I'm starting to get buyer's remorse because of inadequate book selection

[bklvr896]

Large_Marge wrote:

I think the difference is that Google books are included in search results for B&N, but the "sludgepile of poorly-typed public-domain writings" at Gutenburg are not included in Amazon searches, hence not "in-store."

You could always volunteer at Gutenburg to proof the books if they are that poorly typed or proofed.

[sc0rnd1]

Basically, from what I am reading in this thread, I sum it up as this:

If B&N doesn't carry the ebook, you can buy it from an array of other vendors, its B&N's loss at that point.  Of course you will have to side load the file as B&N won't open up the purchase / download feature to other sites as that is a complete software nightmare; you can't buy fictionwise books and download then from the web onto your Kindle or Sony Daily, so why should you demand any different from B&N.

I agree that side loading can be a pain, don't get me wrong, but having the ability to read ebooks from a multitude of online vendors due to the supported formats that the Nook offers, along with the ability to purchase books that B&N offers wirelessly, makes the Nook a by far better device than the Kindle.  The Sony Daily has the same limitations as the nook, but at just shy of twice the price as the nook.

To close this reply:  for those of you who don't like your Nook; sell it, give it away, throw it away... no one on these boards care about rhetoric about how much you hate the nook and how XXX's devices is better.  Just move on and have a good day.  These forums are made of up many people, some of which like or even love the product that we have in our hands and we will post here to help others who are willing to listen as to how to solve problems or help encourage suggestions.  I am positive that this forum was not setup for you to cuss out the vendor just because it doesn't function the way that you want it to.

That said, good day all.  Happy Nookin'!

[eDigest]

Check.

Check.

And Check.

[Alley415]

sc0rnd1 wrote:

Basically, from what I am reading in this thread, I sum it up as this:

If B&N doesn't carry the ebook, you can buy it from an array of other vendors, its B&N's loss at that point.  Of course you will have to side load the file as B&N won't open up the purchase / download feature to other sites as that is a complete software nightmare; you can't buy fictionwise books and download then from the web onto your Kindle or Sony Daily, so why should you demand any different from B&N.

This is incorrect.  Using the Kindle's web brwser, you can download ebooks directly from Fictionwise and many other sites.  This eliminates the need to sideload them.  I also think it is likely that you can do the same form the iPad but haven't tried it.  Then again, the iPad isn't intended to be strictly an ereader.

[sc0rnd1]

I will take your word on being able to use the Kindle's web interface for downloading text.  Not something that is advertised that I am aware of nor will it be supported in the near future if the rumors are true.

This still doesn't escape the fact that B&N is footing the bill for the 3G bandwidth and they don't feel the need to allow users to pad the bill by downloading from other sites than theirs, which is a profit generator. 

Do you (people who compain about not being able to download to Nook from fictionwise) also call up your car manufacturer and tell them that the seat should be softer or the cup holder isn't big enough?

[JoanieGranola]

I can't beleive that people are still complaining about sideloading. I understand that one of the nice features of the nook is the magical appearance of books without having to hook it up to a computer, but HONESTLY, when will that gripe end? The last time I checked, most people still have to upgrade phones (even smartphones) by connecting to the computer (not everything, of course, but some things), every computer user has to put a disc into their computers to upgrade software, and every game user has to plug something in at one point or another.

My point here is - there is no such things as a completely wireless world. There will never be a completely paperless world, and no one will ever be completely happy with anything.

Having said that, I love my nook and have had minimal problems with it. I've bought books from B&N, I've found ereaders.com's and fictionwise.com's prices to be higher than B&N (go figure) and I've sideloaded tons of books from Project Gutenberg. I'm still pretty "new" to this whole ebook thing, so I don't always know where to look for ebooks. But I'm also perfectly happy waiting to purchase new ebooks while I read the books (electronic and paper) I already have.

[FrogAlum]

LOL  Yeah, the whole "sideloading is such a pain" argument gets to me also.  I have yet to hear anyone say sideloading a library book is a PITA...  Give me the opportunity to save a few bucks and I'll happily sideload, especially since the epub books from other vendors will work on both the Sony and the nook.  I actually stay away from purchasing through BN because of this.

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

JoanieGranola wrote:

I'm still pretty "new" to this whole ebook thing, so I don't always know where to look for ebooks.

[AkilahR]

When searching for an ebook reader I looked into selection. B&N + Fictionwise.com exceeds, by a fair margin, the selection from Amazon.com for the Kindle. In fact the big advantage of the Nook is that there is more available in the epub format than the Kindle proprietary DRM format. I'm just glad I didn't get a Kindle.

