Book loading options

mostuff · 06-21-2015, 02:52 AM

I've currently got a Kindle of some description (a few years old - not sure of the model) and it's falling apart so I'm on the market for a new ereader. Even though I've got a Kindle I don't buy my books from Amazon, mostly because of privacy concerns, but I do like how books can be delivered by email. At the moment I use Calibre to load ebooks.

Are there any other ereaders that can load books by email without being integrated with a particular book marketplace? Or are there any that can load books from the Calibre content server?

TIA

barryem · 06-21-2015, 09:39 AM

I mostly use my Kindle but I also have a Kobo and I can put books in my Dropbox folder and then use my Kobo's browser to retrieve them. It's a bit clumsy since the full file name of most books is too big to fit on the Kobo's browser screen so I sometimes prefex long names with a simple identifier of some sort. Other than that doing it is trivial.

Personally I prefer the Kindle to the Kobo but they're both good devices and the differences don't matter a lot to me. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either.

Barry

eschwartz · 06-21-2015, 03:38 PM

Only Amazon offers an email option. I have to wonder though about those privacy concerns, and especially why you don't think storing your books on Amazon's servers is less of a privacy concern than buying their books.

(I must warn you, I am quite biased as I tend to be the opposition who makes fun of privacy concerns.

)

Barbara1955 · 06-21-2015, 03:45 PM

HUH Privacy about what? What books you read.... Make an account use Gift Cards then you wont need to add Credit Card. Unlike Nook that Insists on Credit cards Amazon wont.

barryem · 06-21-2015, 08:25 PM

I have no issues about privacy with Amazon either but obviously the OP does. I see no problem with that. He asked how to do what he feels comfortable with and I think his question is completely valid and he deserves any suggestions we can give him.

Barry

GeoffR · 06-22-2015, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mostuff

Are there any other ereaders that can load books by email without being integrated with a particular book marketplace? Or are there any that can load books from the Calibre content server?

Any device with a web browser should be able to load books from the Calibre content server. Just point the web browser to the content server address and browse away. On my Glo I can set the content server as the browser homepage, add a browser tile to the device's homescreen, and thereafter access the Calibre content server from the homescreen with one tap.

I used to be able to load books via email by sending the book to myself as an attachment and using my Glo's browser to log into Yahoo webmail and download the attachment, but Yahoo changed something with the way attachments are downloaded and so this no longer works. It might work on other webmail services, but I haven't tried any. I can download from Dropbox with no problem though.

However all this is a bit of a waste of time and battery power. It is much simpler just to load your whole library onto the device, and then you never need to worry about getting a wifi connection or using up battery downloading stuff (wifi is a massive battery hog.)

mbovenka · 06-22-2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

It is much simpler just to load your whole library onto the device, and then you never need to worry about getting a wifi connection or using up battery downloading stuff (wifi is a massive battery hog.)

Assuming it fits, that is

HarryT · 06-22-2015, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

However all this is a bit of a waste of time and battery power. It is much simpler just to load your whole library onto the device, and then you never need to worry about getting a wifi connection or using up battery downloading stuff (wifi is a massive battery hog.)

There comes a point, though, where this is impractical. My eBook library currently contains a little over 8000 books (the result of 20+ years of buying ebooks and downloading them from sources such as PG), whereas my Voyage is full with about 1800 books on it.

Dr. Drib · 06-22-2015, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

There comes a point, though, where this is impractical. My eBook library currently contains a little over 8000 books (the result of 20+ years of buying ebooks and downloading them from sources such as PG), whereas my Voyage is full with about 1800 books on it.

Harry, how much space do you leave for updates? Would there be a certain minimum that is needed?

HarryT · 06-22-2015, 03:21 PM

Amazon recommend that you leave a few hundred MB free for things like indexing. I've just checked my Voyage and I currently have 1891 items on it, with 383MB of storage free. I wouldn't want to put much more on it than that.

Dr. Drib · 06-22-2015, 03:52 PM

Thanks, Harry.

mostuff · 06-23-2015, 05:47 AM

Thanks everyone, looks like anything with a web browser is the way to go.

barryem · 06-23-2015, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mostuff

Thanks everyone, looks like anything with a web browser is the way to go.

Be careful with that. The Kindles have a web browser but it won't access Dropbox. Personally I prefer the Kindle and Amazon has it's own way of sending books so Dropbox isn't needed. But it's best to have all the facts straight when you're considering this stuff.

Barry

HarryT · 06-24-2015, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

Be careful with that. The Kindles have a web browser but it won't access Dropbox. Personally I prefer the Kindle and Amazon has it's own way of sending books so Dropbox isn't needed. But it's best to have all the facts straight when you're considering this stuff.

Barry

It was incompatible with the Kindle for a while, but then something changed on the Dropbox web site and it worked again. Does it not work once again?

crossi · 06-24-2015, 07:29 AM

Do you absolutely need to add books via a browser directly to your device? As long as you use calibre it is easy to pick the 1000 or so books you are most likely to read in the near future and have calibre load them all at once via a usb. If you use send to device with Amazon they are stored at Amazon which may be a privacy concern. More secure to use a usb which you can do with any device.

06-21-2015, 02:52 AM	#1
mostuff Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 110 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: none	Book loading options I've currently got a Kindle of some description (a few years old - not sure of the model) and it's falling apart so I'm on the market for a new ereader. Even though I've got a Kindle I don't buy my books from Amazon, mostly because of privacy concerns, but I do like how books can be delivered by email. At the moment I use Calibre to load ebooks. Are there any other ereaders that can load books by email without being integrated with a particular book marketplace? Or are there any that can load books from the Calibre content server? TIA

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06-21-2015, 09:39 AM	#2
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I mostly use my Kindle but I also have a Kobo and I can put books in my Dropbox folder and then use my Kobo's browser to retrieve them. It's a bit clumsy since the full file name of most books is too big to fit on the Kobo's browser screen so I sometimes prefex long names with a simple identifier of some sort. Other than that doing it is trivial. Personally I prefer the Kindle to the Kobo but they're both good devices and the differences don't matter a lot to me. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either. Barry

06-21-2015, 03:38 PM	#3
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Only Amazon offers an email option. I have to wonder though about those privacy concerns, and especially why you don't think storing your books on Amazon's servers is less of a privacy concern than buying their books. (I must warn you, I am quite biased as I tend to be the opposition who makes fun of privacy concerns. )

06-21-2015, 03:45 PM	#4
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	HUH Privacy about what? What books you read.... Make an account use Gift Cards then you wont need to add Credit Card. Unlike Nook that Insists on Credit cards Amazon wont.

06-21-2015, 08:25 PM	#5
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I have no issues about privacy with Amazon either but obviously the OP does. I see no problem with that. He asked how to do what he feels comfortable with and I think his question is completely valid and he deserves any suggestions we can give him. Barry

06-22-2015, 03:21 PM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Amazon recommend that you leave a few hundred MB free for things like indexing. I've just checked my Voyage and I currently have 1891 items on it, with 383MB of storage free. I wouldn't want to put much more on it than that.

06-22-2015, 03:52 PM	#11
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,413 Karma: 59504381 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Thanks, Harry.

06-23-2015, 05:47 AM	#12
mostuff Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 110 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: none	Thanks everyone, looks like anything with a web browser is the way to go.

06-24-2015, 07:29 AM	#15
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	Do you absolutely need to add books via a browser directly to your device? As long as you use calibre it is easy to pick the 1000 or so books you are most likely to read in the near future and have calibre load them all at once via a usb. If you use send to device with Amazon they are stored at Amazon which may be a privacy concern. More secure to use a usb which you can do with any device.

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