Newbie to EReading advice please

[cliver]

Hi all,
I'm an absolute beginner at ereading so please be gentle with me if I ask dumb questions

I don't have a dedicated ereader such as a Kindle etc. but may consider one in the future.
In the first instance I want to use my android device, a Samsung Galaxy note (when I get it).
A windows 7 PC, A Linux Mint Laptop and possibly a WM7 device as well with the possibility of a Kindle later on.
I want to be able to by my books from any source available (i.e. I don't want to be tied to Amazon/Kindle store) and be able to use the ebook on any of my devices (I don't mind paying for a book but I want to be able to use it when and where I want to).
My first leanings are towards Calibre as my cross platform manager but I'm at a bit of a loss as to which reader app is best for which platform. Obviously it would be good if I could settle on one app that works cross platform but not sure that's feasible.
Any advice on apps, ebook format of preference etc. greatly appreciated.
I've read so many threads here and elsewhere that my mind is awash with different apps and formats that I can't see the wood for the trees at the moment.
Any advice appreciated.

Regards
Clive

[fjtorres]

Pretty broad request but let's see if we can't focus things for you:

First, are you "religiously" opposed to DRM?

Second, location: are you in the US, Canada/UK, or elsewhere?

Third, do you intend to buy ebooks or just rely on PD, ebookstore freebies, or other sources?

Fourth, what kind of reading do you do? Recreational? Technical? Academic?

Fifth, do you hate Amazon?

See, the first thing you need to setttle is where you are *actually* going to get your ebooks, not just *theoretically*. Theoretically, everybody wants to get their hands on any ebook anywhere. In practice, most folks end up buying their ebooks (*if* they buy anything) from just a few places.

Second, there is no such thing as a *best* ereader app on any platform. Rather, what you can find is a variety of apps that are good for some uses but not others. Your specific needs will lead you over time to a set of apps that meet your needs.

Once you decide on what matters to you, you'll find the decisions get easier.

For example, if you refuse to deal with Amazon under any conditions, your format decision goes away and you only have to worry about the various DRM camps that split the ePub market. If you are opposed to all DRM (or are willing to learn how to strip it) *then* you can use Calibre as your "universal" ebook library manager, but if you don't feel comfortable with DRM-stripping, then you will have to manage your commercial ebooks outside of Calibre.

These are decisions only you can make based on *your* needs and your values, not the opinions, preferences, and biases of others.

If you have questions, ask away; folks around here are generally friendly and very helpful. But in the end your choice should be yours. There are no shortcuts through this particular forest.

G'luck!

[cliver]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Pretty broad request but let's see if we can't focus things for you:

First, are you "religiously" opposed to DRM?

Not per-Se I just want to use a book I have legally obtained as I please.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Second, location: are you in the US, Canada/UK, or elsewhere?

UK

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Third, do you intend to buy ebooks or just rely on PD, ebookstore freebies, or other sources?

Freebies if available otherwise happy to purchase as long as I can use it on multiple devices.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Fourth, what kind of reading do you do? Recreational? Technical? Academic?

Mostly recreational these days but some Tech/Academic.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Fifth, do you hate Amazon?

Not at all. As long as I can use the books on various platforms.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

See, the first thing you need to setttle is where you are *actually* going to get your ebooks, not just *theoretically*. Theoretically, everybody wants to get their hands on any ebook anywhere. In practice, most folks end up buying their ebooks (*if* they buy anything) from just a few places.

Ideally I would search for a book and get it from the cheapest available source. I'm assuming I could use Calibre to translate to a particular format for my chosen reader?

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Second, there is no such thing as a *best* ereader app on any platform. Rather, what you can find is a variety of apps that are good for some uses but not others. Your specific needs will lead you over time to a set of apps that meet your needs.

I guess I'll just have to try them all out. As you say it's a very subjective discussion.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Once you decide on what matters to you, you'll find the decisions get easier.

