Where should I buy eBooks?

Caleb666 · 08-09-2011, 08:03 AM

Hi,

I have a growing shopping list for eBooks, but I'm not quite sure which of the online retailers is the better choice. Since I own an iPad, I don't care about specific formats, what matters is that the book is going to be well formatted, and that I'll be able to recieve updated revisions when they are available.

I'm looking at Amazon vs. Barnes & Noble, and from what I understand Amazon automatically update books, and let you download a newer version - does B&N do that as well?

Now, what about formatting? Can any of you who have been shopping at both places can chime in on this?

Thanks!

user_none · 08-09-2011, 10:15 AM

B&N updates their books and makes them available for free like Amazon.

Formatting from what I've seen is the same. Inconsistent but most books look alright.

The biggest issue I've seen with Amazon books formatting wise is in TPZ files. There is no easy way to tell which type (TPZ or AZW) a book is in.

B&N I mainly see issue with the font and font size being explicitly set in a way that prevents you from changing it while reading.

ProfCrash · 08-09-2011, 11:59 AM

Buy them from where ever you want, use Calibre to store them, and plug ins to remove the DRM if you want. That way you can convert the books and read them on any device.

I have bought 350 books from Amazon with no problems.

Hellmark · 08-09-2011, 12:04 PM

You may want to consider Kobo as well. Free updates as well, like the others, and I've not run into the font size issue like is mentioned for B&N.

I dunno, for me, I see no reason to be loyal to any particular store. Buy from all of them, and learn the particular quirks of each one. All have their ups and downs.

Caleb666 · 08-09-2011, 12:19 PM

Thanks for the help!

I wonder if most publishers first create an ePub file and then use KindleGen for the Kindle version?

ProfCrash · 08-09-2011, 12:25 PM

They probably have programs that generate each file for them. Given that the Kindle is still the best seller in the US, I wouldn't be surprised if that is created first and then 30 seconds later the EPub file is created.

I think that the formatting is more of a challenge for an Indy author who has to handle all of that by themselves then a massive publishing house which has more likely then not developed a program that handles the conversion for them. The large Publishers are generating too many books for them to be hand converting files.

user_none · 08-09-2011, 12:37 PM

The typical methods are: EPUB into kindlegen, Mobipocket Creator, or the Kindle plugin for InDesign. In every case it really comes down to how much time and money the publisher wants to spend making the book look good.

Amazon's format (MOBI) is simpler in nature than EPUB. Some people prefer this because it reduces the amount of variation between books to a degree.

Going off of other people's advice, download the samples for books your interested in from a variety of stores and see which you like better.

jgaiser · 08-09-2011, 12:41 PM

I agree with everything said. If you're not concerned about the platform, be open-minded about bookstore. Since I own both Kindle and Nook (along with an iPad), I usually buy from both B&N and Amazon. If prices are the same, I *tend* to prefer B&N, as removing DRM is easier with Linux. Formatting is pretty much the same through both.

Lazybones · 08-09-2011, 05:28 PM

If you like fantasy/sci-fi, I'll plug for Baen Books, which offers a lot of e-Books from their catalog for free. It's a good way to see if you'll like a particular author. They sell in most of the major formats.

pidgeon92 · 08-09-2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caleb666

I'm looking at Amazon vs. Barnes & Noble, and from what I understand Amazon automatically update books, and let you download a newer version - does B&N do that as well?

Amazon does not automatically update books you have already purchased. Sometimes they will send an email and ask if you want the update. If you do, all of your bookmarks and annotations will be lost.

More often you will never know if an ebook has been updated, and you will not get the update automatically. If you find out about an update, you will need to contact Amazon and let them know that you want the updated version. They will generally give you a refund on the original purchase, and you will need to buy the updated copy.

1611mac · 08-09-2011, 09:07 PM

Calibre was mentioned above... it has a really nice Get Books feature that searches at least 34 sites for books, comparing them by cost. International sites are included.

08-09-2011, 08:03 AM	#1
Caleb666 Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 400000 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: iPad 2 64GB	Where should I buy eBooks? Hi, I have a growing shopping list for eBooks, but I'm not quite sure which of the online retailers is the better choice. Since I own an iPad, I don't care about specific formats, what matters is that the book is going to be well formatted, and that I'll be able to recieve updated revisions when they are available. I'm looking at Amazon vs. Barnes & Noble, and from what I understand Amazon automatically update books, and let you download a newer version - does B&N do that as well? Now, what about formatting? Can any of you who have been shopping at both places can chime in on this? Thanks!

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08-09-2011, 10:15 AM	#2
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,487 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	B&N updates their books and makes them available for free like Amazon. Formatting from what I've seen is the same. Inconsistent but most books look alright. The biggest issue I've seen with Amazon books formatting wise is in TPZ files. There is no easy way to tell which type (TPZ or AZW) a book is in. B&N I mainly see issue with the font and font size being explicitly set in a way that prevents you from changing it while reading.

08-09-2011, 11:59 AM	#3
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Buy them from where ever you want, use Calibre to store them, and plug ins to remove the DRM if you want. That way you can convert the books and read them on any device. I have bought 350 books from Amazon with no problems.

08-09-2011, 12:04 PM	#4
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,552 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	You may want to consider Kobo as well. Free updates as well, like the others, and I've not run into the font size issue like is mentioned for B&N. I dunno, for me, I see no reason to be loyal to any particular store. Buy from all of them, and learn the particular quirks of each one. All have their ups and downs.

08-09-2011, 12:19 PM	#5
Caleb666 Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 400000 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: iPad 2 64GB	Thanks for the help! I wonder if most publishers first create an ePub file and then use KindleGen for the Kindle version?

08-09-2011, 12:25 PM	#6
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	They probably have programs that generate each file for them. Given that the Kindle is still the best seller in the US, I wouldn't be surprised if that is created first and then 30 seconds later the EPub file is created. I think that the formatting is more of a challenge for an Indy author who has to handle all of that by themselves then a massive publishing house which has more likely then not developed a program that handles the conversion for them. The large Publishers are generating too many books for them to be hand converting files.

08-09-2011, 12:37 PM	#7
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,487 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	The typical methods are: EPUB into kindlegen, Mobipocket Creator, or the Kindle plugin for InDesign. In every case it really comes down to how much time and money the publisher wants to spend making the book look good. Amazon's format (MOBI) is simpler in nature than EPUB. Some people prefer this because it reduces the amount of variation between books to a degree. Going off of other people's advice, download the samples for books your interested in from a variety of stores and see which you like better.

08-09-2011, 12:41 PM	#8
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	I agree with everything said. If you're not concerned about the platform, be open-minded about bookstore. Since I own both Kindle and Nook (along with an iPad), I usually buy from both B&N and Amazon. If prices are the same, I tend to prefer B&N, as removing DRM is easier with Linux. Formatting is pretty much the same through both.

08-09-2011, 05:28 PM	#9
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	If you like fantasy/sci-fi, I'll plug for Baen Books, which offers a lot of e-Books from their catalog for free. It's a good way to see if you'll like a particular author. They sell in most of the major formats.

08-09-2011, 09:07 PM	#11
1611mac eWanderer Posts: 523 Karma: 1441998 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: iMac,iPad3,iPhone5-Kindle Fire,Touch,PaperWhite	Calibre was mentioned above... it has a really nice Get Books feature that searches at least 34 sites for books, comparing them by cost. International sites are included.

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