07-16-2010, 11:43 AM | #1 | |
.
Posts: 3,408
Karma: 5647231
Join Date: Oct 2008
Device: never enough
|
Barnes & Noble Free Classic eBooks Program Starts
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks....asp?PID=34519
Quote:
|
|
07-16-2010, 11:54 AM | #2 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,251
Karma: 3720310
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)
|
Are they kidding? All those books have been available, for free, in multiple places, for years.
|
07-16-2010, 12:00 PM | #3 | |
Bookaholic
Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
Quote:
Also while a lot of folks know about Gutenberg, Feedbooks, etc. there are a fair number of new ebook users that don't know about places like that and have no interest in sites like MobileRead. For those types of nook users (who likely don't venture away from the B&N site much for ebooks) these are great. |
|
07-16-2010, 12:01 PM | #4 |
Da'i
Posts: 1,144
Karma: 1217499
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Baltimore
Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet
|
Again, for those of you who don't seem to get it: these are not just the Public Domain texts. They include scholarly materials such as introductions and notes which are a.) valuable in the attempt to more comprehensively understand the material and b.) still under copyright protection. They are giving away something more than you will find here or on Project Gutenberg. And if you don't like it, don't add it to your library. Quit kvetching.
|
07-16-2010, 12:17 PM | #5 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
|
07-16-2010, 12:39 PM | #6 |
Has got to the black veil
Posts: 542
Karma: 2144168
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2
|
These will be good for education applications. These texts are entirely appropriate for a high school class, or an introduction/survey type of university literature course.
|
07-16-2010, 12:50 PM | #7 |
Cheese Whiz
Posts: 1,986
Karma: 11677147
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.
|
Plus - they've probably been proofread!
|
07-16-2010, 12:57 PM | #8 |
Has got to the black veil
Posts: 542
Karma: 2144168
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2
|
Gutenberg files are usually proofread by Distributed Proofreaders. However, they are not edited. There are tiny editorial changes made to public domain books to make them more readable by, shall we say, a less sophisticated audience. For example, in Jane Austen's books, the more standard modern spelling "choose" is substituted for "chuse," "show" for "shew" and that sort of thing. I personally like the archaic spellings and usages, but your average high school student might get hung up on them.
The supplemental material is, of course, also helpful, and quite good in these editions from what I have seen. Since B&N has so many platforms, iPad and PC and handhelds, I can really see these getting some traction in educational settings. A summer reading list can be made up for free, assuming the students have at least a PC to access them. |
07-16-2010, 12:59 PM | #9 | |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Quote:
|
|
07-16-2010, 01:01 PM | #10 |
Addict
Posts: 234
Karma: 40
Join Date: Apr 2010
Device: The Nook, iPad
|
Thanks a lot for the thread, I have downloaded some of the B&N Classics and am very impressed by the quality of these books.
|
07-16-2010, 01:05 PM | #11 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,251
Karma: 3720310
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)
|
The first book that I looked at did not have any obvious indication that it was anything but just the book (Alice in Wonderland). I did find, after reading your comment, HarryT, that the "B & N Classics" have additional material. But, I doubt that the average reader is usually interested in editorial commentary, and just wants to read the story, therefore added comments are not really all that useful to them. For most books, I probably wouldn't care, myself.
Now, if you are a student, taking a literature class, I'm sure the notes are useful. I do like the versions of Shakespeare, for instance, with all the added footnotes and explanations. |
07-16-2010, 01:12 PM | #12 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
For me personally, the editorial material is what makes the book worth buying - that's why I have a bookshelf full of "Penguin Classic" and "Oxford World Classic" editions of books whose text is indeed in the public domain. A good introduction allows me to get a lot more out of a book.
|
07-16-2010, 01:23 PM | #13 | |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
Quote:
|
|
07-16-2010, 01:25 PM | #14 |
Bookaholic
Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
|
07-16-2010, 01:57 PM | #15 | ||
Connoisseur
Posts: 82
Karma: 12
Join Date: Apr 2010
Device: Nokia e71, Ipod Touch, Sony PRS 300
|
Quote:
Quote:
On a related note, does someone know how to avoid entering credit card number to get free ebook from B&N? I fooled Amazon just fine with hotspot shield Last edited by Jonimeesermann; 07-16-2010 at 02:02 PM. |
||
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
New Free Barnes & Noble Classics eBooks Promotion (most likely US only) | tamzilla | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 7 | 09-14-2011 11:50 AM |
Roughly 80 free McGill/Queens University Press ebooks at Barnes & Noble | bgalbrecht | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 1 | 04-27-2010 09:02 PM |
Classic 15% off eBooks at Barnes & Noble | stallone | Barnes & Noble NOOK | 1 | 01-05-2010 12:05 PM |
Barnes&Noble free ebooks (USA) | MetaEbooks | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 1 | 11-20-2009 08:19 AM |
eBooks at Barnes & Noble = R.I.P. | TadW | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 3 | 09-11-2003 07:46 PM |