ebooks

MissBrattified · #1 04-11-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pelathais

One also should be aware of the copyright issues involved with sites like Pirate Bay. My ISP has begun to block many such sites and even filters torrent file transfers.

I don't see the need to download stuff like that anyway. Amazon offers thousands of classic for free, as does Project Gutenberg, and you can download samples of books before you purchase. Why the need for pirated stuff?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

My friend uses the nook. Swears by it,

Mirc was shareware last time I did IRC

I looked at the nook before Christmas, and my thought was that I would just as soon have an iPad if I were going that direction. Plus, it would probably hurt my eyes just as much as using the laptop for a long time.

Praxeas · #2 04-11-2011, 07:46 PM

Sure if you have the money. I want the Xoom. But the Nook is cheaper

Dedicated Mind · #3 04-11-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I don't see the need to download stuff like that anyway. Amazon offers thousands of classic for free, as does Project Gutenberg, and you can download samples of books before you purchase. Why the need for pirated stuff?

I looked at the nook before Christmas, and my thought was that I would just as soon have an iPad if I were going that direction. Plus, it would probably hurt my eyes just as much as using the laptop for a long time.

ccel.org also provides christian classics for free.

commonsense · #4 04-11-2011, 09:33 PM

I've had my Nookcolor for 2 weeks. I love it.

I can read as well as use it as a tablet. You can go online, use it for email, etc.; built in wifi.

Praxeas · #5 04-11-2011, 09:38 PM

Ive heard the Nook is built on top of an Android OS and you can "strip" the shell that runs everything and use it as a genuine tablet PC...however as it is it really is just a glorified ebook reader. Also aren't you stuck with Barnes and Noble books?

mfblume · #6 04-12-2011, 08:27 AM

What I like about the KINDLE is that the battery lasts for a month! It uses "e-ink" which is sorta like LCD, and the brighter the sunlight the better you can see it, unlike backlit devices. But that is not good for no exterior lighting situations like sitting in the dark and wanting to read a backlit screen.

Since it is E-Ink, you do not use the power of the device until you turn a page or do a search. Hence, the long battery life.

It has an experimental web browser and text to speech function, as well as plays mp3's quite nicely with stereo speakers while you read if you want to.

pelathais · #7 04-12-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I don't see the need to download stuff like that anyway. Amazon offers thousands of classic for free, as does Project Gutenberg, and you can download samples of books before you purchase. Why the need for pirated stuff?

While I'm not advocating "pirating" per se, there is a need to make more information more widely available. One example might be software books and manuals. At one time many people were unable to afford the high priced manuals and teaching guides and thus were barred from learning new technologies. This was when the "pirating" of ebooks was first developed and came into vogue - early 1990s. Not having access to the latest technologies hurt the careers of those attempting to break into the field or trying to advance.

Since that time, lower cost publishers have sprung up so the need isn't always there the way it used to be, but still, the "pirate market" does exert an influence on pricing in the rest of the publishing world - a good thing, imho. There are dozens of other examples in fields where high priced electronic media can make a huge difference for the student or someone entering a new field - nursing and the nursing manuals and charts for the Palm for example are very popular on torrent sites.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I looked at the nook before Christmas, and my thought was that I would just as soon have an iPad if I were going that direction. Plus, it would probably hurt my eyes just as much as using the laptop for a long time.

The iPad is a good alternative. It's flat and much lighter than a notebook. Amazon has a free Kindle reader for Macs here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...l_6akxhff7th_e

MissBrattified · #8 04-12-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pelathais

While I'm not advocating "pirating" per se, there is a need to make more information more widely available. One example might be software books and manuals. At one time many people were unable to afford the high priced manuals and teaching guides and thus were barred from learning new technologies. This was when the "pirating" of ebooks was first developed and came into vogue - early 1990s. Not having access to the latest technologies hurt the careers of those attempting to break into the field or trying to advance.

Since that time, lower cost publishers have sprung up so the need isn't always there the way it used to be, but still, the "pirate market" does exert an influence on pricing in the rest of the publishing world - a good thing, imho. There are dozens of other examples in fields where high priced electronic media can make a huge difference for the student or someone entering a new field - nursing and the nursing manuals and charts for the Palm for example are very popular on torrent sites.

Good points. You're very smart, pel.

Quote:

The iPad is a good alternative. It's flat and much lighter than a notebook. Amazon has a free Kindle reader for Macs here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...l_6akxhff7th_e

I'm thinking that the iPad may be what I ask for when my current laptop dies. The only thing that discourages me is the touch-screen keyboard. I suppose I could get used to it, but I type so fast on a regular keyboard that it's bound to slow me down.