no difference from ink-on-paper standard books.
It’s light. Lighter than a heavy, thick hardcover. I can read anything, lying in bed, with one hand. The Kindle 2 is significantly smaller, lighter, and sexier so I half-wish my original Kindle would break down so I would have an excuse to buy the newer model. Hasn’t happened yet, under heavy use. Leads me to point four:
It’s amazingly resilient and reliable. I beat the hell out of my Kindle. Travel (in a laptop bag). Reading in bed where I just drop it on the floor when I fall asleep. The charge lasts nearly forever - I probably charge it once (overnight) every two weeks, with heavy reading.
Books are cheaper. At launch, nearly every Kindle book was at most $9.99. Books are edging up in price lately, which I’m not thrilled about, but they still seem to be no more than $12.99 for a hot new release. Which is way less than a hardcover.
Things I’d change:
Honestly, not much. The classic Kindle is near a perfect e-reader. The side functions - web browser, games, etc. - I have a tablet and a phone to do that. I like that the Kindle does one thing, and does it well. It’s light, easy to read, and books are cheap. That’s damn near perfect for what it is supposed to do.
/Have tried the “Kindle App” on my Xoom
//Not bad, nice having color illustrations. But the Xoom is far heavier and battery draining than the Kindle. For serious reading, I’m sticking with the Kindle.
It’s here! It’s here! Kindlekindlekindlekindle.
Now, to explore the possibilities. I’m bookmarking this thread for advice.