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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Roobarb on Wednesday 20 February 13 21:21 GMT (UK)

Title: Ebooks
Post by: Roobarb on Wednesday 20 February 13 21:21 GMT (UK)
Now that I've finally bought my tablet  :) I'd like to ask some questions about downloading ebooks.

I've downloaded the Kindle and Kobo apps to my tablet and have browsed the stores as well as those in the Playstore which serves the Google tablet. I'm relatively happy to buy things via my computer at home but not so if it entails a mobile device such as a tablet. Can I buy books via my computer for use on my tablet or would the books only be readable on the device I've used to purchase it?  ???
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Pels. on Wednesday 20 February 13 21:43 GMT (UK)


Hi Roobarb,

For safety I buy the books via my main computer and they automatically transfer to the Kindle, providing you have the wi-fi switched on on the device. I think this would also work the same way with your tablet.

For a first attempt why don't you download a free book from Amazon, to get the hang of it.

Good luck !  :) :)

Pels.

Added :

I can also read the books I've downloaded to the Kindle on the iPad, and if anything, they look better.
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Wednesday 20 February 13 21:56 GMT (UK)
Hi Roobarb,

Another one here who uses the main computer for downloading books.   I find it a lot easier than doing it via the Kobo.

Have fun searching .... free books are great getting too ;D


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Roobarb on Wednesday 20 February 13 22:03 GMT (UK)
Thanks both. That's a good idea to try with one of the free ones Pels, I'll do that right now and will let you know.  :)
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Roobarb on Wednesday 20 February 13 22:22 GMT (UK)
It worked!  ;D ;D ;D

I had to download Kindle for PC, I'd had it on my old computer but hadn't bothered to put it on the new one. When it had downloaded it was populated with the books I'd chosen before including The Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear.  ;)  :D

I'll have a go now at Kobo and see if it works the same, and from Playstore too.

Thank you!  :)

PS I've got a Google Nexus.  :)
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Mavals on Friday 22 February 13 21:20 GMT (UK)
After reading this thread, downloaded kindle reader onto my samsung galaxy one note tablet and brought over some of the books  have in my kindle account. Had a kindle for 2 years, which i love. As i was going to london to some event or other! I wanted to travel light, as no doubt will be heavy laden going home.

Very pleased with books on the tablet
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Roobarb on Friday 22 February 13 23:05 GMT (UK)
Yes, they're great aren't they Mavals?

I've now downloaded lots of free books from Amazon and Kobo. What I don't like about the Google Playstore is that they ask you for card details before downloading any books, including free ones. The other sites only ask for registration details of your email address and password. I don't want to enter card details unless I'm actually paying for something so have stuck to the other two.
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Friday 22 February 13 23:21 GMT (UK)
Roobarb,

Can you get hold of the Kobo Gift Cards?   We have them here, I purchased a couple today and going to use them for downloading books, saves having to use the credit card.


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Roobarb on Saturday 23 February 13 01:08 GMT (UK)
Haven't heard of them KHP but I'm sure they'll sell them at WH Smith, will look into it, thank you.  :)

PS I've spent a tremendous amount of money so far - the ones I paid for were a massive 20p each!  ;)  I'm enjoying downloading lots of freebies, will have to find the time to read them all now.  :)
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Saturday 23 February 13 01:35 GMT (UK)
You can also download a preview of a book before paying out money ...... that way if you don't like the book so far, you haven't wasted money.

Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: roopat on Saturday 23 February 13 17:52 GMT (UK)
Roobarb - my county library (Norfolk) also has hundreds of ebooks online suitable for the Kobo (not the Kindle, different software), I'm sure yours will do the same. I haven't paid for any ebooks since I was given my Kobo in Christmas 2011! And the great advantage is that I can download a book at any time I like. You can choose 7, 14 or 21 day periods to borrow them & have up to 6 at a time.

Pat
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Roobarb on Sunday 24 February 13 00:40 GMT (UK)
Pat, sadly my library doesn't offer this service  although the neighbouring one does. It's a major gripe of mine but I suspect my local council is steering its way to closing down our libraries, I do keep using it to borrow physical books so that I give some support to keeping the libraries open.

KHP - great idea to preview.  :)
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: roopat on Sunday 24 February 13 15:09 GMT (UK)
That's a shame Roobarb, I've put several friends onto this across the country and just assumed it was something they all did  :-[  It might be worth just asking if they're planning to offer ebooks - put the idea into their heads, especially if a nearby county library offers it  ;)

I must admit I wondered if the library service would include ebook-borrowing in their statistics, I still visit my local branch but only occasionally now and I would hate to think I was contributing to their potential closure  :(

Good luck anyway and happy e-reading!

Pat
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: pinefamily on Monday 25 February 13 07:52 GMT (UK)
Hello Roobarb,
I am glad you have got the hang of the e-book programs/apps. Both Kindle and Kobo are fine, easy to download from and easy to use. The only thing I would say is Kobo is more flexible with what formats it supports.
Title: Re: Ebooks
Post by: Roobarb on Monday 25 February 13 16:58 GMT (UK)
I've downlaoded lots of books now including Jokes for Kids - for me!  ;D ;D Some folks never grow up do they?  ;)


Pat, I'm afraid my local council doesn't have any intentions of offering an ebook service, they're making massive cuts in many areas and this isn't something they consider important. They're even making comments about how difficult it is to keep the existing libraries open, even though they've made lots of the staff redundant. It's all very sad but whatever I do with ebooks I'll continue to use the library even if it's only to borrow non fiction books. And of course to use their family and local history books and newspapers!