UPDATE: A NEW Free eBook to download to PCs! (For the Kindle-less readers)

[Imzadi]

NEW: Free eBook to download until 10:59 a.m. ET Wednesday July 22, 2009.
Details are in POST 41. The book Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment, an irresistable new novel.
It is in the PDF file format.


I just started reading my first eBooks on my laptop. Wow! Jumping on this bandwagon a little late, but I finally get what they are about.

I never thought I'd be reading full books on my laptop as I love actual paper books so much. But the ability to change font sizes has been a god-send. Reading small print is becoming a strain and I haven't wanted to switch to reading the large print books. Having larger fonts and the scrolling ability makes them faster to read.

I knew my local library has ebooks to download online as regular PDF files, but I never really looked to see what they offered. It's incredible how many new best sellers I can download without trudging to the library for it on a snowy day! I can download and delete at will. And I don't have to worry about late fees. They have more than enough books to download to keep me busy for quite a while.

I'm not ready to bite the bullet & plop down $300 on a Kindle eReader gadget. I'll wait for when the generic version comes along, like when cheaper MP3 players came out versus the iPod.

Who else reads ebooks without a Kindle? What reliable sites online you can download free ones from other than your library?

ETA: In the following posts there are several links to download free eBooks.

 

[CookieDiva]

I haven't started reading ebooks yet. I have the one from Suze Orman that you could get for free from the Oprah website last month. But I am so used to curling up in bed with a book or magazine, that I can't imagine sitting at my desk (no laptop here) reading something that is lengthy.

Maybe if I had a laptop, I would be easier?

 

[Imzadi]

I haven't started reading ebooks yet. I have the one from Suze Orman that you could get for free from the Oprah website last month. But I am so used to curling up in bed with a book or magazine, that I can't imagine sitting at my desk (no laptop here) reading something that is lengthy.

Maybe if I had a laptop, I would be easier?

I'm able to sit propped up with a bunch of pillows in bed. It definitely makes for a different reading experience.

I've also got the Suze Orman book. The couple of times I did download an ebook from the library before, they were both non-fiction. I skimmed but didn't finish either book. I've now found reading fiction, propped up in bed, is a whole other experience!

 

[DVCLiz]

Don't tell anyone I have a Kindle, but I am subscribing so I can read about other people's ebook experiences!!

I think it's a new and exciting way to read and I'm going to enjoy watching the growth.

 

[Kathi OD]

No, I don't read ebooks and really don't think I will be any time soon. While our library offers ebooks, I prefer the real deal. Fortunately I don't have to go out in bad weather as I can go online, choose the books I want and the library will mail them to my home. When it's time for them to go back, I drop them in the mailbox.

 

[NotUrsula]

I buy a lot of them for the library I manage, does that count?

My user population does not much like them for situations when they need to read the entire book; they prefer them for reference-type things where they only need to consult a few pages at a time. They are really becoming the norm now for professional reference works; so handy to have them available even when you are not in your office.

 

[Imzadi]

I buy a lot of them for the library I manage, does that count?

My user population does not much like them for situations when they need to read the entire book; they prefer them for reference-type things where they only need to consult a few pages at a time. They are really becoming the norm now for professional reference works; so handy to have them available even when you are not in your office.

BTW, thanks for letting me know this is how others have been normally using non-fiction ebooks. I had originally downloaded a couple ebooks quite a while back and didn't finish them. In fact, one of them was Blink, a whole book about getting all the info you need in a blink of an eye. But, when I didn't read either of the ebooks the whole way through, I felt like I had "failed" at utilizing this technology.

Since you said to use it exactly for just the few pages needed, it has opened up a whole new range of researching for me at home now. My library has a gazillion non-fiction, reference-type ebooks for me to skim though and delete at will. I have already put several investing and finance books on my waitlist, so I can read, skim, compare and extract the important stuff that several authors agree on.

 

[MushyMushy]

I've got a few books downloaded on my iPod touch and my Blackberry. The lighting makes it really uncomfortable for my eyes, so I don't spend a lot of time reading -- just when I'm out somewhere and bored. I'll stick with books at home.

 

[DVCLiz]

I've got a few books downloaded on my iPod touch and my Blackberry. The lighting makes it really uncomfortable for my eyes, so I don't spend a lot of time reading -- just when I'm out somewhere and bored. I'll stick with books at home.

Mushy - get a Kindle!!!! No backlighting = no eyestrain!!

 

[Nie0214]

In fact, one of them was Blink, a whole book about getting all the info you need in a blink of an eye.

I read that book a few years back, it was interesting.

Off to research whatever this Kindle is..

 

[Imzadi]

I've got a few books downloaded on my iPod touch and my Blackberry. The lighting makes it really uncomfortable for my eyes, so I don't spend a lot of time reading -- just when I'm out somewhere and bored. I'll stick with books at home.

