The Subject line says it all. I am wanting to explore the world of electronic books with little or no cost.

The least cost would be to load the Amazon Kindle app on your phone or laptop and borrow books from a library. Next is get Amazon Prime and go through all of their Prime free books.I much prefer reading them on the Kindle paper white reader, it might still be on sale.Bill

For a reader- pretty much any cheap android tablet will do. For free books, you could spend a lifetime reading the stuff at https://archive.org/, or your public library, for current, under copyright books.I also prefer and use the Paperwhite, but they are not cheap.

Check out the Overdrive app / program. It should be available for most tablets and computers. Overdrive Overdrive provides access to Libraries with digital content... (most Libraries now-a-days). You can check out books on-line just like checking out hard copies when in the Library. No cost.

Something to think about (although many may disagree), the hardware is at least half the experience. Ya you can use the Kobo, Kindle or Overdrive apps on your PC, Tablet etc to try out reading books on a "device" for cheap or free What makes reading books on a "device" most appealing is the hardware. It would be really hard to judge if you like the format of ebooks based on this type of test in fact I would bet many people would decide they do not like it. I have a Kobo Glo and it is the primary reason I like ebooks for a number of reasons:1) battery on eInk book readers lasts for almost a month2) you can load many hundreds or thousands of (free, borrowed or paid) books on it3) eInk ebook readers are the only format that closely replicates paper, does not cause eye strain, does not have glare and can be read outside in the sun4) eInk with some form of glow screen also can be read at night or in low light without the need for lighting but is still just as easy on the eyes to read as paper or an eInk screen Trying the apps out is a good first step but not the whole experience. Go to a book store and play with the eInk book readers, borrow one from a friend and read a chapter of a book or ask to play with one if you see someone reading from one at the next RV park you are at.After you decide on the hardware, there are lots of options for free books:1) Overdrive to borrow from your library for free2) Project Gutenberg or other similar sites that offer free older books. There are thousands of older books (I think older than 1923?) after that they are public domain and can be downloaded for free.

Do you read outside or in bed in a dark room? I wish I had a Kindle paperwhite to go with my tablet. I like backlit to read in bed if DW is asleep. Eink/Paperwhites are better for outside where a backlit can be near unusable.For cheap, I give another vote for Overdrive and a public library account. Overdrive is compatible with a variety of devices. I use it with an iPad and download books in Kindle app or use audio books right from Overdrive App.

Good eReader and free books? | Good Sam Community

Lady_Fitzgerald
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
Dutch_12078 wrote:
Fizz wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
OP here. I should have made it clear that I already own a Samsung tablet but want an app and source of free books. The library thing sounds like the best source of reading material. Is the Kindle app compatible with most formats?

Kindle reads only Amazon MOBY format.
The Calibre program will convert to/from any format but nothing that is copy protected
http://calibre-ebook.com/

With a bit of Googling, Calibre will also convert copy protected formats. There may be some copyright issues with that though.

The software for that doesn't always work well. I often have chapters get truncated.
Lady_Fitzgerald
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
Dutch_12078 wrote:
Fizz wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
OP here. I should have made it clear that I already own a Samsung tablet but want an app and source of free books. The library thing sounds like the best source of reading material. Is the Kindle app compatible with most formats?

Kindle reads only Amazon MOBY format.
The Calibre program will convert to/from any format but nothing that is copy protected
http://calibre-ebook.com/

With a bit of Googling, Calibre will also convert copy protected formats. There may be some copyright issues with that though.

The Kindles will read any e-book in any Mobi format, not just Amazon's.

Amazon also has free e-books available. Just sort by price, low to high.
Lorne_Lorraine
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
Bookbub
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
Any android or apple tablet will run the Kindle App. "Bookbub" offers free books from amazon on the kindle app. For libraries and such I use the Aldiko app.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
If you don't want or need fancy features, Get the basic Kindle (black & white) cheapest one. $79 or $99 on Amazon.co Get a leather cover that folds back and snaps together. This makes it feel more like a paperback book. Lightweight and easy to use. Works outdoors. You can easily carry it with you. Built in wi-fi allows you to search and get books via the device when wi-fi is available.
Go to your library and get a library card.
Get an amazon.com account to manage your Kindle device.
Sign in to your library site and access ebooks. I use Overdrive via my library site. There are other sites listed there also. Overdrive has lots of free books. You can borrow books and place newer books "on hold" so that they are automatically downloaded when they become available. Also there are many free books on Amazon.com site and you can subscribe to more free books for a nominal fee.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Dec 29, 2015
Fizz wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
OP here. I should have made it clear that I already own a Samsung tablet but want an app and source of free books. The library thing sounds like the best source of reading material. Is the Kindle app compatible with most formats?

Kindle reads only Amazon MOBY format.
The Calibre program will convert to/from any format but nothing that is copy protected
http://calibre-ebook.com/

With a bit of Googling, Calibre will also convert copy protected formats. There may be some copyright issues with that though.
Fizz
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
TomG2 wrote:
OP here. I should have made it clear that I already own a Samsung tablet but want an app and source of free books. The library thing sounds like the best source of reading material. Is the Kindle app compatible with most formats?

Kindle reads only Amazon MOBY format.
The Calibre program will convert to/from any format but nothing that is copy protected
http://calibre-ebook.com/

FREE BOOKS...
https://www.epubbooks.com/
http://manybooks.net/
https://www.gutenberg.org/
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Dec 29, 2015
TomG2 wrote:
OP here. I should have made it clear that I already own a Samsung tablet but want an app and source of free books. The library thing sounds like the best source of reading material. Is the Kindle app compatible with most formats?

I use the Moon+ Reader Pro Android app on my tablet, smartphone, and with an Android emulator on my laptop. One of the features I really like is the ability to synchronize all of them using DropBox. I can read a few chapters of a book on my tablet, and then later on open it on my smartphone or laptop and select to update to exactly where I left off on the other device. Moon+ will open all popular eBook formats except Amazon's proprietary formats. Those I convert with "Calibre E-book Manager".
monkey44
Nomad II
Dec 29, 2015
Try Kindle PaperWhite -- it's back lit so reading in the dark or light works just fine. I use it day or night and he battery lasts easily a week or more under everyday use, sometimes longer.

Cost $119 on Amazon - free shipping ... worth every penny. Nothing fancy, but you read on it, that's all, and that's why you buy it, reading. All the fancy search goodies and other applications are on other devices.
TomG2
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
OP here. I should have made it clear that I already own a Samsung tablet but want an app and source of free books. The library thing sounds like the best source of reading material. Is the Kindle app compatible with most formats?