Good eReader and free books?

[TomG2]

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

[sdianel_-acct_c]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?

[coolmom42]

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
Coolmom has it right AGAIN!! Library card, Tennessee READS, Overdrive, and a generic Android tablet. Walmart, Under $150 online!

BTW, we are very fortunate to have Tennessee READS available in most publid libraries in Tennessee. Many states do not have this valuable asset. I can, and do use it from wherever I have internet access.

I have a Kindle FIre that I love because it is backlit and I can read it in a dark room but you can't adjust the brightness enough for all conditions and you burn through the battery when you crank it up. Each buyer needs to consider where he or she will read the most. I love to read outside but my current lifestyle, read long work hours, means reading inside. I will get an e-ink of some sort when I have time to read outside more.

I think battery life is one of the shortcomings of the Kindle Fire. Both my older grandkids have one, and I've noticed the battery life is not very good. One of the compromises to keep the weight down, I suppose.

My Samsung tablet will go for at least 2 days of my normal use. But I rarely use it with the brightness turned way up.

I agree that for solely outdoor reading, a Kindle Paperwhite is probably the best choice. But I don't do a lot of outdoor reading, so not an issue for me.

[scrubjaysnest]

Ed_Gee wrote:
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.

+1 Been using the Overdrive app since our Alaska trip in 2010. DW and I started with Sony E readers, which we still use, plus a pair of tablets.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

Johno02 wrote:
Coolmom has it right AGAIN!! Library card, Tennessee READS, Overdrive, and a generic Android tablet. Walmart, Under $150 online!

BTW, we are very fortunate to have Tennessee READS available in most publid libraries in Tennessee. Many states do not have this valuable asset. I can, and do use it from wherever I have internet access.

I have a Kindle FIre that I love because it is backlit and I can read it in a dark room but you can't adjust the brightness enough for all conditions and you burn through the battery when you crank it up. Each buyer needs to consider where he or she will read the most. I love to read outside but my current lifestyle, read long work hours, means reading inside. I will get an e-ink of some sort when I have time to read outside more.

[KRumm]

Check out your home town local library!... Many now offer online books for free... with your library card you can set up a online account to download (Check out books) and magazines...

Don't have a local library card?... you can be sneaky and try a larger cities library (Chicago Public Library) for example... Create a online account with a Chicago address of your choice and checkout online books thru their eReader

[Johno02]

I was lucky and got the NOOK HD+ for about $150 in the few months it was available. Great paperwhite screen, and makes a decent tablet for Internet, facebook, and e-mail.

[coolmom42]

Johno02 wrote:
Coolmom has it right AGAIN!! Library card, Tennessee READS, Overdrive, and a generic Android tablet. Walmart, Under $150 online!

LOL John thanks.

I recently went through the whole e-reader decision process, as my 5 yr old NookColor was on its last legs.

I've really enjoyed the versatility of the Android tablet, and it works well as an e-reader. I got a Samsung TabA 9.7", because I wanted it to watch video on as well.

[Johno02]

Coolmom has it right AGAIN!! Library card, Tennessee READS, Overdrive, and a generic Android tablet. Walmart, Under $150 online!

BTW, we are very fortunate to have Tennessee READS available in most publid libraries in Tennessee. Many states do not have this valuable asset. I can, and do use it from wherever I have internet access.

[fj12ryder]

Kindle reader with e-ink. The library is an excellent source for free books, and most are available for loan for the Kindle. Some are only epub format and not able to be read on a Kindle e-reader.

[coolmom42]

Get a generic Android tablet---not a Kindle, not a Nook. You want something like a Samsung. You can use it for reading and a lot of other stuff as well. Do NOT get an Ipad!!! That way you can install 3 different apps that will let you read anything out there. The apps are Nook, Kindle, and Adobe Digital Editions.

Go to a public library and get a card. Then ask them about how to access e-books. I am 100% sure they will have someone there to help you.

I don't know how it works in all states... but in TN we have

TENNESSEE READS

which lets you download books and access them for up to 3 weeks, as many as 15 books at once. These can be in the Adobe Digital Edition (epub) or Kindle format. You can make a wish list for books you want to read later, or get on the wait list for books that are all "checked out". It is totally FREE.

In this system you can also get audiobooks, magazines, and streaming video.

There are also quite frequently Kindle books from the Amazon website which are cheap or free.

Several people have recommended the Kindle Paperwhite. The problem with that is that you can ONLY use it for reading Kindle books. You can't get anything in color, no periodicals, etc. With a Kindle Fire you can install the Nook app with some extra work. The Paperwhite LOOKS most like a printed page. But you can adjust the brightness and background color on a tablet to avoid eyestrain. You can also read in a dark room, since the tablet is backlit.