Can I avoid handing any more money to Amazon

[maillotjaune]

I was given a Kindle last Christmas - I love it BUT had been trying then to avoid buying so much from Amazon having read the earlier news stories about tax etc.

Anyway, I am not very tech savvy but is it possible to get e books from other suppliers to read on Kindle?

I am happy to physically transfer from laptop via USB if necessary but not sure how to start.

free books for kindle

You can use Calibre software to covert e-books to the right format. However, you can only do this for books without rights protection. Great for free books but if you want any new books you will need Amazon.

Yes, that's what I thought might be the problem - I have been reading some free classics but most of of the books I read are newer so might need to go back to paper books.

Thanks everyone.

I'm looking at getting a kobo. Some of our local libraries are now offering ebook loans and I think the kobo mini is £49.

Ditch the kindle; and get a kobo/nook then you can borrow from your local library. (from their website)

Calibre is an option, but it is akin to illegally downloading films or music unless you stick to the classics.

Kindle also have the library now where you can borrow books for free.

you could buy a gotab from www.hive.co.UK and buy books from there.
commission goes to your nearest independent bookshop.
gotab is about £60

Interesting nicklebabe, I haven't heard of that one.

Just having a look on that hive website

Can you get the kindle app on the gotab?

any - you can.
but i found that out "by accident" when trying out the gotab shown by a rep.
very useful if you have a kindle and you want to switch. :)

anya , even...

Ooh, might go for a gotab instead of a kindle then. Is it easy to do?

I see it's not an actual ereader, is it as easy on the eyes as they are?

when i was playing around, i downloaded it from Google play stores. i have to admit i didn't check it all worked, but it seemed to download properly.

plus they're selling them on amazon so i would conclude it's okay.

huge. no it's more like a tablet but it didn't have the screen glare once you were in the book.
i think the tft thing is better.

http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2012/11/13/gotab-7-inch-android-ics-tablet-review-budget-brilliance/ i found this review for the 7"

look on ebay....

Thanks for that link nickelbaby I'm swaying more towards the gotab now

I wonder what the battery life is like on those things?

Especially as they are capable of so much more, you would be tempted to mumsnet check your emails and use up the charge.

it says you can read for 4 hours om a single charge.

that doesn't seem like much to me.

maybe i read it wrong?

4 hrs does not sound great.

I like the hive website though, I've never heard of it before.

that's why i wondered if i'd read it wrong, or if they'd put the wrong number down.
or if i'd remembered it wrong.

here

it looks like it depends on what you're using it for.
i think that 4 hours must mean if you're using it as a tablet - on the internet, downloading, etc.
when you're just reading it should last a lot longer.

somewhere i looked at a review said that if you've got it connected to the WiFi/internet, then the battery runs down really quickly.