Disclosure: I am a technology idiot when it comes to a lot of the new media. I do not FB, TXT, Tweet. I use the internet for information gathering and interest/ hobbby forums such as RVnet. My electronic communications consist of e-mail and cell phone. I am and old school, fuddyduddy tech-wise. That said, is the word "e-book" just the basic term meaning "electronic book" and it is not proprietary? Does e-book mean just the basic concept of downloading written words to a receiving device (i.e. computer, laptop, tablet, etc..)I see the brands Kindle and Nook. Are these just electron versions of a book sellers just like a Barnes & Noble would be for a physical book? I see where Amazon sells Kindle e-books. I also see where folks have purchased separate pieces of hardware in order to buy e-books. I do not want more electronic devices if I can help it. Can I purchase from Amazon and read a Kindle e-book on my PC without buying additional items?I will wait for replies before I ask any more question as the responses might answer still lingering questions I have.Thanks!-tr

To read a Kindle e-book on your PC, you will need to download the free reading app.Go to Amazon, scroll to Kindle e-readers and books, and click on Free Reading Apps. Underneath the icons for the phone apps, you'll see the "Download to your computer" options. Once you've downloaded the app, you can start reading books on your computer. Enjoy! :)

Thank you. In my ignorance, I assumed that "apps" were/ are for smartphones and tablets. I take it that I can load an app on my PC. (is "app" just a cute word for a program of sorts?)Amazon is giving me the option of downloading to my computer ...or... a Kindle Cloud Reader to read instantly in a browser.My first reaction is to use the latter such that I do not have to load any more stuff to my box. I have the HD space, but I feel the less downloaded stuff, the better. Any pluses to the downloading of the app over the browser method?

Then check with your local library. Increasingly, libraries have e-books you can checkout just like good 'ol dead tree books.free.

Yes "app" is a fancy term for "program". I haven't used the cloud, but just clicked on the link and it has all my owned (purchased) books available to read. So, the only difference would be, by downloading, I can read my books anywhere; with the cloud, I would need to have internet connection in order to read.What you can do is download the app and use both. If you're going to be somewhere with internet connection, use the cloud. If you're going off the web, then download the book before heading off and use the app.

The wife switched from the old Sony ereader she has used for years to a Lenovo 7" Tbalet. She downloads lots of reading from the local library and others online. Nice thing is she can use it to surf the net when she has wifi available and can email and use almost every other program that she has on her laptop. Was cheap too so made more sense to basically have a tablet/ereader that does it all. You may want to consider the options you could use it for and what the device is capable of performing. We founf that the tablet method was more versatile at the price point.

e-book basic questions... | Good Sam Community

toedtoes
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2014
To read a Kindle e-book on your PC, you will need to download the free reading app.

Go to Amazon, scroll to Kindle e-readers and books, and click on Free Reading Apps. Underneath the icons for the phone apps, you'll see the "Download to your computer" options. Once you've downloaded the app, you can start reading books on your computer. Enjoy! :)
the_rover
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
Thank you. In my ignorance, I assumed that "apps" were/ are for smartphones and tablets. I take it that I can load an app on my PC. (is "app" just a cute word for a program of sorts?)

Amazon is giving me the option of downloading to my computer ...or... a Kindle Cloud Reader to read instantly in a browser.

My first reaction is to use the latter such that I do not have to load any more stuff to my box. I have the HD space, but I feel the less downloaded stuff, the better.

Any pluses to the downloading of the app over the browser method?
ed6713
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
Then check with your local library. Increasingly, libraries have e-books you can checkout just like good 'ol dead tree books.

free.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2014
Yes "app" is a fancy term for "program".

I haven't used the cloud, but just clicked on the link and it has all my owned (purchased) books available to read. So, the only difference would be, by downloading, I can read my books anywhere; with the cloud, I would need to have internet connection in order to read.

What you can do is download the app and use both. If you're going to be somewhere with internet connection, use the cloud. If you're going off the web, then download the book before heading off and use the app.
bradyk
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
The wife switched from the old Sony ereader she has used for years to a Lenovo 7" Tbalet. She downloads lots of reading from the local library and others online. Nice thing is she can use it to surf the net when she has wifi available and can email and use almost every other program that she has on her laptop. Was cheap too so made more sense to basically have a tablet/ereader that does it all. You may want to consider the options you could use it for and what the device is capable of performing. We founf that the tablet method was more versatile at the price point.
tessa25
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
Main advantage of a dedicated Kindle ebook reader with e-ink is that you can read outside in bright daylight. Big plus for me. Also you don't have to be sitting at a computer.

Your Kindle e-reader is linked to your Amazon account so when you buy an e-book at Amazon you have the option to download to your Kindle.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2014
And around $50 for a Kindle is a deal that is tough to pass up. They're just so much easier to read on than a tablet. You do need a back up reader in case some of the e-books are of a different format. You can man-handle them into something that will work, but it's a hassle.
Johno02
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
A nook E-reader is linked to a Barnes and Noble account, just like Kindle is linked to Amazon. upgreaded to the Nook HD+ for the bigger and better color screen, now I use it more than my laptop. Internet access, e-mail, plus I get all the books I can read free from my library. I can use the kindle and/or Nook readers on my laptop also, and on my smartphone. When reading, all stay linked, so if I switch from one to the other, They all keep my place ing the books I am reading. The NOOK readers seem to have better access to the library books, as they do not need to be in a special format like Kindle needs.
pkunk
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
Kindle books are in a 'mobi' format whole the Nook is 'epub'. With the free program 'Calibre' you can easily convert from one to the other in addition from PDF to either one. The Kindle is just a few ounces (easy to hold)and will hold hundreds of books.
There are several sources of free books-Digital book today, bookbub, and Smashwords are a few.
Davydd
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
App is a term for application or program in historical computer terms. I'm sure people had been saying app for years since most everyone involved in computers love short word terminology and nicknames. Apple was probably the first to give the term a proper name for the mini applications used on smartphones. They went so far as to be the first to call them Apps and even officially named their store App Store. And they even tried copyrighting the term but got nowhere with it. So apps are what they are now and is usually in reference to tiny programs once called widgets and applets but now full blown PC programs are starting to be called apps as well.

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