eBook Stores and Sources in 2017/2018

Apparition B5 · 11-27-2017, 03:44 PM

A lot has changed in the world of eBooks the past fifteen years. I'm curious... If you were to start your eBook collection all over again, what store(s) and/or legitimate source(s) (Project Gutenberg, et al.), would you primarily obtain them from?

ZodWallop · 11-27-2017, 04:25 PM

Amazon

Sirtel · 11-27-2017, 04:36 PM

Wherever it's available and cheapest. Amazon, Smashwords, Google Play, Kobo mostly.

HarryT · 11-27-2017, 04:44 PM

Baen and Amazon for commercial ebooks. Archive.org for PDF scans of the classics.

AnemicOak · 11-27-2017, 04:51 PM

Amazon with Baen, Kobo and Google sometimes playing a role (Kobo & Google with a discount/coupon if it makes them cheaper than Amazon).

maddz · 11-27-2017, 05:28 PM

Amazon gets the bulk of my cash, mostly for convenience. Otherwise various bundles - Humblebundle, StoryBundle, Bundle of Holding (mostly PDF RPGs), Baen, and Smashwords. Occasional purchases from Kobo if I’ve got some credit but as I object to faffing around with ADE and I find the storefront horrid, it’s got to be something I can’t find elsewhere or is significantly cheaper. Project Gutenberg and Internet Archive for public domain works.

JSWolf · 11-27-2017, 05:31 PM

Once ADE is properly setup, it's trivial to use. It's actually easier to use than Kindle for PC.

ekbell · 11-27-2017, 05:57 PM

Pausing for a moment to gently weep at the thought of having to restart my ebook collection (6510 books!)

To start with most of my books would be PD (mostly from faded page) but eventually most of my books would likely be acquired from Amazon and Kobo with frequent additions from PD sites and and a few books bought directly from the publisher's website.

issybird · 11-27-2017, 06:24 PM

Honestly, if I were to start my ebook collection all over again, I'd buy fewer books. I'd go for a lot more on demand purchases and a lot fewer for inventory.

Other than that, and absent the coupons and deals that drove so much of my buying, I'd probably get whatever public domain edition of a work seemed to be the best formatted and for purchases, I'd go to Amazon, as most likely to be around for the long haul. But that wouldn't be important when buying on demand.

pwalker8 · 11-27-2017, 06:25 PM

These days, it's mostly Amazon. Can't think of very many ebooks that are legitimately available online, but aren't on Amazon. There are a few, but not many.

kyteflyer · 11-27-2017, 09:08 PM

Baen, Kobo, Amazon, Smashwords, Feedbooks and Gutenberg.

ZodWallop · 11-27-2017, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

...I'd probably get whatever public domain edition of a work seemed to be the best formatted...

I have to say, I've been happy with the books I've gotten from Standard eBooks. Their catalog is very small, but their work is very good. Just finished their Treasure Island.

barryem · 11-27-2017, 10:52 PM

Amazon for me. I have Kindles with 3G and they make everything really easy. They have good prices, good sales and because I also read a lot of PD books they have a good selection of those.

I think, like Issy, I'd buy fewer books. I probably buy 5 or 6 for every one I read, although I get most of those for a dollar or two.

Barry

DNSB · 11-27-2017, 11:39 PM

Baen, Kobo, Amazon, Gutenberg (in various countries), libraries, Feedbooks, Google. It all depends on where I can get the better deal or in the case of Gutenberg, which locale has the better version since I've found some odd formatting differences at times.

Baen makes the list since I often buy the monthly bundle which has 6-7 books of which 4 are new releases and you get the 1/2 book and 3/4 book releases of the new books prior to the release date. There is also the Grantville Gazette where I pick up the 6 book bundles so a year at a time (What can I say? I'm addicted to the ebook version of a soap opera

).

The public library is often the best choice for quality and price and would be much higher on my list but do I want to be #23 on the wait list for popular books?

GeoffR · 11-28-2017, 03:07 AM

Baen: http://www.baen.com/baenebooks
Black Coat Press: http://www.blackcoatpress.com/e-books.html
Book View Café: http://bookviewcafe.com/bookstore/
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/?ebooks
Closed Circle: http://www.closed-circle.net/ebook-catalog/
Feedbooks: http://www.feedbooks.com/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/
Pan Macmillan Australia: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/books/
Rebellion Publishing: http://rebellionstore.com/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/
Soho Press: https://sohopress.com/store/

Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Phoenix Pick are too much hassle to bother with anymore, but I'll consider buying from any other retailer so long as the end result is that the publisher gets their money and I get a DRM-free or DRM-removable ePub.

