which ereaders accept external ebooks? (noob question)

illdoya · 04-30-2011, 11:32 AM

Hello all! new to this board - have lurked a bit and gone thru old threads, great stuff here. thx in advance for any help

my question:

which ebook readers let you put ebooks on them from an external source (my computer)? for example, if i got a kindle - i would have to buy the books off the amazon store right?

my problem:

i have a pretty extensive ebook library. i have been slowly backing up my actual home library. I want to be able to put these books on an ereader without having to buy them again..

-------------------------------------------------------------------

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

SeaBookGuy · 04-30-2011, 11:40 AM

Welcome to the site!

Sync'ing purchased books is simply a feature that manufacturers tout, but I believe all readers let you add your own books. With a Kindle, you just have to be sure to convert them to .mobi format if they're in some other one now.

Tome Keeper · 04-30-2011, 11:45 AM

If the books you have at home do not have DRM then it is a simple process of converting them to mobi format using a program such as Calibre then putting them onto your Kindle.

If the books you have at home have DRM then you will need to either remove the DRM or buy a reader that is compatible with that DRM. This is also the problem when buying from stores other than the one associated with your reader. However, the removal of DRM is illegal or questionable in many countries.

Anke Wehner · 04-30-2011, 11:46 AM

I haven't heard of a reader that is that closed, either.

I think the keyword you might try using in websearches is "sideloading".

Also, what intheendofdays said.

illdoya · 04-30-2011, 12:00 PM

thx for the fast replies!

i had no idea that you could put them into readers like the kindle..

as for DRM, im not sure if the books have it or not, how do i find out?

alot of my books are in .pdf too, will that file type normally need conversion?

CWatkinsNash · 04-30-2011, 12:04 PM

As has been mentioned, pretty much every ereader allows some sort of sideloading. I can't think of any dedicated unit that is 100% tied to only one store. I have a Kindle and I get mobi ebooks from a variety of sources.

We can give you more specific information if you tell us what types of ebooks you currently have (the file extension) and where you purchased them from. That way we can figure out what the most compatible option is for your existing files.

SeaBookGuy · 04-30-2011, 12:29 PM

Illdoya -- how have you been reading e-books until now? I cannot comment on the Kindle specifically regarding PDF's. My Sony reads them, although the formatting isn't fully retained at sizes larger than Small (which isn't usually the greatest unfortunately).

DRM usually (almost always) involves needing to open the books with Adobe Digital Editions. How have you acquired the books you own now?

garrybuck · 04-30-2011, 12:46 PM

If you have the newer Kindle (the K3) it will read PDF files without conversion. If you have an older Kindle you will have to convert them yourself with Calibre, or you can use Amazon's service where you email them the file(s) and they do the conversion for you.

As to which of your books are DRM'd, it's impossible for us to tell. A good guess is if you got them for free, they're probably not. If you paid for them, they probably are, but that's not always true. The other way to find out for sure is to try to convert them with Calibre. It will convert non-DRM'd books, if they have DRM the conversion will fail.

The DRM issue begs the question, are you transitioning from a different reader? What is the format of your extensive ebook library? The answer to that question might help determine which reader is best for you.

Ken Maltby · 04-30-2011, 01:53 PM

The tone of most of these replies seems to assume that the OP has or would be getting
a Kindle. My reading of the original post would be that the Kindle would not be his first
(or best) choice.

If the only or primary factor is format and DRM compatibility, then the Ectaco JetBook
Lite would be hard to beat. But - that would not likely be the case. There are a number
of other factors that go into the decision.

If he has developed his library of ebooks over a long period of time then there is a good
chance that a good number of them are in the .pdb format that Palm used for their PDA
eBook format and became widely supported before the dedicated ereaders became
popular. (The JBL supports .pdb and the Secure eReader DRM scam for it.)

The OP mentioned .pdf formatted books and it may be that "i have been slowly backing
up my actual home library" might indicate that many of the .pdf are home scanned image
based .pdf. Generally speaking, a 5" display, like the JBL's, is a poor choice for viewing
such files. I suspect that the 9.7" displays announced may be as small as you would
want to go, for frequent viewing of such files. Most smaller displays will require "panning
and scrolling" to view each page at a readable size.

