Kindle books

[brifos99]

Am I right in thinking that Kindle editions do not precisely replicate the printed version, please?

[tenrec]

I was thinking of getting a kindle, but not if that is the case.

[hc4361]

Unless the book is listed as abridged (or similar) it should be exactly the same.

The format may be different for text books with footnotes being within the body of the text rather than the back, for ease of use.

[hc4361]

Kindle is not the only eReader, by the way. I have had a Sony eReader for 4 years or so, and it reads many more formats than the Kindle and I can download free books from the library to it.

Kobo is also better in my opinion, as it reads more formats than the kindle.

[Canary42]

Yes, you are right. The Kindle has the facility for varying the font size.

[hc4361]

They all do.

[Ellipsis]

If you're just talking about a normal book, i.e. not picture book, pop-up book (!) etc then the content of the Kindle edition pretty much replicates the content of the printed version.

Note I say "content", not "layout". The layout, page numbering etc changes according to your settings on the Kindle, because you can change the size of the text to suit you.

One lesson I've learnt from having kids who play computer games on lots of different platforms - in the end, the cost of the platform (Kindle, Sony, Kobo etc.) is a small part of what you pay to digest the content on the platform. So my advice would be to get a Kindle if you've seen lots of books on Kindle that you like, and likewise for Sony eReader and Kobo if that's the case. Don't feel you're tied to only one. That said, I have a Kindle and it's met all my needs so far...

[mccfluff]

i'm about to buy a kindle but i didn;t know about the free books from the library thing??

[hc4361]

I can read Kindle books on my Sony eReader.

Everyone in the UK is entitled to register at any library, you can do it online if the county borders your own, otherwise you have to do it in person.
As a result at am a member of libraries in 5 different counties and I can download or reserve 3 books at a time from each at absolutely no cost.

I do know some Kindles will not read these books, I don't know if that applies to all models.

Kindles are cheap-ish because you are encouraged to buy all your ebooks from Amazon. That's where they make their money. As far as I know it can be difficult if not impossible to read other formats, whereas my Sony eReader reads many formats including .pdf files.

[heathfield]

By the way. Project Gutenburg has over 30,000 books which can now be downloaded for free to a Kindle, (and a warning about 'free book' scams!)...

http://www.gutenberg....iki/Free_Kindle_Books

[hc4361]

And can be downloaded to any other eReader, pc or smartphone.

[mccfluff]

and i had finally made my mind up

arghhhhhhhh

[woofgang]

you can get the kindle software for free and read the books on a computer, iphone or ipad...not sure about other tablets and phones

[heathfield]

Quite right, HC. But some folk think that books can only be downloaded to a Kindle through Amazon, or an approved bookseller. Spread the word!

[:pagan:]

You can always use calibre to convert from one format to another.

http://calibre-ebook.com/