Amazon Kindle discussion
What's with "free" e-books?
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Calibre cannot convert books purchased from Barnes and Noble. Just like it cannot convert book from Amazon. Both of these companies use DRM on their books and Calibre cannot convert any book that uses DRM.
Chrissie wrote: "Ariellable, is Pixel of Ink part of Amazon? I have heard that free books ordered from Amazon.UK cost an additonal 2USD if they are to be sent to a different European country. Maybe I can find some..." What Ralph said is true... HOWEVER, the Calibre forums has a lot of Brits and Europeans so finding answers to your questions would be easier than on an Amazon board.Calibre can convert documents in pdf, ePub, etc formats to Kindle format. But those I owned outright. I use it more for document/ebook organization. Again, the Calibre forums has more specific info on the file conversions.
Also, Google books has free books available but again... your mileage may vary.
Hope that helps!
Ralph, now I understand! I thought just library books were DRM. But doesn't Kindle use mobi? Is that something different from DRM? I know, I know I don't understand anything! Ariellabe, so I sent a question to Kindle Support about how I should use Pixel of Ink.... They replied that I could not buy anything except from Amazon! But then why does Pixel of Ink exist? And why does it have on its site links to Amazon Support? I thought they worked together. You are telling me I can get books from Pixel of Ink and Amazon says I can't! I am confused, to say the least.
I am on here on my kindle and I went to lendle.me and I was wondering if you can get books straight to your kindle using the inernet on it.
Chrissie wrote: "Ralph, now I understand! I thought just library books were DRM. But doesn't Kindle use mobi? Is that something different from DRM? I know, I know I don't understand anything! Ariellabe, so I se..." From POI's about page: "Pixel of Ink is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com."
I find that Amazon support is clueless about these things. Kindle support is more on the ball but it doesn't surprise me that they don't know about this particular website. Did they tell you what region you are in re: buying books. If they tell you to buy from Amazon.uk site then things would be cleared up somewhat.
Chrissie wrote: "Ariellable, is Pixel of Ink part of Amazon? I have heard that free books ordered from Amazon.UK cost an additonal 2USD if they are to be sent to a different European country. Maybe I can find some..." I forgot... this the contact email for POI: Sharon @ PixelofInk.com
Matt_ketel wrote: "I am on here on my kindle and I went to lendle.me and I was wondering if you can get books straight to your kindle using the inernet on it."Yes - if someone has posted a .mobi or .prc (pdf doesn't work), as a link, when you click on it from your Kindle's web browser, it will download it automatically to your device.
I do this all the time from feedbooks.com, for example.
Chrissie wrote: "Ralph, now I understand! I thought just library books were DRM. But doesn't Kindle use mobi? Is that something different from DRM? I know, I know I don't understand anything! Ariellabe, so I se..."
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. It's a type of encryption meant to stop people from passing around copies of ebooks. .mobi is the file format that Kindle uses. It's just like .doc or .jpg or .pdf in that it tells you what kind of file it is (though those are all different kinds of files and definitely not interchangeable).
You don't buy ebooks from Pixel of Ink. Pixel of Ink provides a link to the Amazon page and some information about the book, including price. If you read about a book on Pixel of Ink and want to buy it, you can click on their link and buy it from Amazon. Pixel of Ink gets a little bit of money from the sale because they're an affiliate. They don't actually work together, Pixel of Ink (and other Kindle book blogs) is just a service for finding Kindle books.
I set up an account with feedbooks.com but the damn thng wont let me log in!!!!!!
Ariellabe, thank for the email contact! I did contact Kindle Support and their reply was simply that I must buy from Amazon.I wonder if POI is good for Europeans? Why not simply go through Kindle which shows me those books which are agvailable for me with the correct prices? Still will send an email to Sharon. Maybe I am confused.I really want to find
Clare-D, oh your explanation was very clear!!!! Finally, I understand. I could perhaps find a Sony book in pdf format and take it to Calibre, change it to mobi-pocket format and then download it. right? I still do not know how to do any of this..... And where do I gfind the .pdf books????
