Where Do You Get Your Books? (A Survey)

MeganJoan · 07-11-2010, 03:49 AM

Thought it might be interesting to discuss where we all get our ebooks from.

I know a lot of people buy them through Borders/Kobo or another store, some use a library, and some of us have special internet friends with eye-patches that let us download copies of their books for free.

So which way do you do it?

If you have a particular site you use and have found to be good please feel free to share!

tpw · 07-11-2010, 04:09 AM

I've found the book depository (www.bookdepository.co.uk) to be a very nice site with good prices and a large range of SF which is sorely lacking in the Aussie online stores.

Baen books http://www.baen.com/ is the home of good online SF

A lot of the other big US sites are useless for Aussies since there seem to be irritating publisher related geographical restrictions.

sabredog · 07-11-2010, 04:25 AM

I get my ebooks where I can...

Diesel
Fictionwise
Smashwords
Baen
Double Dragon et al

It is difficult at some sites to get past geographic restrictions but not impossible given enough perseverance.

Baen is the shining light if you like SFF books. Low prices, no DRM, no GR and any format ebook downloading

kiwikobo · 07-11-2010, 05:10 AM

All sorts of places, just tend to poke about on the internet looking for epub/ebook sites. Plenty of rubbish, plenty of good stuff. I have bought one book from the kobo store but it was extremely disappointing in its quality (and of course I don't have the epub file so haven't really 'bought' it at all as it might disappear any time). Very interested to see what replies others come up with...

DaveisTaken · 07-11-2010, 05:16 AM

Ditto, there are some really good sites around with epub's etc...
I bought two from the borders.com.au store but as I said in another thread, they are DRM'ed and I cannot read them because it seems only the borders application will allow me to see them and sync them to my reader, and I'm on the latest 1.4 firmware so apparently that isn't compatible with the borders.com.au software yet...

GeoffC · 07-11-2010, 05:22 AM

Have a look at Dreams' Guide to ebooks - there is a link (in green) in my signature line.

Don't forget there are excellent books here on mobileread - the link in blue in my sig.

*reg* · 07-11-2010, 05:32 AM

As an Aussie I

www.bookdepository.co.uk

Zyzomys · 07-11-2010, 09:23 AM

Other than the stores already mentioned, I have also been following the free book threads in the Deals section and have downloaded free books from both Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and www.bewrite.net. My first purchase was from Kobobooks.com (Dust of Dreams).

jimhanas · 07-11-2010, 09:35 AM

I've been tracking where I get my books with Goodreads. I definitely now read more e than p -- most of the print books I read, I pull off my own shelves. Most of my purchases are from Amazon and most of my free downloads are from Feedbooks, although I have bought from Kobo and downloaded free stuff from Smashwords as well.

RedRoverJ · 07-11-2010, 09:36 AM

Yep, I get my books from multiple sources. I usually look around for the best price and go from there. I have purchased from Smashwords and Fictionwise mostly. As well, I have grabbed free stuff from Baen, Gutenberg, and many other sources. When all of the above have let me down, I have sailed into the darknet to find what I seek.

I have also used my local library but find they are really slow to get newer titles and the wait times on anything popular is insane. I have considered grabbing an international membership for the Philadelphia Free Libary at $15 U.S. but haven't done so yet.

Regardless of where I get my books, I strip the DRM to ensure my purchases are safe. With the exception of the library books of course.

thekidintheclock · 07-11-2010, 09:46 AM

best spot to find e-books: inkmesh.com - i usually only grab the free stuff, but you can find $5 books sometimes.

jimhanas · 07-11-2010, 10:03 AM

I just discovered inkmesh and was amazed. It returned every location of my own books -- and all the titles by a few indie authors I know. Very impressive.

clintbradford · 07-11-2010, 05:36 PM

I am new to all this ...So just Amazon, Borders, Smash--- (for a participant here's book, Risen) ... and I am not gonna say where I found a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" yesterday.

Need to add BeWrite Books at http://bewrite.net/ - a couple of very intriguing titles there!

digital_steve · 07-11-2010, 10:35 PM

I must be a heathen... i just use the kobo store.
I can't be arsed with using like, 3-5 different programs just to get something readable and then onto my kobo. At least i know the stuff from the kobo site is going to work straight off the bat, even if it is slow off the mark.

clintbradford · 07-11-2010, 10:48 PM

>> ... I must be a heathen ...

