Is the Kindle worth it just for the free books?

carnivroar · 01-19-2012, 08:28 PM

Kindle books are generally very overpriced, but to make up for that, almost all the Classics are free. Is the Kindle worth it for those alone? I've been thinking of buying a Kindle but only because it's so easy to get free foreign language literature, which is already hard to find in paperback regardless of price.

GA Russell · 01-19-2012, 08:50 PM

Welcome casrnivroar!

Devotees of DRM stripping will suggest that you do that, but my experience doing that has not been good. The books never look as good on my jetBook Lite as they do on my K4PC desktop app.

I have been downloading Kindle books which have been temporarily free for over a year, and now have about 125. I have thought about buying a Kindle just to read them. One day I will, when I don't have something more important to spend my money on.

geoffwood · 01-19-2012, 09:19 PM

If it is classics that you are interested in, most of them are free because they are out of copyright and are now "public domain". Check out Project Guttenberg (www.guttenberg.org) as they have public domain books available for free download in many languages.

carnivroar · 01-19-2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoffwood

If it is classics that you are interested in, most of them are free because they are out of copyright and are now "public domain". Check out Project Guttenberg (www.guttenberg.org) as they have public domain books available for free download in many languages.

I know they're free and I've got a lot of them on my Kindle for PC, but I would be a lot more inclined to read if I had them on something I could hold like a book.

SteveEisenberg · 01-19-2012, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivroar

Is the Kindle worth it for those alone?

Of course, no one else can answer this question for you.

As a 2010 Kindle Keyboard 3G purchaser who does use Project Gutenberg, and has yet to buy an eBook from Amazon, I'd say yes -- but only barely, because I have easy access to some good public libraries. For me, my Kindle is even more worth it for newspapers, whether purchased, or obtained for free via http://calibre-ebook.com or web sites like twp.com. I do buy the New York Times Latest News Blog from Amazon for $1.99 a month, which I consider the killer app for the Kindle.

Note that the definition of public domain varies a lot depending on what country you live in, with Canada generally the best for readers of mid-twentieth century literature, and the US the worst. http://www.gutenberg.org/ goes by US rules; this is one reason why there are also gutenberg sites for Australia and Canada. MobileRead is headquartered in Canada, and has many downloadable books which you are properly warned not to download unless out of copyright in your country. We want to respect this so there is no risk of this site's leadership getting the sort of attention described in today's news stories concerning arrests in New Zealand.

For another perspective:

Forget e-books – the point of the Kindle is for essays

pidgeon92 · 01-20-2012, 12:08 AM

If you want to read public domain, virtually any ebook reader will be right for you.

carnivroar · 01-20-2012, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

If you want to read public domain, virtually any ebook reader will be right for you.

Kindle is also the cheapest.

And I like Amazon. Thanks to all who answered. I guess I will go for it.

HarryT · 01-20-2012, 03:37 AM

I buy innumerable Kindle books and certainly wouldn't consider them to be overpriced.

ndixon · 01-20-2012, 10:34 AM

You can hunt for free-for-a-day and discounted Kindle books - I do this - but if that's your only source of books, you're not going to get the most out of your e-reader.
If you really love reading classics, then I'd say you can justify having a Kindle for these, but they don't have to come from the Kindle Store.

I'd already built up a collection of out-of-copyright works in epub format from Project Gutenberg and feedbooks before I got a Kindle (I used to have a Sony 505), and it's really easy to convert them with Calibre.

If I add it up, there are probably enough classics on Gutenberg for me to justify the Kindle purchase several times over. It helps that I enjoy reading the classics, and there's quite a backlog that I'd like to get through, but I've already bought some of them as Penguin paperbacks in the past at something like £7.99 each.

I could go through a catalog and pick out at least 30 classics I'd have in a heartbeat, but that would come to around £250 at print prices.

The other thing that makes the Kindle worthwhile is the customer service from Amazon, and pretty much no-quibble replacement policy. I'm hoping I'll never have to use this, but Amazon seems to be better than most.

HarryT · 01-20-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndixon

I'd already built up a collection of out-of-copyright works in epub format from Project Gutenberg and feedbooks before I got a Kindle (I used to have a Sony 505), and it's really easy to convert them with Calibre.