Again trial and error

Originally Posted by fjtorres

For example, if you refuse to deal with Amazon under any conditions, your format decision goes away and you only have to worry about the various DRM camps that split the ePub market. If you are opposed to all DRM (or are willing to learn how to strip it) *then* you can use Calibre as your "universal" ebook library manager, but if you don't feel comfortable with DRM-stripping, then you will have to manage your commercial ebooks outside of Calibre.

Happy to strip DRM for my own use.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

These are decisions only you can make based on *your* needs and your values, not the opinions, preferences, and biases of others.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

If you have questions, ask away; folks around here are generally friendly and very helpful. But in the end your choice should be yours. There are no shortcuts through this particular forest.

G'luck!

Many thanks for the input. It's kind of focused my mind.
I think I'm heading towards Calibre as my manager on my PC and experimenting with various ereaders on the devices I want to use.

Thanks again

[fjtorres]

As long as you're comfortable with DRM-stripping transportability won't be an issue, so you'll be covered there except for iBooks.

The UK has good availability in 4 of the 5 main DRM regimes and the fifth may or not be coming there "real.soon.now".

Experimenting is easy with DRM-free and there's a lot of DRM-free freebies to get started with, depending on your interests.
Mobileread has a nice collection right here. (hint!)

Main thing is, don't get you hopes up too high for academic documents; the business, so far, is focused on recreational reading and not yet geared up for the academic market.

[SensualPoet]

Also, if you stick primarily to Android devices, you don't need to strip DRM at all. I am using a Kobo Vox (7" colour ereader running open Android 2.3) and am able to use Kindle books, Kobo books, public library books from Overdrive all on one device. I read primarily long-form fiction so I don't have special needs such as technical users might have.

When I prefer to read on an eink device, then I need a Kobo Touch (for Kobo books and library books) or a Kindle of some sort (for Amazon books).

But a single Android tablet is enough to access everything. It's possible the Galaxy Note will also run all three apps; and certainly three is a PC version of all three as well. There is no need to strip any DRM since the content resides in the cloud for downloading to devices as needed and there is a custom app for each device from each vendor.

[Hellmark]

Many publishers of academic stuff do have "ebook" copies, but I do use that very loosely. Many have different, proprietary formats, that are incompatible with ebook readers. Some, like Macmillan, have their "ebooks" (I use that term extremely loosely) as webpages that you have to log into. I've been in Uni for 4 years, and have had exactly one ebook that was in a format my reader could use (Adobe ADEPT PDF). Many of the textbook formats are Windows only, and a handful support Mac as well. I remember I had a Linux class, and the ebook used a Windows only app to read it, and wasn't compatible with any portable device.

[Guns4Hire]

I find CoolReader3 for Android the best. Its not perfect but it is very solid. I would suggest starting there and installing that and going from there. If you install that and don't like it you can try out other eReading software. I personally think the rest fall short or at least shorter than CoolReader3.

[mcp3554]

I am also new to thisd site! I have a Kindle and am looking for the way to set this site up on it. I've done a couple of searches but haven't been able to find the instructions.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Mike

Originally Posted by cliver

Hi all,
I'm an absolute beginner at ereading so please be gentle with me if I ask dumb questions

I don't have a dedicated ereader such as a Kindle etc. but may consider one in the future.
In the first instance I want to use my android device, a Samsung Galaxy note (when I get it).
A windows 7 PC, A Linux Mint Laptop and possibly a WM7 device as well with the possibility of a Kindle later on.
I want to be able to by my books from any source available (i.e. I don't want to be tied to Amazon/Kindle store) and be able to use the ebook on any of my devices (I don't mind paying for a book but I want to be able to use it when and where I want to).
My first leanings are towards Calibre as my cross platform manager but I'm at a bit of a loss as to which reader app is best for which platform. Obviously it would be good if I could settle on one app that works cross platform but not sure that's feasible.
Any advice on apps, ebook format of preference etc. greatly appreciated.
I've read so many threads here and elsewhere that my mind is awash with different apps and formats that I can't see the wood for the trees at the moment.
Any advice appreciated.