Luck;
Ken

Hellmark · 04-30-2011, 02:18 PM

If you purchased the books from Amazon, simply look up the book on Amazon again, and look to see if it says "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited", then it is DRM free. If they specify a number, then unfortunately it has DRM

If you purchased the books from elsewhere, it is hard to say. Did the books require you to have Adobe Digital Editions to download and read the book? If that is the case, then they most likely have DRM.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is if you buy a Kindle, you're mostly stuck buying from Amazon, unless the site sells without DRM. For instance Smashwords is a great site for books from indie authors, and they sell without DRM. If you go with a Kobo, nook, or Sony reader, then you have a little more selection. The nook supports the DRM that Barnes and Noble uses, as well as the standard Adobe Adept, which is what most ePubs with DRM, or some PDFs use. If you buy a non-nook reader that supports ePub, such KoboReader, Sony Reader, etc, then you will be able to buy from everywhere pretty much with the exception of B&N and Amazon.

If the books do not have DRM, then I would recommend you to use a program called Calibre, which organizes ebooks of all formats and lets you load them on to your device. It supports pretty much every reader under the sun. One of the coolest features of Calibre is the ability to convert books between formats. So, if you have a DRM free AZW or Mobi book (which is what the Kindle uses), and you want it in ePub, or vice versa, it will do it.

As far as removing DRM, that isn't always legal, depending on where you live. Due to that, we're not allowed to discuss it on the forum. If you really want to know, Google is your friend.

j.p.s · 04-30-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garrybuck

If you have the newer Kindle (the K3) it will read PDF files without conversion. If you have an older Kindle you will have to convert them yourself with Calibre, or you can use Amazon's service where you email them the file(s) and they do the conversion for you.

K2 has had a software update that allows them to read PDF without conversion. Not all K3 PDF features are present and the not quite dark enough text make PDFs with the usual page dimensions uncomfortable to read.

The Kindle DX models have always been able to read PDFs, the large screen hurts portability.

AlexBell · 05-01-2011, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

As far as removing DRM, that isn't always legal, depending on where you live. Due to that, we're not allowed to discuss it on the forum. If you really want to know, Google is your friend.

And so is Apprentice Alf.

Regards, Alex

GeoffC · 05-01-2011, 05:28 AM

illdoya and j.p.s.

Welcome to Mobileread ….

If you remain unsure as to which device to get, then these links may help ....

>>> ereader-matrix ... Which Reader Forum?

1611mac · 05-01-2011, 09:56 AM

as info.. almost all books that go on my iPad are free public domain works from google books, project gutenberg, etc etc.

Take the Calibre suggestion (above) seriously.

04-30-2011, 11:32 AM	#1
illdoya Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 310 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: none	which ereaders accept external ebooks? (noob question) Hello all! new to this board - have lurked a bit and gone thru old threads, great stuff here. thx in advance for any help my question: which ebook readers let you put ebooks on them from an external source (my computer)? for example, if i got a kindle - i would have to buy the books off the amazon store right? my problem: i have a pretty extensive ebook library. i have been slowly backing up my actual home library. I want to be able to put these books on an ereader without having to buy them again.. ------------------------------------------------------------------- any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

04-30-2011, 01:53 PM	#9
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	The tone of most of these replies seems to assume that the OP has or would be getting a Kindle. My reading of the original post would be that the Kindle would not be his first (or best) choice. If the only or primary factor is format and DRM compatibility, then the Ectaco JetBook Lite would be hard to beat. But - that would not likely be the case. There are a number of other factors that go into the decision. If he has developed his library of ebooks over a long period of time then there is a good chance that a good number of them are in the .pdb format that Palm used for their PDA eBook format and became widely supported before the dedicated ereaders became popular. (The JBL supports .pdb and the Secure eReader DRM scam for it.) The OP mentioned .pdf formatted books and it may be that "i have been slowly backing up my actual home library" might indicate that many of the .pdf are home scanned image based .pdf. Generally speaking, a 5" display, like the JBL's, is a poor choice for viewing such files. I suspect that the 9.7" displays announced may be as small as you would want to go, for frequent viewing of such files. Most smaller displays will require "panning and scrolling" to view each page at a readable size. Luck; Ken Last edited by Ken Maltby; 04-30-2011 at 03:54 PM.

05-01-2011, 09:56 AM	#14
1611mac eWanderer Posts: 523 Karma: 1441998 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: iMac,iPad3,iPhone5-Kindle Fire,Touch,PaperWhite	as info.. almost all books that go on my iPad are free public domain works from google books, project gutenberg, etc etc. Take the Calibre suggestion (above) seriously. Last edited by 1611mac; 05-01-2011 at 09:59 AM.

