Do You Prefer E-book Readers Or Having The Physical Book?

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fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
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I just bought a Kindle Fire HDX a few days ago. So now I have an old kindle, a paperwhite and an HDX. As far as reading a book, the paperwhite is the best. The HDX is good for reading too but not as good as the paperwhite. The paperwhite is only made for one thing and you can't beat it for regular reading. With the HDX, you can buy magazines that are exact replicas of the printed versions. There is a bit of a learning curve in figuring out how to magnify what you want to read but I am really liking that and I'm still figuring it out. The HDX has a terrible user manual and I'm just figuring things out on the fly. The HDX is basically a tablet and you can play games, music, go on the internet, etc. You can even stream from your Amazon and netflix accounts. I like having both the paperwhite and the Fire.

One thing that I like about the HDX more than the other type of kindle is the ability to read pdf files. Whenever I'm on a news or magazine site and there is a long article I want to read, downloading it and making a kindle file is my favorite way to read something like that. I have a hard time reading long articles on a regular computer screen. The easiest way to transfer files is with pdf files. You can get an adobe reader app with the HDX and the file is much easier to handle on the HDX. I haven't read The Plant yet and that is in pdf so I'm going to transfer that to the HDX and read that soon.

i-dont-always-quote-myself-but-when-i-do-i-quote-myself-thumb.jpg
 

Walter Oobleck

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One thing that I like about the HDX more than the other type of kindle is the ability to read pdf files. Whenever I'm on a news or magazine site and there is a long article I want to read, downloading it and making a kindle file is my favorite way to read something like that. I have a hard time reading long articles on a regular computer screen. The easiest way to transfer files is with pdf files. You can get an adobe reader app with the HDX and the file is much easier to handle on the HDX. I haven't read The Plant yet and that is in pdf so I'm going to transfer that to the HDX and read that soon.

i-dont-always-quote-myself-but-when-i-do-i-quote-myself-thumb.jpg

Do you know how to help an idiot? I have an old kindle and a new one...the new one is the kindle fire and I think I downloaded The Plant, the two downloads available at the Library at stephenking-dot-com. Before I downloaded the machine told me I'd find them on "downloads" or something like that. So...I download, or I think I did. There's no "downloads" heading that I can see. Do I need adobe-reader to be able to read The Plant? I pressed "help" and a screen pops us that suggests I can get rid of "help" if I want. Didn't want that. Probably some help online at...amazon I spose. Oh...okay...just glanced up at your post...about the "adobe reader app"...maybe I'll try doing that see if it works. I have The Plant on the computer but I'd prefer reading it on the kindle...smaller screen...I can sit on the couch if I want so on so forth. The other thought I had just now...yeah I know, awesome...more than one in one day...is that maybe it is listed in the "books"...nice on the fire, the way the color cover is listed instead of the black/white list of pages on the old one. Put On Writing, the audio, on this new one, too. Will have to give that a try later on.
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
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Do you know how to help an idiot? I have an old kindle and a new one...the new one is the kindle fire and I think I downloaded The Plant, the two downloads available at the Library at stephenking-dot-com. Before I downloaded the machine told me I'd find them on "downloads" or something like that. So...I download, or I think I did. There's no "downloads" heading that I can see. Do I need adobe-reader to be able to read The Plant? I pressed "help" and a screen pops us that suggests I can get rid of "help" if I want. Didn't want that. Probably some help online at...amazon I spose. Oh...okay...just glanced up at your post...about the "adobe reader app"...maybe I'll try doing that see if it works. I have The Plant on the computer but I'd prefer reading it on the kindle...smaller screen...I can sit on the couch if I want so on so forth. The other thought I had just now...yeah I know, awesome...more than one in one day...is that maybe it is listed in the "books"...nice on the fire, the way the color cover is listed instead of the black/white list of pages on the old one. Put On Writing, the audio, on this new one, too. Will have to give that a try later on.

First, go to the Amazon site and download the adobe reader app (it's free)

Amazon.com: Adobe Reader: Appstore for Android

Then you can hookup your Fire to your computer and just copy The Plant into the documents folder

There are two ways (remember I'm new at this Fire stuff so what I tell you is all I've found out so far - there could always be more ways) to open the document. On the Fire menu, click documents and all of the documents you have copied should be there. Just click The Plant. The 2nd way is to open the adobe app and then select the document from a menu in the adobe app. I think turning the tablet to the landscape mode is the best way to read the adobe documents.
 

Walter Oobleck

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First, go to the Amazon site and download the adobe reader app (it's free)

Amazon.com: Adobe Reader: Appstore for Android

Then you can hookup your Fire to your computer and just copy The Plant into the documents folder

There are two ways (remember I'm new at this Fire stuff so what I tell you is all I've found out so far - there could always be more ways) to open the document. On the Fire menu, click documents and all of the documents you have copied should be there. Just click The Plant. The 2nd way is to open the adobe app and then select the document from a menu in the adobe app. I think turning the tablet to the landscape mode is the best way to read the adobe documents.

Trying to do this now for a time. I got the Adobe Reader on the kindle and tried to get the Plant...thought I was downloaded it from the Library...nothing to indicate a transfer is in process. Do I open a thing on the computer and drag it that way? I connected a USB computer/kindle but I'm not seeing how I drag a document to the reader-app...will try to open a thing on the computer, see if I can figure it out that way. Any 4th graders out there wanna make a buck?
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
71,642
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120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
Trying to do this now for a time. I got the Adobe Reader on the kindle and tried to get the Plant...thought I was downloaded it from the Library...nothing to indicate a transfer is in process. Do I open a thing on the computer and drag it that way? I connected a USB computer/kindle but I'm not seeing how I drag a document to the reader-app...will try to open a thing on the computer, see if I can figure it out that way. Any 4th graders out there wanna make a buck?

