Quote:
Originally Posted by geneven
I can get all the books on Project Gutenberg for free with my Kindle, and on many other sites. Can you tell me for certain that I can't convert files and get the Google book files on my Kindle? I haven't tried. I haven't noticed a fantastic selection of books in the Google book files that are not available from Project Gutenberg, can you list a few essential books that are not available from Gutenberg that ARE available from Google? Numbers of hundreds of thousands of books are somewhat worthless; you can't read numbers, only books.
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Ouch! Sounds like I touched a nerve, but let's have fun anyway....
You seem very concerned about Google Books vs. Project Gutenberg. Both are useful, free tools for readers. If you're just asking rhetorical questions, ignore the following. Otherwise, read on to see my thoughts about answers to your questions.
"Can you tell me for certain that I can't convert files and get the Google book files on my Kindle? I haven't tried."
I know you can use the basic browser on the Kindle 2 and DX to read Google Books online because I've done it. The point is that the Q7 has many free resources upon which to draw and can do it in geographic areas where Whispernet is but an unfulfilled promise.
Sometimes the marketing hype surrounding the Kindle family makes it appear as if the Kindle is the single "best" device for eBook reading. The Q7 is a reasonable and inexpensive alternative that does not depend on the Kindle ecosystem. Of course, there are many folks who like different devices (Astak, Sony, insert your favorite here, etc.) and I don't begrudge them their preferences. I just think those who are in the market for an eBook reader should consider the Q7.
"I haven't noticed a fantastic selection of books in the Google book files that are not available from Project Gutenberg, can you list a few essential books that are not available from Gutenberg that ARE available from Google?"
Here's an aside. Do I detect a note of sarcasm?
[Note for Kindle users reading this using the 'experimental' browser--the 'rolleyes' icon is in the color blue and this laughing icon
is in yellow and animated.]
Depending on how essential is defined, I'm sure someone can find "essential" books that are part of Google Books but not Project Gutenberg. I anticipate that these "essential" books would be useful in academic settings where someone is doing in-depth research on a particular topic. Other readers would regard them as "nonessential" so this is a matter of opinion (as long as the opinion doesn't stand in the way of a grade). In short, for the academic researcher, numbers matter.
Let me pose a new question related to yours (and I'll add a little playful sarcasm, too).
Which of the two devices (Kindle 2 or Q7) is better suited to taking advantage of Google Books and Project Gutenberg?
Part1: Gosh, reading Google Books offline in PDF format doesn't pose a problem for the Q7. Oh, darn, I'll have to convert those PDFs for use with the Kindle 2. Cha-ching, that's an extra cost when using Amazon's conversion service.
Part 2: Wow, there are some great ebooks with color illustrations at Project Gutenberg that look spectacular on the Q7. The 16 shades of gray on the Kindle make them look dull and tired. Everyone who has seen the Q7 and Kindle 2 display the same Gutenberg color ebook always prefers the Q7. I wonder why that is? [That's a rhetorical question.]
In all seriousness, thanks for sharing your opinion.
I'm happy with my Kindle 2 for what it does and unhappy with my DX for what it doesn't do.
IMHO, the Q7 just comes out on top using the above metrics involving WiFi, PDF, color, and cost.
[Note the big grin icon to the left is in green and white.]