E-books and e-book readers

[dtaai-maai]

I bought a 2nd hand kindle from a friend about 6 years ago and it transformed my reading experience. When I came back to the UK 2 years ago I joined the library and that meets most of my needs. I still use the kindle occasionally though, as I read a lot of trilogies and longer series, and sometimes the library doesn't have one of the sequence.

One big advantage of the kindle is its weight. I read in bed every night, and do so flat on my back rather than sitting up. I've lost count of the number of times I've nodded off and the corner of a 1000 page hardback has fallen into my eye. I went to my local pub with an impressive black eye as a result, which received admiring comments from the locals. They weren't impressed when I told them I'd dropped a book on my face. Next time I'll make something up...

[migrant]

I bought a 2nd hand kindle from a friend about 6 years ago and it transformed my reading experience. When I came back to the UK 2 years ago I joined the library and that meets most of my needs. I still use the kindle occasionally though, as I read a lot of trilogies and longer series, and sometimes the library doesn't have one of the sequence.

US libraries are going digital and share so I can even get books and mags from the US libraries here

[PeteC]

Now, for me the challenge is to convince a 13 year old girl the benefits of reading over mindless You Tube videos. She's coming along though, and the Kindle has certainly made things easier, especially here where English language book availability is not the best. No nostalgia for her concerning holding and smelling a real paper book.

[STEVE G]

Yes, the availability of content is another big advantage of the Kindle you're not in an English speaking country.
When I'm working in Luxembourg, I used to have to go to about two book shops that stocked English books and the choice was was very limited. It was basically a lot of stuff about economics aimed at the bankers and novels about serial killers, which is a strange mix!

[Nereus]

Is the following the Kindle that is being discussed?

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/amazo ... ut1ohf2t8j

[PeteC]

The newest Kindle is the 10th generation. In The Lazada ad they show 8th. See below Amazon link for the latest info on the devices.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Kindle-Er ... tab_kstore

[buksida]

Someone has donated an older gen Kindle Fire HD which I've setup and got working. Installed Calibre which also links up and has enabled me to convert and upload a few titles to the device.

Now, where can you download ebooks without making Jeff Bezos even richer than he already is? The 'free' selection on Amazon is woeful at best.

[lomuamart]

Torrent sites - PB etc.
When I got mine some 6 years ago in the UK, I just got by on the free Amazon stuff - copywrite finished - and then went download crazy off torrent sites when I got back to Thailand.

[Big Boy]

Yes, my son uses Pirate Bay.

[PET]

I have used Daily Free books for some years ( also use PB ) and found very many new authors etc https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/ ... &locale=US This is what I received yesterday.
This is the main site to join from http://uk.dailyfreebooks.com/free_ebook ... 4FAAZPAf4=

[pharvey]

Yes, my son uses Pirate Bay.

Me too - have shed loads....

[EDIT] Tend to download alot of the magazines also - Science, Motoring etc. - all have been spot on.

[buksida]

Thanks for the suggestions, will have a look there.

[GroveHillWanderer]

The link below provides a list of 29 sites to get free ebooks from. As far as I know (though I haven't checked them all) these are legit sites, not pirated copies. Project Gutenberg certainly has only books that are out of copyright.

https://www.tckpublishing.com/websites ... d-ebooks/

[buksida]

Finally got the Kindle running and started my first book and so far I'm impressed with the device. Very easy on the eyes and easy to use if you ignore all the other shite it comes preloaded with. There are a few issues with different standards but this is the nature of tech monopolies these days which all want the world to use only their format.

Ian Banks' Wasp Factory may not have been the best choice to get going with though!

[lomuamart]

There's shed loads out there on the torrent sites. Once you've exhausted your "favourite" authors and so on, take a look at best seller lists a couple of times a month. That usually gives inspiration to look for books from authors you might never have come across.

Most of the torrent sites get the big sellers up PDQ. The great thing is that if you don't like the book, just delete it. Doesn't cost you anything.