Another new person ... VA, USA

Machodoc · 02-17-2011, 01:24 PM

How I got here ... not sure where I'm going!

I recently bought a Nook, having done a bit of research and finding out that it was one of the only e-Readers that would recognize PDF files. My objective, since I enjoy reading early books and documents, was to use the Nook to read downloaded books in PDF format that were gotten from Google books.

Then I discovered that I can read Google books PDF file on the Nook, but pretty nearly need a magnifying glass to do so. Trying to figure out how to do that brought me to Calibre, and that brought me to this forum.

I'm still (temporarily) a "free rider" with calibre. I've piddled away so much cash over the years on software that didn't meet my needs, I've grown hesitant to buy stuff until I've had a chance to investigate it. I'm not sure that Calibre is going to help me with my original need, or not, but I'm very impressed with it so far. I've just got to learn more about it as I go on.

Just discovered the ePubs area here that will allow me to download books that I should be able to use. That's excellent! I'm going to have to cough up some cash in the way of a donation here next payday. I respect the developers' atmosphere of free exchange and trust, so fair is fair. Even if I never resolve the Google Books viewing issue, the downloads are certainly worth a contribution.

jbcohen · 02-17-2011, 03:27 PM

I hear you loud and clear where it comes to shelling out for software that you can't use. I have done that a few times. There are three concepts that I need to introduce to you in the information technology (a fancy way of saying computer technology) comunity: shareware, freeware and open source.

Shareware's name may be a bit misleading as nothing is actually shared. The concept behind shareware is try before you buy. All software that is sold on the shareware market you may try for a specified length of time then decide if you like it or not. If you like it then you are required to pay for the software and if you do not like it you delete the software and owe nothing. You buy only if you like what you see, unlike shrinkwrap (which is a fancy way of saying the software that most people think of as software which is buy before you try.) The most famous of the shareware packages is called Pkzip from Pkware. Find all the shareware you want at shareware.com

Freeware is just that free you like it you owe nothing you don't like it don't worry you owe nothing. Find all the freeware you want at freewarehome.com and freewarefiles.com. Some of the most famous freeware include: IE and Google Crome.

Now for open source. This takes a little explination as its an extension of the freeware concept. Open Source is also free with one addition the source code for the software comes with the software, something that does not come with freeware, you may (if you are so inclined) modify the code behind the software and market the end result as your own - with one crevate the result of that modification is also open code. You may not take a open code software slap your name on it and sell the result. However you may take a open code software slap your name on it and make the result available as open code. Some of the most famous open code software includes Mozilla's Firefox and thunderbird.

The best open code software that I have ever found was Open Office, which is a free version of Microsoft Office which a lot of people think is much better then Microsoft Office.

Find all the open code software you want at sourceforge.net and Open Office is at openoffice.org.

neilmarr · 02-17-2011, 03:31 PM

Good to have your company, Machodoc. Nook and Calibre, you'll find, is a marriage made in heaven. Good luck and best wishes. Neil

MickeyC · 02-18-2011, 12:22 AM

Hi Machodoc and welcome to MobileRead

GeoffC · 02-18-2011, 04:42 AM

Welcome to Mobileread ....

Tips & tricks available, have a look in the Nook Forum ...

Valmore Daniels · 02-18-2011, 09:18 AM

Welcome to Mobileread

Machodoc · 02-20-2011, 05:44 PM

Many thanks for the welcome message and great advice. As with anything else, this is a learn-as-you-go process. I'll eventually figure out how to make things work better, but it's a start, at least!

02-17-2011, 01:24 PM	#1
Machodoc Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook	Another new person ... VA, USA How I got here ... not sure where I'm going! I recently bought a Nook, having done a bit of research and finding out that it was one of the only e-Readers that would recognize PDF files. My objective, since I enjoy reading early books and documents, was to use the Nook to read downloaded books in PDF format that were gotten from Google books. Then I discovered that I can read Google books PDF file on the Nook, but pretty nearly need a magnifying glass to do so. Trying to figure out how to do that brought me to Calibre, and that brought me to this forum. I'm still (temporarily) a "free rider" with calibre. I've piddled away so much cash over the years on software that didn't meet my needs, I've grown hesitant to buy stuff until I've had a chance to investigate it. I'm not sure that Calibre is going to help me with my original need, or not, but I'm very impressed with it so far. I've just got to learn more about it as I go on. Just discovered the ePubs area here that will allow me to download books that I should be able to use. That's excellent! I'm going to have to cough up some cash in the way of a donation here next payday. I respect the developers' atmosphere of free exchange and trust, so fair is fair. Even if I never resolve the Google Books viewing issue, the downloads are certainly worth a contribution.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Another person	Winter	Introduce Yourself	8	08-15-2009 10:41 PM
Another person trying to figure it all out	tmoody	Introduce Yourself	10	07-27-2009 01:09 PM
New Kindle Person	Sarah.Hildreth	Introduce Yourself	3	11-14-2008 04:27 PM

02-17-2011, 03:27 PM	#2
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	I hear you loud and clear where it comes to shelling out for software that you can't use. I have done that a few times. There are three concepts that I need to introduce to you in the information technology (a fancy way of saying computer technology) comunity: shareware, freeware and open source. Shareware's name may be a bit misleading as nothing is actually shared. The concept behind shareware is try before you buy. All software that is sold on the shareware market you may try for a specified length of time then decide if you like it or not. If you like it then you are required to pay for the software and if you do not like it you delete the software and owe nothing. You buy only if you like what you see, unlike shrinkwrap (which is a fancy way of saying the software that most people think of as software which is buy before you try.) The most famous of the shareware packages is called Pkzip from Pkware. Find all the shareware you want at shareware.com Freeware is just that free you like it you owe nothing you don't like it don't worry you owe nothing. Find all the freeware you want at freewarehome.com and freewarefiles.com. Some of the most famous freeware include: IE and Google Crome. Now for open source. This takes a little explination as its an extension of the freeware concept. Open Source is also free with one addition the source code for the software comes with the software, something that does not come with freeware, you may (if you are so inclined) modify the code behind the software and market the end result as your own - with one crevate the result of that modification is also open code. You may not take a open code software slap your name on it and sell the result. However you may take a open code software slap your name on it and make the result available as open code. Some of the most famous open code software includes Mozilla's Firefox and thunderbird. The best open code software that I have ever found was Open Office, which is a free version of Microsoft Office which a lot of people think is much better then Microsoft Office. Find all the open code software you want at sourceforge.net and Open Office is at openoffice.org.

02-17-2011, 03:31 PM	#3
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have your company, Machodoc. Nook and Calibre, you'll find, is a marriage made in heaven. Good luck and best wishes. Neil

02-18-2011, 12:22 AM	#4
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Machodoc and welcome to MobileRead

02-18-2011, 04:42 AM	#5
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	Welcome to Mobileread .... Tips & tricks available, have a look in the Nook Forum ...

02-18-2011, 09:18 AM	#6
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	Welcome to Mobileread

02-20-2011, 05:44 PM	#7
Machodoc Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook	Many thanks for the welcome message and great advice. As with anything else, this is a learn-as-you-go process. I'll eventually figure out how to make things work better, but it's a start, at least!

Advert

Advert