Shopping: ebooks, converting, need help.

Knittingfor4 · 01-29-2008, 01:18 AM

I never knew these things existed! I'm so excited

I just posted an intro here

So, I'm not very technically inclined, dh will be doing all the computer stuff for this little project. He's gotten some free ebooks, but I have no idea what they are. Basically I have no ebooks of my own. I read novels with no pictures. I would just like access to more than one ebook store. I don't "dig" Kindle or Sony because of this, but I think Sony can be worked around if I understand right. So, what is the most popular ebook format, Mobipocket? That can be converted to use on Sony right? So basically can you tell me where to get ebooks, and the converters for them. Then dh can do the techy stuff and I can get the Sony, which is a very nice device, I tried it out! I cannot use computer screen type devices, I'm very limited on my screen time before my eyes bleed. I NEED e-ink screens. A dictionary would be a cool novelty feature at first, but no big deal one way or the other. Don't need to search text. Don't need lights. Don't need internet or whatever those letters are, I will buy books from my pc and use the plug to put them on the reader, like a camera kwim.

So, I'm gonna poke around here some more in the morn. In the meantime - thanks for any advice!

HarryT · 01-29-2008, 02:37 AM

No, you can't convert MobiPocket books for use on the Sony. If you want MobiPocket books, I'd suggest the CyBook Gen3.

Knittingfor4 · 01-29-2008, 10:41 AM

I don't know exactly what I want. Well, I just don't want to be too limited, and I want to be able to shop around for prices on books and also have dh get free ones.

BTW, I'm in America and haven't decided on a budget yet, that will depend on which reader I'm getting, obviously. I'm incredibly resistant to the Kindle for a couple reasons, but I could be forced if necessary LOL.

Sony seems to be the favored one. Dh thought we could put some stuff on our card and take it in and actually see how it would act. I think we'll do that! Unfortunately that's the only reader we have physical access to.

Where do you buy/get free ebooks? I found booksonboard and fictionwise in addition to sony, amazon, project gutenburg. I just want to get a feel for how much content will be available to me.

Gudy · 01-29-2008, 01:39 PM

Shopping around for prices on books pretty much implies Mobipocket, as it's the most widely available format. This, in turn, essentially rules out the Sony Reader and points heavily towards the Cybook.

As for e-books, if you like Science Fiction and Fantasy, Baen has about a hundred available as a free download and many more to buy. There's also the Baen CDs available as a download from Fifth Imperium, which raises the number of freely available Baen e-books to roughly 200.

AnemicOak · 01-29-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knittingfor4

Where do you buy/get free ebooks? I found booksonboard and fictionwise in addition to sony, amazon, project gutenburg. I just want to get a feel for how much content will be available to me.

For free pd books look here at MobileRead, Feedbooks, Manybooks...

For buying books...

The only place to buy books for the Sony is from the Sony ebook store or Multiformat books from Fictionwise (note some small publishers/indie authors offer Sony too). Baen also sells their stuff in RTF which works on the Sony or LIT (without DRM) which takes 30 seconds to convert.

For the Kindle the sources are similar to the Sony, except replace Sony in the paragraph above with Amazon. There is also a hack out that lets you read Mobipocket books on the Kindle.

For the Cybook Gen3 or iLiad you can buy Mobipocket books from pretty much any ebook retailer (see below).

For any of the above the best choice IMO (some will disagree) is to buy MS Reader (LIT) format books, break the DRM & then convert it to whatever format your device needs. For Sony you'd use libprs500 (lit2lrf) and for Kindle, Cybook or iLiad you'd use Mobipocket Creator. Either conversion takes very little time and you'll be able to convert to something else later if you switch devices.

Some stores...
Fictionwise
Books On Board
Simon Says
ebooks.com
Baen (webscription.net)

DaleDe · 01-29-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

For free pd books look here at MobileRead, Feedbooks, Manybooks...

For buying books...

For the Kindle the sources are similar to the Sony, except replace Sony in the paragraph above with Amazon. There is also a hack out that lets you read Mobipocket books on the Kindle.

For Kindle all non-DRM eBooks in MobiPocket format will work fine without any hacking. The hack allows DRM eBooks purchased at some site to work with the Kindle. (allows registering the Kindle as a MobiPocket reader.)

Note that most Mobipocket readers also read PalmDoc files but the Kindle will not read those. All pure PalmDOC files are DRM free.