11-27-2017, 03:44 PM	#1
Apparition B5 Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 2245322 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Device: Kindle Oasis 3 and iPad Air 5	eBook Stores and Sources in 2017/2018 A lot has changed in the world of eBooks the past fifteen years. I'm curious... If you were to start your eBook collection all over again, what store(s) and/or legitimate source(s) (Project Gutenberg, et al.), would you primarily obtain them from?

11-27-2017, 04:51 PM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Amazon with Baen, Kobo and Google sometimes playing a role (Kobo & Google with a discount/coupon if it makes them cheaper than Amazon). Last edited by AnemicOak; 11-27-2017 at 04:55 PM.

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11-27-2017, 04:25 PM	#2
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,499 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	Amazon

11-27-2017, 04:36 PM	#3
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,983 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Wherever it's available and cheapest. Amazon, Smashwords, Google Play, Kobo mostly.

11-27-2017, 04:44 PM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Baen and Amazon for commercial ebooks. Archive.org for PDF scans of the classics.

11-27-2017, 05:28 PM	#6
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,417 Karma: 30039536 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Amazon gets the bulk of my cash, mostly for convenience. Otherwise various bundles - Humblebundle, StoryBundle, Bundle of Holding (mostly PDF RPGs), Baen, and Smashwords. Occasional purchases from Kobo if I’ve got some credit but as I object to faffing around with ADE and I find the storefront horrid, it’s got to be something I can’t find elsewhere or is significantly cheaper. Project Gutenberg and Internet Archive for public domain works.

11-27-2017, 05:31 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,746 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Once ADE is properly setup, it's trivial to use. It's actually easier to use than Kindle for PC.

11-27-2017, 05:57 PM	#8
ekbell Guru Posts: 628 Karma: 12345678 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Canada Device: none	Pausing for a moment to gently weep at the thought of having to restart my ebook collection (6510 books!) To start with most of my books would be PD (mostly from faded page) but eventually most of my books would likely be acquired from Amazon and Kobo with frequent additions from PD sites and and a few books bought directly from the publisher's website.

11-27-2017, 06:24 PM	#9
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,514 Karma: 236076651 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Honestly, if I were to start my ebook collection all over again, I'd buy fewer books. I'd go for a lot more on demand purchases and a lot fewer for inventory. Other than that, and absent the coupons and deals that drove so much of my buying, I'd probably get whatever public domain edition of a work seemed to be the best formatted and for purchases, I'd go to Amazon, as most likely to be around for the long haul. But that wouldn't be important when buying on demand.

11-27-2017, 06:25 PM	#10
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	These days, it's mostly Amazon. Can't think of very many ebooks that are legitimately available online, but aren't on Amazon. There are a few, but not many.

11-27-2017, 09:08 PM	#11
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,845 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone 12 Mini	Baen, Kobo, Amazon, Smashwords, Feedbooks and Gutenberg.

11-27-2017, 10:52 PM	#13
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	Amazon for me. I have Kindles with 3G and they make everything really easy. They have good prices, good sales and because I also read a lot of PD books they have a good selection of those. I think, like Issy, I'd buy fewer books. I probably buy 5 or 6 for every one I read, although I get most of those for a dollar or two. Barry

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11-27-2017, 11:39 PM	#14
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,102 Karma: 174315444 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Baen, Kobo, Amazon, Gutenberg (in various countries), libraries, Feedbooks, Google. It all depends on where I can get the better deal or in the case of Gutenberg, which locale has the better version since I've found some odd formatting differences at times. Baen makes the list since I often buy the monthly bundle which has 6-7 books of which 4 are new releases and you get the 1/2 book and 3/4 book releases of the new books prior to the release date. There is also the Grantville Gazette where I pick up the 6 book bundles so a year at a time (What can I say? I'm addicted to the ebook version of a soap opera ). The public library is often the best choice for quality and price and would be much higher on my list but do I want to be #23 on the wait list for popular books?

11-28-2017, 03:07 AM	#15
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	Baen: http://www.baen.com/baenebooks Black Coat Press: http://www.blackcoatpress.com/e-books.html Book View Café: http://bookviewcafe.com/bookstore/ Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/?ebooks Closed Circle: http://www.closed-circle.net/ebook-catalog/ Feedbooks: http://www.feedbooks.com/ Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ Pan Macmillan Australia: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/books/ Rebellion Publishing: http://rebellionstore.com/ Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/ Soho Press: https://sohopress.com/store/ Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Phoenix Pick are too much hassle to bother with anymore, but I'll consider buying from any other retailer so long as the end result is that the publisher gets their money and I get a DRM-free or DRM-removable ePub.