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#1 |
Zealot
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Karma: 400000
Join Date: Jul 2010
Device: iPad 2 64GB
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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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#2 |
Sigil & calibre developer
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Karma: 1063785
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Florida, USA
Device: Nook STR
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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. |
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#3 |
Tea Enthusiast
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Karma: 75384937
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Somewhere in the USA
Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2
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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. |
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#4 |
Wizard
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Karma: 3799999
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA
Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2
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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. |
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#5 |
Zealot
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Device: iPad 2 64GB
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Thanks for the help!
I wonder if most publishers first create an ePub file and then use KindleGen for the Kindle version? |
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#6 |
Tea Enthusiast
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Somewhere in the USA
Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2
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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. |
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#7 |
Sigil & calibre developer
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Karma: 1063785
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Florida, USA
Device: Nook STR
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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. |
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#8 |
Omnivorous
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Rural NW Oregon
Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1
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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.
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#9 |
Groupie
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sacramento
Device: Kindle
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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.
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#10 | |
Wizard
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Karma: 8426142
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD
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Quote:
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. |
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#11 |
eWanderer
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NC, USA
Device: iMac,iPad3,iPhone5-Kindle Fire,Touch,PaperWhite
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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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