Best option for GUTENBERG? /free ebooks

[kandwo]

I think most e-readers will handle gutenberg books just fine. You can download them directly to your device, but I'd recommend using something like Calibre to sideload them (it's very easy to use).

Even on my 2nd gen kindle I could use the browser to download mobi files directly to the device and start reading immediately. The formatting tends to be somewhat of a problem, though. I need to have all my books justified, otherwise I simply won't read them; this is very easy to do in Calibre.

[RodRiquez]

Originally Posted by kandwo

I'd recommend using something like Calibre to sideload them (it's very easy to use).

I'll take a look at Calibre now, thanks.
Although it seems I'll be stuck with version 3.48 as they no longer support my OS 10.13.

[RodRiquez]

Getting a bit perturbed about formatting issues everyone is mentioning - I don't want to be messing around with converting ebooks & connecting USB at all.

I was imagining a simple stand-alone device to browse for, download & read books without needing to connect to the computer & manage the contents with library software & convert files.

Perhaps I had better stick with paper books. Avoiding computer stress is the reason I want to read & get away from all that.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by RodRiquez

Getting a bit perturbed about formatting issues everyone is mentioning - I don't want to be messing around with converting ebooks & connecting USB at all.

I was imagining a simple stand-alone device to browse for, download & read books without needing to connect to the computer & manage the contents with library software & convert files.

Seriously, an ereader is fine for that and your wants are similar to mine. I almost never bother to tether my devices and sideload. This is a hobbyist forum and people can be fussy have exacting standards. The formatting on public domain downloads is perfectly acceptable for reading in the overwhelming majority of books. Back in the day, there could be issues with Gutenberg books, but it’s been a long time since I’ve run into any.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Of course you can do that. Some people just don't want their ereader to be connected to the internet, ever. That's a personal quirk.

But the OP said WiFi is a must and so is a web browser.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by issybird

Seriously, an ereader is fine for that and your wants are similar to mine. I almost never bother to tether my devices and sideload. This is a hobbyist forum and people can be fussy have exacting standards. The formatting on public domain downloads is perfectly acceptable for reading in the overwhelming majority of books. Back in the day, there could be issues with Gutenberg books, but it’s been a long time since I’ve run into any.

Haha, yes. When I got my first ereader nearly ten years ago, I was perfectly fine with just downloading and reading (I did make backups of my books, but that was all). It was a couple of years later when there was a bug in the formatting of self-published Kindle books (too small font that could not be enlarged) that I started to explore various editing and library-keeping options of Calibre. And I discovered I enjoyed fiddling with my elibrary. The downside of this activity was that I grew extremely fussy about the formatting and metadata of my books. But that was years after I started ereading.

You'll be fine.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by RodRiquez

Getting a bit perturbed about formatting issues everyone is mentioning - I don't want to be messing around with converting ebooks & connecting USB at all.

There is no need to convert, Gutenberg has Kindle and epub.

I simply leave the ereader connected on USB to charge after I transfer a book. USB book transfer is simpler and faster than WiFi. Also it means there is a backup copy of every book on the laptop, even if there is no Internet, or indeed no wifi.

You need to charge an ereader. It's fast compared to an Android tablet, even from the PC. They use a USB port to charge.

Note that gadgets with wireless charging is a marketing thing, it's connectorless, the gadget has to be on the wired to a charger mat, it's lossly slow inductive coupling, not real wireless.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Haha, yes. When I got my first ereader nearly ten years ago, I was perfectly fine with just downloading and reading (I did make backups of my books, but that was all). It was a couple of years later when there was a bug in the formatting of self-published Kindle books (too small font that could not be enlarged) that I started to explore various editing and library-keeping options of Calibre. And I discovered I enjoyed fiddling with my elibrary. The downside of this activity was that I grew extremely fussy about the formatting and metadata of my books. But that was years after I started ereading.

You'll be fine.

I also fix the formatting of most eBooks I read. I find in most cases, whoever made these eBooks should be fired and that includes self-published authors. At least with the big publishers, in most cases, it's not much of an effort to fix the CSS/HTML. But some self-published authors, the code can be a disaster and the HTML one big file. It's just awful. Amazon should really have quality control on self-published eBooks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

There is no need to convert, Gutenberg has Kindle and epub.