YES, you HEATHEN! (grin) Add me to your "I am a Kobo heathen" bumper sticker mailing list, please.

I have only been involved with the Internet for about 25 years. My wife is pleased with her Kindle 2 that I bought her as a Christmas present last year (we've been married 20 years, so giving each other "hardware" items is OK ... although I do NOT recommend newlyweds give each other hardware (nor software) gifts in their first ten years of wedded bliss). And, honestly, I was JUST thinking to myself ...

Should I feel guilty for enjoying my Kobo as much as I am?

You know what's next: "Clint, you could have WiFi and a easily-replaceable battery with a Nook!" Or, "Dude, just save up an amount the same as totaling three or four online books, and purchase another Kindle2."

And I bought my Kobo (or is it, "kobo"?) sight un-seen - a Borders US pre-sale for arrival last month.

I dunno ... maybe it's the Pina Coladas talkin' tonight ... But I am enjoying my Kobo and the "growing pains" that we've experienced the past month. I cannot IMAGINE Amazon.com being as receptive and transparent as the fine folks at Kobo corporate have been for us this past month. My Kobo lets me read my purchased books and the .pdf docs I have loaded onto my SD card without failure. Do I NEED WiFi? If I leave the house with my Kobo, is there really going to be a scenario where I run into someone who tells me, "You absolutely gotta purchase this book - it's a killer!" while I am on vacation?

OK, so the Pina Coladas ARE typing ...

Long live Kobo.

Clint Bradford

07-11-2010, 03:49 AM	#1
MeganJoan Member Posts: 19 Karma: 14 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	Where Do You Get Your Books? (A Survey) Thought it might be interesting to discuss where we all get our ebooks from. I know a lot of people buy them through Borders/Kobo or another store, some use a library, and some of us have special internet friends with eye-patches that let us download copies of their books for free. So which way do you do it? If you have a particular site you use and have found to be good please feel free to share!

07-11-2010, 09:35 AM	#9
jimhanas Practitioner Posts: 22 Karma: 30000 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Device: iPhone/iPad	I've been tracking where I get my books with Goodreads. I definitely now read more e than p -- most of the print books I read, I pull off my own shelves. Most of my purchases are from Amazon and most of my free downloads are from Feedbooks, although I have bought from Kobo and downloaded free stuff from Smashwords as well. Last edited by jimhanas; 07-11-2010 at 09:38 AM. Reason: Misleading link

07-11-2010, 05:36 PM	#13
clintbradford Older ... slower ... Posts: 450 Karma: 1924 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Jurupa Valley CA US Device: Kobo, Kindles 2/3/Keyboard/Fire/Fire HD, HDX.	I am new to all this ...So just Amazon, Borders, Smash--- (for a participant here's book, Risen) ... and I am not gonna say where I found a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" yesterday. Need to add BeWrite Books at http://bewrite.net/ - a couple of very intriguing titles there! Last edited by clintbradford; 07-13-2010 at 12:16 PM. Reason: Added BeWrite Books.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Survey for eReaders	Aurora7	Which one should I buy?	8	03-13-2009 10:06 PM
Survey for Kindle 2	Aurora7	Amazon Kindle	5	03-12-2009 10:00 PM
Please take the cybook survey!	rjnagle	Bookeen	17	07-25-2008 09:55 AM

07-11-2010, 04:09 AM	#2
tpw Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 250 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: Kobo, Sony PRS650	I've found the book depository (www.bookdepository.co.uk) to be a very nice site with good prices and a large range of SF which is sorely lacking in the Aussie online stores. Baen books http://www.baen.com/ is the home of good online SF A lot of the other big US sites are useless for Aussies since there seem to be irritating publisher related geographical restrictions.

07-11-2010, 04:25 AM	#3
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	I get my ebooks where I can... Diesel Fictionwise Smashwords Baen Double Dragon et al It is difficult at some sites to get past geographic restrictions but not impossible given enough perseverance. Baen is the shining light if you like SFF books. Low prices, no DRM, no GR and any format ebook downloading

07-11-2010, 05:10 AM	#4
kiwikobo Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 120 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	All sorts of places, just tend to poke about on the internet looking for epub/ebook sites. Plenty of rubbish, plenty of good stuff. I have bought one book from the kobo store but it was extremely disappointing in its quality (and of course I don't have the epub file so haven't really 'bought' it at all as it might disappear any time). Very interested to see what replies others come up with...

