My first post here

Casus_Belli · 01-12-2012, 05:42 PM

Hello, my pen & internet name is Casus Belli

I'm a long time reader but new to this forum.

I have an eclectic media taste and am almost a compulsive book collector. In my life I have invested many thousands of dollars on books.

Once my library began to grow beyond a just a few books, the problem I've always had is transport and storeage.

I've not always been fortunate to have a place where I could have my entire library on shelves around me, and trying to pick and choose which books I may want to refer to or be in the mood to read has been a growing hassle when deployed or traveling or living in small apartments.

Losing my book collection (among other things) to damage and vandalism has also been a problem.
When I first got into computers I once thought of scanning my paper books so that I could have a back-up and more easily carry them with me. But the time required to make that idea a reality was practically prohibitive.
When the "great books" and encyclopedias first became available on CD's I gravitated toward them. But as time and formats changed, I've found that most of those older CD's are no longer accessible on the latest PC operating systems. Txt format is very bland, not allowing for illustrations, maps, diagrams, etc. but that digital format remains the most consistently reliable.

Still, I love the feel of a paper book in my hands, that I can carry and read without the need of electricity... I lived in a few remote sites in Alaska for a while and only had gas and oil lamps during the winter to read by... a kindle or a nook wouldn't have made it without a recharge.

Though I have and do read books on a PC monitor, even on a notebook PC, it is just not as satisfying or as handy as a paperback.

But when traveling, and especially by air, the space and weight restrictions of paper become extremely self-evident. Whereas i can have a library of music and literature available on a small hard drive.

I have seen many people with small "readers" that at this point seem to offer the best compromise of the look & "feel" of a paper book, but with the capability of holding a small library in your hands.

In researching about these small mobile readers I became introduced to Calibre, and fell in love with its wonderful organization capability.

A couple of years ago I downloaded the Amazon PC kindle reader application and using calibre to convert and read some of my digital collection has been a pleasant experience.

Before I fly again, I would really like to have one of those portable readers, but I have become aware of one of their greatest drawbacks... which format to choose.

Unlike paper, and inspite of the wonderful format conversion capabilities of calibre, it appears that the DRM restrictions these companies are using will "lock" me into a particular ebook "universe." I know nothing lasts forever, but I've already seen too many things pass into obsolecence within my brief lifetime. From 4 track to 8 track to cassette to CD. From Betamax to VHS, CD to DVD, DVD to BlueRay, etc.
I dislike having an extensive and expensive VHS, or DVD collection become nontransferable and worthless due to the embedded protection mechanisms. Tape wears out, as do CDs and DVds, but even if they could last a hundred years, the devices required to "read" them may no longer be available.

Paper, if well cared for, can potentially last several lifetimes, but digital media is very...
ethereal. And So much more so with the manmade restrictions imposed by the Amazon "kindle" or Barnes & Noble "nook," and other corporate "universes."
Today I am gravitating toward the kindle, but I would like to reserve the right to purchase a different, possibly non-compatible reader in the future. And what if Amazon or B&N go under, or change in other, less desirable ways, will my digital ebook investment become worthless at that time? This is why I am reticent to wholeheartedly purchase too many non-public domain ebooks that I am interested in reading, simply because I not only do not trust that they will be there for me when I want them, on whatever reading device that I may choose to use at that time, but I also resent that after I've spent my money "buying" these ebooks, that these companies insist on holding me and my collection hostage to the devices that they market.
It's almost like if a company were to sell me a paper book, but had some way to restrict me that I could only read it using the light from a lamp that they produced...

Yet, the convenience of backing up and transporting a library of books and media with me on a few small hard drives and a notebook PC, would be even more enhanced using a small, paperback sized ereader.

So here I am, possibly joining others on this forum who may have already experienced and resolved some of the dilemmas that I have just shared.

I am open to any comments, suggestions or direction to discussions that may address these issues.

MickeyC · 01-12-2012, 06:35 PM

Hi Casus_Belli and welcome to MobileRead. Be sure and check out our Which One Should I Buy? section

Valmore Daniels · 01-12-2012, 07:43 PM

Welcome to the boards, Casus

ImogenRose · 01-13-2012, 07:50 PM

Welcome to MR!

Imogen

Dr. Drib · 01-14-2012, 06:56 AM

Hello and welcome to MobileRead.

Look around the site and have fun!

Don
(Moderator)

applekelly · 01-14-2012, 07:20 AM

Hello

I have been reading the posts and had not found the answers I was looking for.

I installed Calibre and now have 400 books! I was able to send a few books to my kindle the first time I tried. Since Thursday night, I could not email any books to my email at kindle. I thought I may have done something to the program by mistake; thus, I uninstalled Calibre then reinstalled it That did not work either.

I know that I can drag and drop the books to the device but would like to be able to sync the books to my Galaxy tab as well.

Anybody has any suggession? Thank you

PS I have not manage to start a thread either.....cannot seem to find a button that will allow me to post, only the reply box to type in....

Dr. Drib · 01-14-2012, 02:04 PM

This is the Introduce Yourself forum, where new members introduce themselves.

Why not take the time and courtesy to introduce yourself?

Any questions you have should be posted in the forum that pertains to the issue at hand.