I disagree. In a thread on MR, someone was having trouble with a PG eBook he downloaded. I did find the problem and was able to say what the problem was. It was something in the CSS that didn't need to be there. IN a had crafted eBook, that problem would never have happened.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by kandwo

I think most e-readers will handle gutenberg books just fine. You can download them directly to your device, but I'd recommend using something like Calibre to sideload them (it's very easy to use).

Even on my 2nd gen kindle I could use the browser to download mobi files directly to the device and start reading immediately. The formatting tends to be somewhat of a problem, though. I need to have all my books justified, otherwise I simply won't read them; this is very easy to do in Calibre.

Most e-readers will handle them just fine. The problem for me is that the formatting on the average Gutenberg ebook ranges from atrocious down. One of the reasons that I started using Sigil way back when. You might want to compare the same title in the MobileRead library compared to the Gutenberg version to see what a little bit of tender loving care can accomplish.

Never mind justification though I personally prefer ragged right aka left justified, I've had Gutenberg books that fip-flopped between full justication, left justified and centered.

BTW, is a real need to have your ebooks justified or a strong preference them justified? I have trouble visualizing an issue that would make it impossible to read an ebook that wasn't full justified.

[RodRiquez]

Another question if you don't mind - just to be clear.

With a kindle: it does have a web-browser, but it is impossible to save/download the kindle ebook from the Gutenberg website without using a computer & USB? is that correct?

How about Kobo for the same situation?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by RodRiquez

Another question if you don't mind - just to be clear.

With a kindle: it does have a web-browser, but it is impossible to save/download the kindle ebook from the Gutenberg website without using a computer & USB? is that correct?

How about Kobo for the same situation?

Both Kindles and Kobos have a web browser which you can use to download books from Gutenberg directly to the device. You don’t need a computer and you don’t need to tether.

[RodRiquez]

Originally Posted by issybird

Both Kindles and Kobos have a web browser which you can use to download books from Gutenberg directly to the device. You don’t need a computer and you don’t need to tether.

OK, great! Then there is no problem.
Some of the things I read on reviews & comments here had me thinking otherwise.

Thanks issybird!

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by RodRiquez

Another question if you don't mind - just to be clear.

With a kindle: it does have a web-browser, but it is impossible to save/download the kindle ebook from the Gutenberg website without using a computer & USB? is that correct?

How about Kobo for the same situation?

I can't comment on the Kindle. But, with the Kobo you can use the browser to download books. If Kobo supports the format, it will be downloaded and added to the library. And prompted whether to start reading now.

But, the browser is a relatively primitive browser. It does not support everything a browse on a PC or tablet does. Some sites cannot be navigated and some sites present the downloads in ways that the browser cannot handle. Last I checked, Project Gutenberg works to download epubs, I haven't seen any complaints recently, so I assume it still does.

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Most e-readers will handle them just fine. The problem for me is that the formatting on the average Gutenberg ebook ranges from atrocious down. One of the reasons that I started using Sigil way back when. You might want to compare the same title in the MobileRead library compared to the Gutenberg version to see what a little bit of tender loving care can accomplish.

Never mind justification though I personally prefer ragged right aka left justified, I've had Gutenberg books that fip-flopped between full justication, left justified and centered.

BTW, is a real need to have your ebooks justified or a strong preference them justified? I have trouble visualizing an issue that would make it impossible to read an ebook that wasn't full justified.

I wasn't aware there is a library here, I'll check it out!

Most of what I read is in the public domain, often available as fb2 or epub files (I read a lot of Russian classics, and for some reason fb2 is a very popular format over there); I download them, import into Calibre and convert to kindle format applying justification.

I have a strong preference. I find left justified really distracting; it doesn't agree with me and detracts from the reading experience. It doesn't make reading impossible, but slows it down and makes it somewhat unenjoyable. The kindle itself has some half-baked settings for justification in the actual reader, but they've never worked for me.

I have no idea how Gutenberg books look by default nowadays. I used to download them directly with my Kindle 2; and back then it was a mess - you never knew what you were getting. I hope the situation has improved! Anyway, it's easily fixed, so it shouldn't matter.