07-11-2010, 05:16 AM	#5
DaveisTaken Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Ditto, there are some really good sites around with epub's etc... I bought two from the borders.com.au store but as I said in another thread, they are DRM'ed and I cannot read them because it seems only the borders application will allow me to see them and sync them to my reader, and I'm on the latest 1.4 firmware so apparently that isn't compatible with the borders.com.au software yet...

07-11-2010, 05:22 AM	#6
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Have a look at Dreams' Guide to ebooks - there is a link (in green) in my signature line. Don't forget there are excellent books here on mobileread - the link in blue in my sig.

07-11-2010, 05:32 AM	#7
reg Human Posts: 47 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo, iPhone	As an Aussie I www.bookdepository.co.uk

07-11-2010, 09:23 AM	#8
Zyzomys Hooked on Phonics Posts: 122 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kindle	Other than the stores already mentioned, I have also been following the free book threads in the Deals section and have downloaded free books from both Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and www.bewrite.net. My first purchase was from Kobobooks.com (Dust of Dreams).

07-11-2010, 09:36 AM	#10
RedRoverJ Zealot Posts: 125 Karma: 314 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Canada, Eh! Device: Kobo	Yep, I get my books from multiple sources. I usually look around for the best price and go from there. I have purchased from Smashwords and Fictionwise mostly. As well, I have grabbed free stuff from Baen, Gutenberg, and many other sources. When all of the above have let me down, I have sailed into the darknet to find what I seek. I have also used my local library but find they are really slow to get newer titles and the wait times on anything popular is insane. I have considered grabbing an international membership for the Philadelphia Free Libary at $15 U.S. but haven't done so yet. Regardless of where I get my books, I strip the DRM to ensure my purchases are safe. With the exception of the library books of course.

07-11-2010, 09:46 AM	#11
thekidintheclock Member Posts: 22 Karma: 8040 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	best spot to find e-books: inkmesh.com - i usually only grab the free stuff, but you can find $5 books sometimes.

07-11-2010, 10:03 AM	#12
jimhanas Practitioner Posts: 22 Karma: 30000 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Device: iPhone/iPad	I just discovered inkmesh and was amazed. It returned every location of my own books -- and all the titles by a few indie authors I know. Very impressive.

Advert

Advert

07-11-2010, 10:35 PM	#14
digital_steve Muppet Posts: 240 Karma: 442 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tasmania Device: Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-650	I must be a heathen... i just use the kobo store. I can't be arsed with using like, 3-5 different programs just to get something readable and then onto my kobo. At least i know the stuff from the kobo site is going to work straight off the bat, even if it is slow off the mark.

07-11-2010, 10:48 PM	#15
clintbradford Older ... slower ... Posts: 450 Karma: 1924 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Jurupa Valley CA US Device: Kobo, Kindles 2/3/Keyboard/Fire/Fire HD, HDX.	>> ... I must be a heathen ... YES, you HEATHEN! (grin) Add me to your "I am a Kobo heathen" bumper sticker mailing list, please. I have only been involved with the Internet for about 25 years. My wife is pleased with her Kindle 2 that I bought her as a Christmas present last year (we've been married 20 years, so giving each other "hardware" items is OK ... although I do NOT recommend newlyweds give each other hardware (nor software) gifts in their first ten years of wedded bliss). And, honestly, I was JUST thinking to myself ... Should I feel guilty for enjoying my Kobo as much as I am? You know what's next: "Clint, you could have WiFi and a easily-replaceable battery with a Nook!" Or, "Dude, just save up an amount the same as totaling three or four online books, and purchase another Kindle2." And I bought my Kobo (or is it, "kobo"?) sight un-seen - a Borders US pre-sale for arrival last month. I dunno ... maybe it's the Pina Coladas talkin' tonight ... But I am enjoying my Kobo and the "growing pains" that we've experienced the past month. I cannot IMAGINE Amazon.com being as receptive and transparent as the fine folks at Kobo corporate have been for us this past month. My Kobo lets me read my purchased books and the .pdf docs I have loaded onto my SD card without failure. Do I NEED WiFi? If I leave the house with my Kobo, is there really going to be a scenario where I run into someone who tells me, "You absolutely gotta purchase this book - it's a killer!" while I am on vacation? OK, so the Pina Coladas ARE typing ... Long live Kobo. Clint Bradford