I am really trying to find Peter the Great: His Life and World or other books by Massie that are in ebook format that I might be able to get! Somehow. I think maybe the Open Library, but I was told that I must contact Library of Congress to get permission and I reeally don't know where to start.
Chrissie wrote: "Ariellabe, thank for the email contact! I did contact Kindle Support and their reply was simply that I must buy from Amazon.I wonder if POI is good for Europeans? Why not simply go through Kindle w..."I only had my Kindle for a month. Finding free books on Amazon is a bit dodgy. It is easier to find free/bargain books on Amazon but it's still hard.
I like using POI because it saves me time. I read a description about a book - if I like it, I click the link and download it. I'm not Christian so I avoid those Christian nonfiction/fiction books... the tags help me find books that I want. I like my daily email with the new freebies/bargains).
Ariellabe, I am a picky reader and living in Europe definitley reduces the books available! I have emailed Sharon.
if you are outside of the US then i'm not sure - you might be able to try and apply - i've never used them though - if you click on the daisy it will give you further details from that website...i've never used openlibrary but from what i can see it is similar to project gutenberg in allowing people to access public domain stuff; and links/locations for non-public domain - i.e. nicholas and alexandria
Chrissie wrote: "Delicious Dee Challenge Addict, I have purchased my Kindle b/c my vision is poor. So you think I should turn to Library of Congress? I am wondering if this is only available for US citizens? Do yo..."
Delicious Dee Challenge Addict, well unfortunately the only book the Open Library has as an ebook is Nicholas and Alexandra, which I finished. It was absolutely marvelous. I am just hoping that his next book on Catherine the Great, which is to come out in November, will be available as an ebook. I haven't found any store that as this author in ebooks. Hmph. Maybe the best bet is to contact the publisher.....
I remember getting her majesty's dragon for free, a sci fi novel, loved it, bought the second novel and it wasn't as good. Basically alot of people decide to give away their first book or a book as an attempt to get them hooked on the author. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Keep an eye on sales though you can get a ton of good books for basically nothing. Also Gutenburg is a very useful site for free books
Giving away free books is a great promotional tool and a chance for readers to try books by unknown authors. I usually 'buy' books in the Top 100 Free Kindle with good reviews which catch my interest. This list sits alongside the Top 100 Paid Kindle (see below). I just discovered 'When You Went Away' a beautiful book by Michael Baron which I wouldn't have read normally.And even at at $0.99 an author can make mega bucks by the sheer volume of sales. John Locke, who has eight books which are probably all in the Top 100 Kindle at the moment, is a perfect example.
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestseller...
Many of the traditional publishers are still struggling to figure out how to price ebooks. If you keep an eye on some titles, you'll see the price of the ebook fluctuate from the price of the hardcover to as little as $2.99 ($5.00 seems to be a popular price they're toying with.)I keep a few things forefront in my mind...
The authors aren't setting the prices. So, I can't resent them when I see something priced ridiculously - it's the publisher. (A recent article said that authors actually pocket less than 15% of ebook sales when published through a house.)
Some publishers are pushing back against ebooks. Their biggest asset is their distribution network. Authors want a publisher in order to get onto bookshelves (also for other secondary reasons: ego, marketing, editing, etc.) So, publishers price their ebooks unattractively. These are the ebooks priced as hardcovers - or, even more ridiculously, higher than the hard copy.
Publishers also have tremendous overhead and minimal profit margin. So, they can't cut their prices too much. But, surely they can reflect the drop in printing and shipping, right? But, often they don't. They are struggling and looking to cash in wherever they can.
Cheap ebooks are often self-published. And they often fall short of traditionally published books. But, there are some gems out there! I pay attention to the reviews and download samples to see for myself. The book I'm reading now - not worth $.99. The last inexpensive book I read, worth 10x as much as it listed for.
As for why authors price as they do... Some see the potential for volume to make up for low prices (see Amanda Hocking.) Others just want to get their books out there. Others use it as a hook to sell future book, building a fan base.
Honestly, the industry is in the midst of a huge transition. I'm happy to ride it out. I'll keep looking for great books - at any price - and push the publishers to adjust to the new world with realistic ebook prices.
