JimBollman
Upstate NY
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I use an iPod Touch to read books as well as all the other things it can do like eMail and web browsing. The nice thing about the Touch over a Kindle is I can run the Kindle reader the Barns and Nobel reader and several other readers on the same device. It also is small enough to fit in my pocket so I can read when ever I have a chance or get stuck waiting. The backlight makes it nice for reading in low/no light situations. The negative is it has to be charged regularly where the Kindle goes forever.
As far as free books MommaJo is partially right a lot of the free books are old out of copyright, but there is also a lot of new authors that are trying to break out and some are very good. Amazon throws current books out for free every so often but you have to be on the right lists to catch them because they are usually only offered for a few days. Barnes and Nobel also does the same thing. If you are in to SciFi and Fantasy try http://www.baen.com/ they have a free library and encourage all their writers to release at least one book in the free library to generate readership. They also have the lowest prices for new eBooks that I have seen.
I use Stanza for a lot of the none Kindle and B&N books, it is free software and they have Mac and PC versions and some other smart phones.
Jim...
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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MommaJo wrote:My understanding is that most free books for any of the e-readers are only free because they are out of copyright time, meaning they were published prior to the 50's I think it is (maybe earlier). There are a few good ones out there, but not that many that interest me. I put my Sony away, and still go to the used book store, as I can still get paper backs much cheaper than I can books for the e-reader. I would prefer them for the e-r though, because it's so easy to carry along with me in my purse, to have handy when I need to wait somewhere occasionally.
Your understanding is wrong. The last three free e-books I downloaded were copyright dated 2002, 2007, and 2008. Authors frequently allow one or more of their books to be released as a free e-book to get readers interested enough to buy their other titles. Try Googling on "free ebooks". I think you'll be surprised...
Dutch
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5thwheeleroldman
Texas
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Joined: 06/26/2007
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Thanks. I will look at Kindle, the Sony and the Barnes & Noble thing. If you are off in your trailer, how do you download something? I have no portable computer now, but will probably switch to a laptop when my old desktop dies.
I think I need to switch from fiction for a while anyway. I've read hundreds and the themes all seem to become predictable. Jaded, I guess.
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magicbus
LBI, NJ or Nantucket, MA
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Joined: 06/16/2002
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5thwheeleroldman wrote:If you are off in your trailer, how do you download something? The Kindle uses the Sprint network and you simply download over that using the included web browser.
MommaJo wrote:I put my Sony away, and still go to the used book store, as I can still get paper backs much cheaper than I can books for the e-reader.
I thought one of the reasons you bought a Sony was because they include a free library of current books. 
More and more libraries are offering e-books of current publications just as they do with the paper-based versions. There is a service providing this and a number of NJ libraries are joining it. The best part is you don't have to be near your library to get a book - they are accessible anywhere.
Dave
Life doesn't come with a safety fence around it... enjoy it anyway.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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You can check out the Kindle book library with nothing more than your browser.. The Free Kindle for PC will read both free books and "Fee" books..
in many cases, since Amazon does not have to pay for paper, ink, and shipping cost on an e-book is near zero. You are only paying the publisher's profit and the author's cut.. So a book that may come with a 20, or 30 or 40 dollar or larger tag down at Barns & Noble or Boarders.... Comes with a 5 or 10 buck tag at Kindle Books.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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Belgique
Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)
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To us, the merit of Kindle (or any reader) is not just in the price of the book. It is being able to get books while on the road and not having to find a 2nd hand book store and not hauling many pounds of books. DW is an avid reader...1-2 books per day! We often could not find a 2nd hand store and could not find books during our Mexico travels. She can now carry about 1500 books and downloads them easily from anywhere on the East Coast, so far. Plus, she can do this from any internet connection if the Sprint doesn't work.
I was afraid she'd miss the "feel" of paper but she hasn't. She also enjoys reading it on the beach in full sun.
The Johnsons (incls a Bouvier, Lab, and Newfie)
Cedar Island, NC (Gateway to the Outer Banks)
2008 Winnie Sightseer 35J
Our Mexico trip Blog
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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I must admit I miss the feel of paper books when I use Kindle for PC
But I don't miss the price of paper.. Not at all.
The catch on the free Kindle books is that most of 'em are older books where copyright has expired.
Modern books. if lobbyists have their way.. Copyright may never expire as congress extends copyright far beyond the original duration (This last line is a rant)
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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wa8yxm wrote:
The catch on the free Kindle books is that most of 'em are older books where copyright has expired.
Here's the last few free Kindle books I downloaded:
"The Pawn" - Steven James - Copyright 2007
"Black Sea Affair" - Don Brown - Copyright 2008
"The Templar Legacy" - Steve Berry - Copyright 2006
"Med Ship" - Murray Leinster - Copyright 2002
"Hostage" - Don Brown - Copyright 2005
Not an expired copyright in the bunch...
Dutch
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magicbus
LBI, NJ or Nantucket, MA
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Joined: 06/16/2002
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Dutch_12078 wrote:wa8yxm wrote:
The catch on the free Kindle books is that most of 'em are older books where copyright has expired.
Here's the last few free Kindle books I downloaded:
"The Pawn" - Steven James - Copyright 2007
"Black Sea Affair" - Don Brown - Copyright 2008
"The Templar Legacy" - Steve Berry - Copyright 2006
"Med Ship" - Murray Leinster - Copyright 2002
"Hostage" - Don Brown - Copyright 2005
Not an expired copyright in the bunch...
Dutch Dutch -
Is there a trick to finding free books on Amazon? I found a couple but wondered if there is a search technique.
Thanks,
Dave
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flibmeister
Gold Canyon, Arizona
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Joined: 03/03/2006
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magicbus wrote:Is there a trick to finding free books on Amazon? I found a couple but wondered if there is a search technique.
Put "-public" in the Kindle store search box, and order the search results from low to high.
I think this link
will do it for you.
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