What you can do is

1. hook up your Fire to your computer
2. On your computer, go to the library page with The Plant
StephenKing.com - Plant: Zenith Rising, The
3. Click on The Plant part one and a box should come up asking if you if you want to save the file or open it. Click "open with adobe". Once the file is open in your adobe program click the file menu in the upper right corner, click save as pdf and then save it to the document folder of your Fire. Then do the same with part 2. Rinse and repeat.

Let me know if that works
 

Walter Oobleck

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ok! Looks like something worked. I opened a box and set it aside on my pc...the box designated my kindle and I dragged the plant file over to what looked like the right place on that kindle box...and it looks like it is there now on the kindle. :) I'm tickled pink. :) Thanks for the help!

...course...it appears I've got more than one copy there now, too. :dunno:
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
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I have never taken a book into the bathroom. Bathrooms are for doing other things than reading.....:biggrin-new:

Well I do agree with that - I am not a person who finds reading on the toilet acceptable - yuk!

But as I do like a long hot bath, I take a book in with me. I do not collect books like you do but I respect your opinion.

I would never have taken Doctor Sleep in the tub as it is a hard cover that is in perfect condition and could be a collector's item some day :victorious:
 

Walter Oobleck

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When you hook your kindle to your computer, it should show up as another hard drive. When I hook mine up, it is labeled "kindle" but it may not be that way on your computer, it may just be a drive letter (like D or E).

I don't remember exactly how I got it to work...but when I was trying to save from the place where The Plant is downloaded...on Adobe I think...when that save box opened, the kindle was not there thought it was hooked up to the PC w/the USB...and I think what I did was go to 'computer' find it there, and then I was able to drag the file from one to the other...although I'd opened what must have been the right box on the kindle file before I did that. Anyway, it worked! :)
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I don't remember exactly how I got it to work...but when I was trying to save from the place where The Plant is downloaded...on Adobe I think...when that save box opened, the kindle was not there thought it was hooked up to the PC w/the USB...and I think what I did was go to 'computer' find it there, and then I was able to drag the file from one to the other...although I'd opened what must have been the right box on the kindle file before I did that. Anyway, it worked! :)
That sounds just like me when I hook up my Galaxy to download pictures - I end up with duplicates.
 

themedic

Well-Known Member
Sep 3, 2007
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Nova Scotia, Canada
I was more on the physical book side, but e-readers are so much easier to travel with. I read Wizard and Glass while vacationing in Mexico last summer on my e-reader. My wife bought me the Game of Thrones box set for x-mas and holding the paper backs is sometimes cumbersome especially when you are about half way through the book. So I'm starting to lea on the e-reader side.
 

The Sentimental Fool

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Feb 8, 2009
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The Basement
I currently prefer the physical copy of the book. There is just something exciting about going and buying the book and getting to feel the weight of it and smell the pages. I have been toying around with the idea of getting a kindle but am still hesitant about it all the particulars and whether I would prefer to have one. :question_pig:
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
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I currently prefer the physical copy of the book. There is just something exciting about going and buying the book and getting to feel the weight of it and smell the pages. I have been toying around with the idea of getting a kindle but am still hesitant about it all the particulars and whether I would prefer to have one. :question_pig:

If you're an avid reader, read much throughout the year, the kindle is a plus. They've a variety of options available. I've had a kindle for about...three years I think it is, a Christmas present. If space is limited and you don't like to part with your books, the kindle can keep them all in one small location, there are a number of "free" reads available, we're talking someof the classics here, too...and there are many for .99/cents. You can always buy the book of your favorite authors. This past Christmas I got a kindle fire...and that has more bells/whistles...you can go on-line with it...you can highlight in color whereas w/the older one you could highlight black/white. There's even a page...at Amazon I think, where you could see all your highlights. I like to index stories as I read so the highlight factor is a plus. Plus all those highlights provide those guys at NSA w/job security...they're writing biographies of us all...check out The Orphan Master's Son and see what other...society...does that to its people. I keep hoping for some communication from the authoritarian-ship..."greetings from the authoritarian-ship!"...maybe...some bureaucrat at NSA that feels the need to communicate..."hey, whud you think of The Sugar-Frosted Nutsack!"...something...maybe a head's-up..."they're watching you...have a record of every Facebook/tumblr post" so on so forth. A drone in the sky. Something.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I currently prefer the physical copy of the book. There is just something exciting about going and buying the book and getting to feel the weight of it and smell the pages. I have been toying around with the idea of getting a kindle but am still hesitant about it all the particulars and whether I would prefer to have one. :question_pig:
I feel the same way. Hubby bought me an ereader (but not a Kindle) A Kobo? or whatever they call it and I returned it.
By the way @The Sentimental Fool your avatar reminds me of the banker from the Monopoly game!
 
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Anthea M

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Feb 1, 2014
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This topic has come up with some of my friends and I wanted to know what people's thoughts were on this. There are tradeoffs either way. Ebook readers are more comfortable to hold and allow you instant access to almost any book. Classic books are even free. However, some prefer to have a paper copy of a book. They can also act as a conversation piece and book collections look nice in one's home. It's also easier to lend out books.

I like the feel of a book and still buy at least 3 new books each month. I am not adverse to buying used books but only if they are in really good condition. Some books are "keepers" and will stay on my book shelves; others will be donated to my local library. However, I have succumbed and purchased an e-reader. I don't carry it around with me every day as it depends if I want to read one of my e-books (mostly Agatha Christie or Andrea Camilleri).