Mike wrote: "Many of the traditional publishers are still struggling to figure out how to price ebooks. If you keep an eye on some titles, you'll see the price of the ebook fluctuate from the price of the hard..."You might be interested in this post from a well-known publishing consultant regarding ebook prices
http://www.idealog.com/blog/its-hard-...
I do realize that not everyone has an ereader becuase they can make the font size bigger. For those of us who NEED ereaders to be able to read books, due to poor vision, the high prices are extremely annoying. So is the lack of availability. I definitely understand such concerns are in the minority, but they should be considered.
I really agree with both Mike and Maria. I'm on my third Kindle. First one (first Kindle produced) is still on the original battery and I gave it to Grandson after my latest purchase. Bought Deluxe to read at home and then bought the last one because it's so handy. I began with covers and don't even use them. These readers are so sturdy they take a lot. I can slip the latest one in my purse - against the cloth side - and haven't had any problems with scratching, etc. I don't mean I'm not careful, but they can take a lot. The one time I had to call was a book that had a hand-written letter at the beginning of each chapter. Unreadable. They not only redid the book, they gave me a $10 credit. I doubt they're still doing that, but I (as one who boycotts Walmart) think that the service end of Amazon really tries to get it right. Don't spend a lot on a cover until you see if you need it. They're expensive. Use a plastic bag until you're sure you do or don't want one.
Chris, good to know that they are so sturdy. I treat mine like it was made of crystal. I still have the plastic sheeting it came in over the screen. It's a little wrinkled, but it is clear. Maybe now I can relax a little. But I do want it to last. I bought 50 Classic novels for $2.99 and I've only read one of them so far (Main Street by Sinclair Lewis). I have about forty to go, having read some of them in my youth. Anyway, I really love my Kindle.
Paul, me, too. Relax and enjoy it like a book. Have you found yourself with a 'real' book looking for the dictionary within? My 14-year-old granddaughter and I argue about books versus Kindle, etc. I asked her if she would be one of those who wanted her scroll back when Gutenberg invented movable print. She finally admitted she might like it if she didn't have to carry all her textbooks around.
Ha! Funny. I always thought that textbooks would be the first kind of ebook to become popular, because of te weight problem. But I understand that they are the one category of book that is not being adopted as readily to ebook readers. Perhaps it's the print publishers who have slowed things down. With a son in college, I think textbook manufacturers charge way too much.
Yes, and when the next step comes for textbooks, it will be science books on the Nook, history on the Kindle, math on its own TI (if they're smart,) etc.
Part of the problem with textbooks is that there's so much infrastructure around them that they have to charge high prices. That's probably driving the hesitation to move to ebooks. Plus, of course, there's the tendency to include lots of colorful pictures and headers in textbooks, which don't work so well on e-ink readers.
I haveto say I agree with Jane, I wouldn't pay as much for an unheard author as I would for an author I follow. Someone recommended your Bury Farm to me and I bought it as it wasn't expensive - I'll feed back to you when I've read it.
Jane, I buy new books from unknown authors if I like them. That's what samples are for.
When I choose a book, I first read the book description. If that interests me and then if I can reada sample of the book and that too pleases me, I will be willing to buy it. Sampling is important to me. I do not read books simply because they are cheap! But cheap books are very nice :0)
I've discovered so many reads from being in groups, it's brilliant.
Amazon Kindle
Books mentioned in this topic
Peter the Great: His Life and World (other topics)A Child al Confino: A True Story of Escape in War-Time Italy (other topics)
Nicholas and Alexandra: The Classic Account of the Fall of the Romanov Dynasty (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Peter V. Brett (other topics)Genia Stemper (other topics)
Genia Stemper (other topics)
I am hoping that Lendle.me will change its policy and allow lEuropeans to lend and borrow! Isn't it like Amazon - it is OK for an American to lend to a European IF the publisher allows it for the given book, but we Europeans are NEVER allowed to lend any books. Crazy rules!
Thanks for the link to Calibre.Is the purpose of Calibre to allow a person to buy a Nook ebook and convert it to an ebook that my Kindle can read? Kindle uses the format mobi, right?
All of this is brand new for me. Please explain very simply so I understand. :0)