Any reason that you didn't download them here at MR? Our versions are often a lot better formatted and proof-read.

patrickt · 01-20-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivroar

Kindle books are generally very overpriced, but to make up for that, almost all the Classics are free. Is the Kindle worth it for those alone? I've been thinking of buying a Kindle but only because it's so easy to get free foreign language literature, which is already hard to find in paperback regardless of price.

Sorry. Lost me with your first stupid statement.

Good-bye

fabian5003 · 01-20-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Sorry. Lost me with your first stupid statement.

Good-bye

Hey! No need to be rude, the guy's just asking a question.

just_jeepin · 01-20-2012, 12:47 PM

I don't agree with you on price. Every book that myself or my wife wants is $1-$2 cheaper on the Kindle Store than Target, Walmart or Sams Club. Now it's NOT cheaper if you're buying books from a used store.

Besides... if you watch Inkmesh, MobileReads forum, or other sites... MANY books go on sale or free for a temporary time. I have over 800 Kindle Books and 90% were not free classics but free (as in on sale).

geoffwood · 01-20-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Sorry. Lost me with your first stupid statement.

Good-bye

Wow. Thanks for taking the time to add real value to the conversation

HarryT · 01-20-2012, 12:58 PM

Manners please, folks. Be nice.

01-19-2012, 08:28 PM	#1
carnivroar Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 8004 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Sony PRS-T1 White	Is the Kindle worth it just for the free books? Kindle books are generally very overpriced, but to make up for that, almost all the Classics are free. Is the Kindle worth it for those alone? I've been thinking of buying a Kindle but only because it's so easy to get free foreign language literature, which is already hard to find in paperback regardless of price.

01-20-2012, 10:34 AM	#9
ndixon Mostly Harmless Posts: 41 Karma: 600872 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 4, Nook Simple Touch	You can hunt for free-for-a-day and discounted Kindle books - I do this - but if that's your only source of books, you're not going to get the most out of your e-reader. If you really love reading classics, then I'd say you can justify having a Kindle for these, but they don't have to come from the Kindle Store. I'd already built up a collection of out-of-copyright works in epub format from Project Gutenberg and feedbooks before I got a Kindle (I used to have a Sony 505), and it's really easy to convert them with Calibre. If I add it up, there are probably enough classics on Gutenberg for me to justify the Kindle purchase several times over. It helps that I enjoy reading the classics, and there's quite a backlog that I'd like to get through, but I've already bought some of them as Penguin paperbacks in the past at something like £7.99 each. I could go through a catalog and pick out at least 30 classics I'd have in a heartbeat, but that would come to around £250 at print prices. The other thing that makes the Kindle worthwhile is the customer service from Amazon, and pretty much no-quibble replacement policy. I'm hoping I'll never have to use this, but Amazon seems to be better than most. Last edited by ndixon; 01-20-2012 at 11:13 AM.

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01-19-2012, 08:50 PM	#2
GA Russell Ticats/Als, Riders/Lions Posts: 7,717 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Welcome casrnivroar! Devotees of DRM stripping will suggest that you do that, but my experience doing that has not been good. The books never look as good on my jetBook Lite as they do on my K4PC desktop app. I have been downloading Kindle books which have been temporarily free for over a year, and now have about 125. I have thought about buying a Kindle just to read them. One day I will, when I don't have something more important to spend my money on.

01-19-2012, 09:19 PM	#3
geoffwood Addict Posts: 244 Karma: 1105690 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: K4NT+K4T+PRST1	If it is classics that you are interested in, most of them are free because they are out of copyright and are now "public domain". Check out Project Guttenberg (www.guttenberg.org) as they have public domain books available for free download in many languages.

01-20-2012, 12:08 AM	#6
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	If you want to read public domain, virtually any ebook reader will be right for you.

01-20-2012, 03:37 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I buy innumerable Kindle books and certainly wouldn't consider them to be overpriced.

01-20-2012, 12:47 PM	#13
just_jeepin Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1010848 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: Kobo Libra 2	I don't agree with you on price. Every book that myself or my wife wants is $1-$2 cheaper on the Kindle Store than Target, Walmart or Sams Club. Now it's NOT cheaper if you're buying books from a used store. Besides... if you watch Inkmesh, MobileReads forum, or other sites... MANY books go on sale or free for a temporary time. I have over 800 Kindle Books and 90% were not free classics but free (as in on sale).

01-20-2012, 12:58 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Manners please, folks. Be nice.