[AkilahR]

DRW53OH wrote:

The advantage to buying directly from BN is that it goes directly into the B&N Library (cover flow, on my online library, etc), plus there aren't conversion glitches that sometimes occur.  I have many many sideloaded books from other sources, so I don't need a lecture, thank you very much.

Oh, and from fictionwise I've never had a glitch -- NOT ONCE, and it shows up in my documents folder. Oh, and why get B&N gift cards lol?

This stuff is easy and simple, and not relying on a single provider is awesome.

[AkilahR]

Alley415 wrote:

This is incorrect.  Using the Kindle's web brwser, you can download ebooks directly from Fictionwise and many other sites.  This eliminates the need to sideload them.  I also think it is likely that you can do the same form the iPad but haven't tried it.  Then again, the iPad isn't intended to be strictly an ereader.

This is actually incorrect. Fictionwise contains two sources of books legible on the Kindle: the "multiformat" (i.e., non-DRM) ebooks, and Kindle-formatted ebooks. The number of epub DRM formatted books (i.e., usually the ones I want to read) STILL exceeds the number available from fictionwise for the Kindle. Add that with the number of ebook sites with epub books, and the Kindle just can't keep up.

[Alley415]

AkilahR wrote:

When searching for an ebook reader I looked into selection. B&N + Fictionwise.com exceeds, by a fair margin, the selection from Amazon.com for the Kindle. In fact the big advantage of the Nook is that there is more available in the epub format than the Kindle proprietary DRM format. I'm just glad I didn't get a Kindle.

The problem with your logic is that Fictionwise books are availabe for the Kindle as well.

[FrogAlum]

Sony is also charging sales tax and some libraries allow checkout for 3 weeks.

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

FrogAlum wrote:

Sony is also charging sales tax

I had thought that Kobo was including 10.5% sales tax in their stated price, while everyone else adds sales tax at checkout. But that doesn't seem to be the case now (if it ever was), so "Never mind."

[FrogAlum]

Doug_Pardee wrote:

FrogAlum wrote:

Sony is also charging sales tax

I had thought that Kobo was including 10.5% sales tax in their stated price, while everyone else adds sales tax at checkout. But that doesn't seem to be the case now (if it ever was), so "Never mind."

Actually, I think it was 10.25%, they have dropped to 9% across the board and Sony is at 5%, for both stores it's only Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster books.

[AkilahR]

Alley415 wrote:

AkilahR wrote:

When searching for an ebook reader I looked into selection. B&N + Fictionwise.com exceeds, by a fair margin, the selection from Amazon.com for the Kindle. In fact the big advantage of the Nook is that there is more available in the epub format than the Kindle proprietary DRM format. I'm just glad I didn't get a Kindle.

The problem with your logic is that Fictionwise books are availabe for the Kindle as well.

The problem with your logic is you didn't read my posts. Add the Kindle formatted books from Fictionwise with the non-DRM ebooks, and you still wind up with less selection than the epub with DRM -- Nook beats Kindle for selection.

[Hipigrl]

I got the new Jim Butcher eBook and my nook is totally frozen and unresponsive.  The charge light indicator won't even come on. I have replaced my battery and done the 20 thing 6 times.  I am waiting a replacement, but am jonesing for a good read in the meantime!

[jynclr]

@Doug_Pardee: Thank you for the list of ebook resources. I have book marked it. I've been thinking of getting a list together and you've done the hard work.

---

RE: Taxes.

I have not been charged taxes on my Fictionwise and Sony(Boarders) purchases. I have, however, been charged tax from my Barnes and Noble purchases.

[SmilinGirl]

I had the same problem.  Called customer support and Danielle talked me through the fix in about two minutes.  Basically, take the back off, take out the battery, plug the nook into the charger, turn the nook off and it reset in about 5 seconds.  (Danielle even predicted down to the second when the screen would reset! LOL)

Best of Luck!

Hipigrl wrote:

I got the new Jim Butcher eBook and my nook is totally frozen and unresponsive.  The charge light indicator won't even come on. I have replaced my battery and done the 20 thing 6 times.  I am waiting a replacement, but am jonesing for a good read in the meantime!

[Thayet]

I downloaded the second Percy Jackson book today and my nook keeps telling me that it can't open the book. I thought it downloaded properly...Anyone know how to fix this?