Don
(Moderator)

01-12-2012, 05:42 PM	#1
Casus_Belli Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: kindle or nook or ????	My first post here Hello, my pen & internet name is Casus Belli I'm a long time reader but new to this forum. I have an eclectic media taste and am almost a compulsive book collector. In my life I have invested many thousands of dollars on books. Once my library began to grow beyond a just a few books, the problem I've always had is transport and storeage. I've not always been fortunate to have a place where I could have my entire library on shelves around me, and trying to pick and choose which books I may want to refer to or be in the mood to read has been a growing hassle when deployed or traveling or living in small apartments. Losing my book collection (among other things) to damage and vandalism has also been a problem. When I first got into computers I once thought of scanning my paper books so that I could have a back-up and more easily carry them with me. But the time required to make that idea a reality was practically prohibitive. When the "great books" and encyclopedias first became available on CD's I gravitated toward them. But as time and formats changed, I've found that most of those older CD's are no longer accessible on the latest PC operating systems. Txt format is very bland, not allowing for illustrations, maps, diagrams, etc. but that digital format remains the most consistently reliable. Still, I love the feel of a paper book in my hands, that I can carry and read without the need of electricity... I lived in a few remote sites in Alaska for a while and only had gas and oil lamps during the winter to read by... a kindle or a nook wouldn't have made it without a recharge. Though I have and do read books on a PC monitor, even on a notebook PC, it is just not as satisfying or as handy as a paperback. But when traveling, and especially by air, the space and weight restrictions of paper become extremely self-evident. Whereas i can have a library of music and literature available on a small hard drive. I have seen many people with small "readers" that at this point seem to offer the best compromise of the look & "feel" of a paper book, but with the capability of holding a small library in your hands. In researching about these small mobile readers I became introduced to Calibre, and fell in love with its wonderful organization capability. A couple of years ago I downloaded the Amazon PC kindle reader application and using calibre to convert and read some of my digital collection has been a pleasant experience. Before I fly again, I would really like to have one of those portable readers, but I have become aware of one of their greatest drawbacks... which format to choose. Unlike paper, and inspite of the wonderful format conversion capabilities of calibre, it appears that the DRM restrictions these companies are using will "lock" me into a particular ebook "universe." I know nothing lasts forever, but I've already seen too many things pass into obsolecence within my brief lifetime. From 4 track to 8 track to cassette to CD. From Betamax to VHS, CD to DVD, DVD to BlueRay, etc. I dislike having an extensive and expensive VHS, or DVD collection become nontransferable and worthless due to the embedded protection mechanisms. Tape wears out, as do CDs and DVds, but even if they could last a hundred years, the devices required to "read" them may no longer be available. Paper, if well cared for, can potentially last several lifetimes, but digital media is very... ethereal. And So much more so with the manmade restrictions imposed by the Amazon "kindle" or Barnes & Noble "nook," and other corporate "universes." Today I am gravitating toward the kindle, but I would like to reserve the right to purchase a different, possibly non-compatible reader in the future. And what if Amazon or B&N go under, or change in other, less desirable ways, will my digital ebook investment become worthless at that time? This is why I am reticent to wholeheartedly purchase too many non-public domain ebooks that I am interested in reading, simply because I not only do not trust that they will be there for me when I want them, on whatever reading device that I may choose to use at that time, but I also resent that after I've spent my money "buying" these ebooks, that these companies insist on holding me and my collection hostage to the devices that they market. It's almost like if a company were to sell me a paper book, but had some way to restrict me that I could only read it using the light from a lamp that they produced... Yet, the convenience of backing up and transporting a library of books and media with me on a few small hard drives and a notebook PC, would be even more enhanced using a small, paperback sized ereader. So here I am, possibly joining others on this forum who may have already experienced and resolved some of the dilemmas that I have just shared. I am open to any comments, suggestions or direction to discussions that may address these issues.

01-14-2012, 07:20 AM	#6
applekelly Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: none	Problem with sending files from Calibre to kindle Hello I have been reading the posts and had not found the answers I was looking for. I installed Calibre and now have 400 books! I was able to send a few books to my kindle the first time I tried. Since Thursday night, I could not email any books to my email at kindle. I thought I may have done something to the program by mistake; thus, I uninstalled Calibre then reinstalled it That did not work either. I know that I can drag and drop the books to the device but would like to be able to sync the books to my Galaxy tab as well. Anybody has any suggession? Thank you PS I have not manage to start a thread either.....cannot seem to find a button that will allow me to post, only the reply box to type in....

01-12-2012, 06:35 PM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Casus_Belli and welcome to MobileRead. Be sure and check out our *Which One Should I Buy?* section

01-12-2012, 07:43 PM	#3
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	Welcome to the boards, Casus

01-13-2012, 07:50 PM	#4
ImogenRose PORTAL Posts: 7,204 Karma: 2884640 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 (3G), iPhone	Welcome to MR! Imogen

01-14-2012, 06:56 AM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Hello and welcome to MobileRead. Look around the site and have fun! Don (Moderator)

01-14-2012, 02:04 PM	#7
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	This is the Introduce Yourself forum, where new members introduce themselves. Why not take the time and courtesy to introduce yourself? Any questions you have should be posted in the forum that pertains to the issue at hand. Don (Moderator)

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