I got this suggestion on another board, for those of us Kindle-less, reading ebooks on the computer: I changed the background setting on the Adobe Preferences to just a slightly gray background. This has off-set the eye strain from the backlighting from the computer screen.

I don't know if you can change the settings on your iPod touch & Blackberry just to read this stuff (without affecting your normal viewing,) but it might be worth looking into.

 

[worm761]

A friend sent a link to free ebooks to me a few weeks ago.
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

you have to search by author and they are all old books that have no copyright. but you can also see a list of current top 100 searches here: http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top

I hope you guys enjoy!

 

[Anewman]

Never been able to keep my attention, for me it is rEal-books or books on audio only

 

[Pigeon]

Tried it, hated it. I stare at a computer screen enough as it is. Give me a good print book any day.

 

[PeterPan09]

I have to confess, I haven't even tried it. I spend ALL day on the computer for work and once the day ends, I can't think about using one anymore!

I love the feel of the pages, the smell-all the sensations that go with reading an actual book.

I'm a gadget lover, but spending $300 on a thing to read books on just seems a little bit out of my budget in this economy.

 

[rcraw45425]

Mushy - get a Kindle!!!! No backlighting = no eyestrain!!

Curious about the Kindle (I really want one!), can you load your already read books to your hard drive or do you have to keep everything on the Kindle all the time? I read prolifically and I'm afreaid I'd fill up the Kindle's hard drive. Also, is there a site yet to rent Kindle books or is it still a purchase only?

 

[DVCLiz]

Curious about the Kindle (I really want one!), can you load your already read books to your hard drive or do you have to keep everything on the Kindle all the time? I read prolifically and I'm afreaid I'd fill up the Kindle's hard drive. Also, is there a site yet to rent Kindle books or is it still a purchase only?

You do not have to keep everything in your Kindle memory. The new Kindle 2 has "room" for about 1500 books, but Amazon will back up anything you purchase from the Kindle store. When I finish a book I just shoot it back to Amazon. It stays in a folder called "Archived Items" on my Kindle menu - if I ever wanted to read one again I could just download it wirelessly within a minute.

No rental of Kindle books - purchase only. But there are loads of free books available from a bunch of different sites that can be read on the Kindle.

Also, breaking news - Iphone app for Kindle was just released!!! You can go to your Amazon account and order a Kindle book and read it on your Iphone!!!!! So that will be fun - I am debating getting a new Iphone today and will like having the same book I am reading on my Kindle available for my Iphone - the two books will sync so if I read a chapter on my Iphone while I am in carpool when I get home and pick up my Kindle it will take me to the page I just finished - pretty sweet!!!!

 

[rcraw45425]

You do not have to keep everything in your Kindle memory. The new Kindle 2 has "room" for about 1500 books, but Amazon will back up anything you purchase from the Kindle store. When I finish a book I just shoot it back to Amazon. It stays in a folder called "Archived Items" on my Kindle menu - if I ever wanted to read one again I could just download it wirelessly within a minute.

No rental of Kindle books - purchase only. But there are loads of free books available from a bunch of different sites that can be read on the Kindle.

Also, breaking news - Iphone app for Kindle was just released!!! You can go to your Amazon account and order a Kindle book and read it on your Iphone!!!!! So that will be fun - I am debating getting a new Iphone today and will like having the same book I am reading on my Kindle available for my Iphone - the two books will sync so if I read a chapter on my Iphone while I am in carpool when I get home and pick up my Kindle it will take me to the page I just finished - pretty sweet!!!!

Sweet! I am pretty much sold on the Kindle 2 (plus I have Prime so free 2 day shipping), may hold off for Mother's Day/Birthday (within a week of each other, although I have the cash in hand right now to do it if I choose). No iPhone for me, AT&T service stinks here, plus I go with Sprint for the 7PM nights (two girls in the family). I also have a box from them hooked to my router to give me maximum cellphone service in the house so the girlscan text to their hearts content. I hope they add more magazine/newspaper subscriptions too, I am so tired of all the paper we waste!

 

[Nie0214]

Now I want a Kindle. I had never heard of it before this thread. You guys just might make me spend $400!

 

[DVCLiz]

Now I want a Kindle. I had never heard of it before this thread. You guys just might make me spend $400!

I have really loved mine - I had taken a break from reading and it has really rekindled my interest and love of a great book. Plus it is fun and cool - and it is saving me money because I was a hardback book buyer - most of the kinds of books I read are 9.99 in the Kindle store as opposed to 16.95 or 21.95. At some point this year I will do a breakdown of the cost and see where I broke even - oh, wait, I will have to do that next year since I just bought a new Kindle 2!!!