Does the Ipad or Macbook Air Give a Better Netgslley Experience?

[Katherine]

I have an old iPad and use the Kindle app still. I am deciding between getting another iPad or a Macbook Air 2020. Book reviews are what spend a lot of time doing. I have used the Kindle app for years and it has worked well. Now I cannot update it or my iPad software because of the old device.

I know that Adobe Digital Editions has to be downloaded to use Netgalley books on a Mac, annoying as Netgalley classes their files as personal files so the PC Kindle app cannot download them. That is what I was told when I asked Netgalley. Netgalley shold have a Mac compatible app, I think. So should Kindle.

I have downloaded the Aldiko Books app which recognises protected DRMs. However I have noticed that I cannot appreciate the books well like on Kindle. I do not download DRMs often and often avoid requesting them and request a title in Kindle Mobi only. I like Netgalley and have got a few physical ARCs but prefer eARCs as I have visual problems.

Aldiko deletes books so I am trying to get into the habit of taking note of the archive date. But overall I much prefer the Kindle app.

Have you tried the new Netgalley shelf app? There are downloadable user guides on Netgalley now for it. I cannot use the app as have thw wrong IOS but wish Netgalley was more computer and not app oriented. Or as well as.

What is the Adobe download like for allowing NG books to be used? I want to find the best way to enjoy Netgalley on all my devices.

I also find NG star ratings do not work on my iPad anymore so use my laptop which is annoying, especially as book reviews do not post without a star rating.

[Sarah]

I’m a little confused reading through this post. You can definitely read netgalley books through kindle on a Mac. Macs definitely have a kindle app, and if nothing else you can access kindle through your browser on a Mac.

NetGalley can also be accessed through a browser- the app is not necessary and to my knowledge was a very recent development.

Personal preference- I love my MacBook Air and it has much more functionality than an iPad, but the iPad is fun too. If the primary use of it is going to be for writing reviews, I’d say get the MacBook Air.

[Katherine]

Thanks for your reply.

Here'a what NetGalley support emailed me: a decice guide. https://netgalley.zendesk.com/hc/en-u...

And this is what comes up if I go into the PC/ Mac link on that page: https://netgalley.zendesk.com/hc/en-u...

How have you managed to read NetGalley books through Kindle on a Mac? I saw a Kindle download in the US Amazon store but I'm not in the US. And I thought that was just for Kindle books purchased through Amazon, not NetGalley copies.

I use my iPad to write novels, as well as blogs and book reviews (I post my NetGalley book reviews to my blog) as well as general Internet use—email, YouTube.

I searched again and this is what came up: Digital review copies on NetGalley are not compatible with Kindle for PC/Mac since it does not support Personal Documents.

[Sarah]

Ahh, I see. That does clarify it. I read on my kindle, so I haven’t ever tried to read a NetGalley file on my mac. I can read .mobi files on my Mac, if I downloaded them on my Mac and they are stored there. Whether or not I paid for them through Amazon (for example, Tor.com offers a free ebook every month that comes as a download direct from their site, not through Amazon. Those files are available on my Kindle App.)

The problem is, with NetGalley, you don’t download anything, those are sent to you.

So as an ereader, I guess the iPad is better- but you’re writing novels on it?! How? I write too and I think that would drive me bonkers. The functionality of mobile apps is not equivalent to the functionality of computer applications.

I would still recommend the Airbook, and then for NetGalley purposes invest a little money in a Kindle (they have the Fire tablets available for cheap if you don’t mind reading in color. Basic kindles are also pretty cheap but you can’t read in the dark).

[Sarah]

I will fully disclose though that I own the ipad, the macbook, a kindle, and a windows laptop, so my opinion is biased and my preference has been for my MacBook for many years.

I would not want to blog, or write reviews or novels on my iPad. If I had to get rid of one or rebuy one, the MacBook would win every time. I hope you take this information and choose what’s best for you. It’s hard to highlight how much more functionality an actual MacBook or laptop has if you haven’t used them in awhile.

For reference in terms of use, I read about a hundred books a year, when blogging, blog an average of 3 times a week, and when writing probably average 5000 words
A day. I don’t know if that usage seems heavy to you, but maybe it’s helpful in having an idea of how my stuff is used and why I’m partial to it.

[Carolyn]

I agree with Sarah. I have the kindle app on my Mac and iPad but generally read mobi files on the kindle, including NG and those sent by authors.
PDF files I read on the iPad using digital editions but I prefer to write reviews on the Mac. My newish iPad does have a keyboard which is handy for writing reviews while travelling (not that we’re doing much of that atm!) but I still prefer the Mac for that when at home.

[Katherine]

Thanks for all your advice, Sarah and Carolyn. I got a MacBook Air in the end and have yet to use Pages.

This is my first MacBook so I can't compare it to anything older. I use the Kindle app on my iPad still for NG downloads/ PDFs as my main intention is to use the Mac for my novels so I don't want to use space for Kindle books there.

I'm going to get a new iPad at some point to replace the one I have and I'll kep using the Kindle app there for NG books.

I prefer the iPad screen for Kindle books. I did some research and have yet to find a Kindle e-reader with a built-in screen reader as well as a backlight.

I have severe mobility, dexterity and eyesight issues. I use the VoiceOver screen reader on my iPad. I also love the Assistive Touch button on my iPad, it's easier for quicker volume changes.

[Katherine]

Sarah wrote: "Ahh, I see. That does clarify it. I read on my kindle, so I haven’t ever tried to read a NetGalley file on my mac. I can read .mobi files on my Mac, if I downloaded them on my Mac and they are stor..."

I use dictation for novels and any computer stuff since my disabilities make writing and typing difficult. I cut and paste the dictation into MS Word. It's worked for me so far and I have drafts of 10 different novels I did in this way.

I do 2-4,000 words a day when I work on novels (not everyday lately) but also if there is a competition running like NaNoWriMo.

I blog whenever needed by publishers (book reviews) or just when I want to for lifestyle posts.

I heard Adobe Digital Additions is the recommended software for NG books on a Mac. Not tried this yet. I love the iPad for ebooks because of the device portability.

[Sarah]

Oh gosh Katherine I feel like such a jerk. I apologize as I hadn’t considered that.

I hope you are enjoying your MacBook at least? I know mine has been my life line. I have been on MacBooks for probably the past 15 years or so.

I don’t know if Scrivener (by Literature and Latte) has voice to text functionality, but if you write avidly it might be worth considering. I think they offer a free trial period. I also enjoy writing (not for publishing but just as a hobby) and it has some amazing features for writers.