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Original poster

Amazon Kindle - can't 'borrow' library books?

17 replies

ChippyMinton · 18/09/2010 08:58

DH has ordered one of the new Kindles for my birthday. I was excited until I found out that the ebook format used by the public library is not compatible Sad. I don;t want to pay Amazon for every book I read, when I could borrow for free. Think it will have to go back. Grrrr.

OP posts:
NormaStanleyFletcher · 18/09/2010 10:48

That is really interesting. I was thinking of a kindle for my birthday, and didn't know you could borrow ebooks!

Prolesworth · 18/09/2010 10:50

This reply has been deleted

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VoldemortsNipple · 18/09/2010 10:56

Your kindle can be linked to other devices though. My sister and my DCs have the iPod Touch so they can share my books. My sister will often pay for books which we can share on the kindle.

I got mine last christmas and until very recently, you could only buy books from the US store, but now you can buy them in the UK store. I think the Kindle will evolve and be more accessable over time.

nickelbabe · 18/09/2010 10:58

the ebooks at the library are compatible with the Sony eReader (in fact, I'm pretty sure it can take quite a few different formats)

Original poster
ChippyMinton · 18/09/2010 16:22

Yes, the sony reader is compatible, the library lists the various devices. The cheapest sony is dearer than the kindle and now I realise why - you are tied to amazon. apart from the classics (Jane Austen, Dickens) available free of charge.

Need to investigate further, methinks.

OP posts:
Spacehoppa · 18/09/2010 16:28

How are you getting on with the kindle otherwise? I found the Sony a little clunky.

Original poster
ChippyMinton · 18/09/2010 16:46

I haven't actually got it yet! DH ordered it a while back and the delivery date kept changing. The reviews are very good.

Do you buy books for the sony? Where from? What are the prices like?

OP posts:
bandgeek · 18/09/2010 17:26

I'm getting a Kindle for my Christmas, I'm dead excited about it

Spacehoppa · 19/09/2010 16:59

I think you can get the ebooks from Waterstones.com for the Sony but I didn't get one. I thought I would wait till they got better and cheaper Wink

Hairytoes · 20/09/2010 10:09

Whsmith have got a good offer on ebooks at the moment. 60% off the top 100 - I got 10 books for £30!

oftenpurple · 20/09/2010 17:02

I've found that the Kindle is easier to handle than any of the Sonys I've tried so far. The new UK Kindle shop actually has cheaper books than the US one (not always, but certainly many new ones).

nannynick · 20/09/2010 17:39

Interesting discussion as I am also considering getting a Kindle for Xmas.

So is the issue that there are multiple formats of e-book, thus some devices will read all formats, while the Kindle will only read Amazons own format? Wonder if that will create a Format War like we had with VHS v BetaMax, the various writeable CDs.

According to FictionWise there are currently 13 different formats of e-book. For e-books to take off, they will need to sort out what format will be used or devices will have to support multi-format.

The Kindle software can be upgraded in the future... so with luck it will not a big issue, as once a standard has been decided, Amazon will send out a software update to enable it to read books of that format.

I've now had a play with both the Sony and the Kindle and I prefer the Kindle.

Maybe if you pester ask the library they will eventually introduce Kindle format e-books.

Original poster
ChippyMinton · 20/09/2010 18:03

The library books are copyright-protected - DRM-protected Adobe EPUB & PDF eBooks - a format not recognised by Kindle or the ipad.

Has anyone got a BeBook? It was recommended on Channel 4's TV book Club and seems to support most formats. Price is simiilar to Sony.

I'm getting cold feet now - £200 would buy a lot of real books.

OP posts:
heymammy · 20/09/2010 18:09

Ooh, good thread chippy, I was hankering after a kindle for christmas but this is the one thing holding me back. I use the library loads so see no need to start paying for books Wink

Will just need to read classics until the software is updated lol

Original poster
ChippyMinton · 21/09/2010 15:57

I know, i would feel like I was paying amazon for the privilege of spending my money with them.

OP posts:
TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 21/09/2010 15:58

I heart my Kindle. Smile

Chil1234 · 23/09/2010 11:18

I've been recommended www.manybooks.net as a source of free e-books for the Kindle. Lets you download the same book in several different formats depending on which e-reader you've got. Expect there are lots of similar sites. I also think there is a VHS/Betamax-style tussle going on at the moment so went with the market leader and the e-reader with the best reviews. Libraries IMHO will have to start serving the Kindle & I-pads or they'll make themselves even more obsolete than they already are.

There are a few penalties for being an early adopter with any technology but I'm really happy with my experience so far.

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