Regards
Clive

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mcp3554

I am also new to thisd site! I have a Kindle and am looking for the way to set this site up on it. I've done a couple of searches but haven't been able to find the instructions.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Mike

Please don't hijack someone else's thread to ask an unrelated question. If you have a question about the Kindle, ask it in the Kindle forum.

Thanks.

[cliver]

Thanks for all the input guys, it is much appreciated.
I'll have a play when I get my device and see what suits.

On the dedicated iReader front...

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

When I prefer to read on an eink device, then I need a Kobo Touch (for Kobo books and library books) or a Kindle of some sort (for Amazon books).

...
The one thing that may push me towards a dedicated reader is the eInk screen for clarity.
Am I right in assuming that if I buy say a Kindle I can use something like Calibre to convert all my books to one format for use on that particular device?
Also how well does this conversion work in terms of page size, format retention etc.?
I don't want to go up any blind alleys and have no way back

Regards
Clive

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by cliver

The one thing that may push me towards a dedicated reader is the eInk screen for clarity.
Am I right in assuming that if I buy say a Kindle I can use something like Calibre to convert all my books to one format for use on that particular device?
Also how well does this conversion work in terms of page size, format retention etc.?
I don't want to go up any blind alleys and have no way back

Regards
Clive

Conversion between ePub and Mobi (the format the Kindle uses) works extremely well. I've converted dozens (probably hundreds) of books and had no problems at all.

I'd recommend the Kindle to you. Amazon have by far the best UK bookstore, and generally the best prices, too.

[avantman42]

Originally Posted by cliver

A windows 7 PC, A Linux Mint Laptop and possibly a WM7 device as well with the possibility of a Kindle later on.

Calibre will work on Windows and Linux. If you put your library in something like Dropbox you'll be able to run it on both without any issues. Be aware that you shouldn't have multiple machines accessing the library simultaneously. Also, the version in the Mint repositories is probably quite old, as new versions are released every week, so install from the Calibre website.

Originally Posted by cliver

My first leanings are towards Calibre as my cross platform manager but I'm at a bit of a loss as to which reader app is best for which platform. Obviously it would be good if I could settle on one app that works cross platform but not sure that's feasible.

If you do use Calibre, it has an e-reader included, so you'd be able to use that on your Windows & Linux boxes.

Originally Posted by cliver

The one thing that may push me towards a dedicated reader is the eInk screen for clarity.
Am I right in assuming that if I buy say a Kindle I can use something like Calibre to convert all my books to one format for use on that particular device?
Also how well does this conversion work in terms of page size, format retention etc.?
I don't want to go up any blind alleys and have no way back

Calibre will convert between Mobi (for Kindle) and ePub (for pretty much every other e-reader), as long as the books don't have DRM.

I've found the conversion to work very well. Page size isn't really an issue, since both use reflowable text that adjusts to fit the screen size. It works in a similar way to HTML on web pages (the Mobi and ePub formats are both based on HTML)

[Kumabjorn]

Since you already have a color tablet, I would firstly look for an e-ink device. That way you will have something to read on when you are outdoors (assuming you like to read outdoors), even in bright summer light. It will complement what you already have.

The next thing you need to ask yourself is "do I buy books on impulse"? If not you'll be fine with any device, if you do buy on impusle then a Kindle, Nook or Sony have the advantage of being tied into an eco-system that lets you buy books over the internet. Can your phone tether with Wifi-hotspot? Then you can pass on the added cost of 3G for your device.

[Namekuseijin]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Since you already have a color tablet, I would firstly look for an e-ink device. That way you will have something to read on when you are outdoors (assuming you like to read outdoors), even in bright summer light.

Yeah, if you're in the middle of Gobi desert, might be a good idea, except e-Ink devices don't have calling capabilities or GPS to ask for help.

If you are a typical Kindle user though, you'd find some nice spot under the shadow of some tree just like any android user, instead of reading standing up under hot sun.

[Kumabjorn]

Or if you're on Copa Cabana.