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04-30-2011, 11:40 AM	#2
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Welcome to the site! Sync'ing purchased books is simply a feature that manufacturers tout, but I believe all readers let you add your own books. With a Kindle, you just have to be sure to convert them to .mobi format if they're in some other one now.

04-30-2011, 11:45 AM	#3
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	If the books you have at home do not have DRM then it is a simple process of converting them to mobi format using a program such as Calibre then putting them onto your Kindle. If the books you have at home have DRM then you will need to either remove the DRM or buy a reader that is compatible with that DRM. This is also the problem when buying from stores other than the one associated with your reader. However, the removal of DRM is illegal or questionable in many countries.

04-30-2011, 11:46 AM	#4
Anke Wehner Addict Posts: 249 Karma: 177956 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Germany Device: PRS-650	I haven't heard of a reader that is that closed, either. I think the keyword you might try using in websearches is "sideloading". Also, what intheendofdays said.

04-30-2011, 12:00 PM	#5
illdoya Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 310 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: none	thx for the fast replies! i had no idea that you could put them into readers like the kindle.. as for DRM, im not sure if the books have it or not, how do i find out? alot of my books are in .pdf too, will that file type normally need conversion?

04-30-2011, 12:04 PM	#6
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	As has been mentioned, pretty much every ereader allows some sort of sideloading. I can't think of any dedicated unit that is 100% tied to only one store. I have a Kindle and I get mobi ebooks from a variety of sources. We can give you more specific information if you tell us what types of ebooks you currently have (the file extension) and where you purchased them from. That way we can figure out what the most compatible option is for your existing files.

04-30-2011, 12:29 PM	#7
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Illdoya -- how have you been reading e-books until now? I cannot comment on the Kindle specifically regarding PDF's. My Sony reads them, although the formatting isn't fully retained at sizes larger than Small (which isn't usually the greatest unfortunately). DRM usually (almost always) involves needing to open the books with Adobe Digital Editions. How have you acquired the books you own now?

04-30-2011, 12:46 PM	#8
garrybuck Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 69964 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle	If you have the newer Kindle (the K3) it will read PDF files without conversion. If you have an older Kindle you will have to convert them yourself with Calibre, or you can use Amazon's service where you email them the file(s) and they do the conversion for you. As to which of your books are DRM'd, it's impossible for us to tell. A good guess is if you got them for free, they're probably not. If you paid for them, they probably are, but that's not always true. The other way to find out for sure is to try to convert them with Calibre. It will convert non-DRM'd books, if they have DRM the conversion will fail. The DRM issue begs the question, are you transitioning from a different reader? What is the format of your extensive ebook library? The answer to that question might help determine which reader is best for you.

04-30-2011, 02:18 PM	#10
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	If you purchased the books from Amazon, simply look up the book on Amazon again, and look to see if it says "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited", then it is DRM free. If they specify a number, then unfortunately it has DRM If you purchased the books from elsewhere, it is hard to say. Did the books require you to have Adobe Digital Editions to download and read the book? If that is the case, then they most likely have DRM. The biggest thing to keep in mind is if you buy a Kindle, you're mostly stuck buying from Amazon, unless the site sells without DRM. For instance Smashwords is a great site for books from indie authors, and they sell without DRM. If you go with a Kobo, nook, or Sony reader, then you have a little more selection. The nook supports the DRM that Barnes and Noble uses, as well as the standard Adobe Adept, which is what most ePubs with DRM, or some PDFs use. If you buy a non-nook reader that supports ePub, such KoboReader, Sony Reader, etc, then you will be able to buy from everywhere pretty much with the exception of B&N and Amazon. If the books do not have DRM, then I would recommend you to use a program called Calibre, which organizes ebooks of all formats and lets you load them on to your device. It supports pretty much every reader under the sun. One of the coolest features of Calibre is the ability to convert books between formats. So, if you have a DRM free AZW or Mobi book (which is what the Kindle uses), and you want it in ePub, or vice versa, it will do it. As far as removing DRM, that isn't always legal, depending on where you live. Due to that, we're not allowed to discuss it on the forum. If you really want to know, Google is your friend.

05-01-2011, 05:28 AM	#13
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	illdoya and j.p.s. Welcome to Mobileread …. If you remain unsure as to which device to get, then these links may help .... >>> ereader-matrix ... Which Reader Forum?

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