Dale

JSWolf · 01-29-2008, 04:30 PM

You can purchase eBooks for the 505 from the Sony eBook Story. Also you an purchase MS Reader format eBooks and remove the DRM and then convert to LRF for reading on the 505. It's very easy to do once everything is installed properly.

DaleDe · 01-29-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can purchase eBooks for the 505 from the Sony eBook Story. Also you an purchase MS Reader format eBooks and remove the DRM and then convert to LRF for reading on the 505. It's very easy to do once everything is installed properly.

It should be mentioned that a PC is required to purchase LIT eBooks.

Knittingfor4 · 01-29-2008, 04:47 PM

Sooo, with the ability to convert stuff, the Cybook loses it's advantage over the Sony right?

So if I buy the Sony and buy books in MS Reader (.lit) and convert them, I should be set for awhile. Also, didn't I see where Sony was going to release an update for pdf to make them easier to read? How often do these devices get upgraded? Do you think I won't have to buy a new one for 2yrs, or will I need a new one next year? I mean as far as ebook formats are concerned, not new features.

01-29-2008, 01:18 AM	#1
Knittingfor4 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Still Shopping	Shopping: ebooks, converting, need help. I never knew these things existed! I'm so excited I just posted an intro here So, I'm not very technically inclined, dh will be doing all the computer stuff for this little project. He's gotten some free ebooks, but I have no idea what they are. Basically I have no ebooks of my own. I read novels with no pictures. I would just like access to more than one ebook store. I don't "dig" Kindle or Sony because of this, but I think Sony can be worked around if I understand right. So, what is the most popular ebook format, Mobipocket? That can be converted to use on Sony right? So basically can you tell me where to get ebooks, and the converters for them. Then dh can do the techy stuff and I can get the Sony, which is a very nice device, I tried it out! I cannot use computer screen type devices, I'm very limited on my screen time before my eyes bleed. I NEED e-ink screens. A dictionary would be a cool novelty feature at first, but no big deal one way or the other. Don't need to search text. Don't need lights. Don't need internet or whatever those letters are, I will buy books from my pc and use the plug to put them on the reader, like a camera kwim. So, I'm gonna poke around here some more in the morn. In the meantime - thanks for any advice!

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01-29-2008, 02:37 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, you can't convert MobiPocket books for use on the Sony. If you want MobiPocket books, I'd suggest the CyBook Gen3.

01-29-2008, 10:41 AM	#3
Knittingfor4 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Still Shopping	I don't know exactly what I want. Well, I just don't want to be too limited, and I want to be able to shop around for prices on books and also have dh get free ones. BTW, I'm in America and haven't decided on a budget yet, that will depend on which reader I'm getting, obviously. I'm incredibly resistant to the Kindle for a couple reasons, but I could be forced if necessary LOL. Sony seems to be the favored one. Dh thought we could put some stuff on our card and take it in and actually see how it would act. I think we'll do that! Unfortunately that's the only reader we have physical access to. Where do you buy/get free ebooks? I found booksonboard and fictionwise in addition to sony, amazon, project gutenburg. I just want to get a feel for how much content will be available to me.

01-29-2008, 01:39 PM	#4
Gudy Wizard Posts: 1,154 Karma: 3252017 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Germany Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux (623)	Shopping around for prices on books pretty much implies Mobipocket, as it's the most widely available format. This, in turn, essentially rules out the Sony Reader and points heavily towards the Cybook. As for e-books, if you like Science Fiction and Fantasy, Baen has about a hundred available as a free download and many more to buy. There's also the Baen CDs available as a download from Fifth Imperium, which raises the number of freely available Baen e-books to roughly 200.

01-29-2008, 04:30 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,958 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You can purchase eBooks for the 505 from the Sony eBook Story. Also you an purchase MS Reader format eBooks and remove the DRM and then convert to LRF for reading on the 505. It's very easy to do once everything is installed properly.

01-29-2008, 04:47 PM	#9
Knittingfor4 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Still Shopping	Sooo, with the ability to convert stuff, the Cybook loses it's advantage over the Sony right? So if I buy the Sony and buy books in MS Reader (.lit) and convert them, I should be set for awhile. Also, didn't I see where Sony was going to release an update for pdf to make them easier to read? How often do these devices get upgraded? Do you think I won't have to buy a new one for 2yrs, or will I need a new one next year? I mean as far as ebook formats are concerned, not new features.

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