Re: Reading hardware

>   How do people choose readers? Do most eBook users read on their
> computers?
>

Completely up to the individual. I personally look for something durable,
not overly expensive, and that takes a wide range of file types. Many people
that know e-books want the nearly universal reader, it seems, so I'm not
alone in that, though I may be lonely in worrying about expense and
durability. I doubt it, but I have no firm numbers on it.

As I said earlier, the numbers I've seen over the last 8 years or so
indicate that most do not tie themselves to the desktop or laptop, though
they may use it, in addition to handheld models. I read more on the laptop
than anywhere else, but I also carry my laptop with me a lot of times, so
it's not an impossition to read on it.

>
> Can a Kindle download and read books from sources other than amazon? Can an
> Apple iPad download books from Amazon? Where CAN it download from? where can
> the Sony reader download from?
>
Can the Kindle download by wireless from other than Amazon? I have no idea.
Can you download books to read ON Kindle from other places? Yes. You can get
books at Fictionwise, Smashwords, and a few others in Kindle format. You can
read several other file types on it, including HTML and PDF, as I understand
it. Some people complain about how PDF looks...some say it looks great, but
it can be done.

I don't know what format Apple iPad is using, but I'm certain they will have
the ability to read other formats included. And B&N has already started
offering the app for their reader for use on iPad, so all your B&N books
should be able to shift to iPad, if you want them to.

Sony uses ePub, but you can convert some other formats for use on it, and
like the Kindle, you can purchase books for it elsewhere.

We're moving closer to the universal reader, as time moves on.


>
> If Amazon has the biggest available library, and Kindle (and your PC) are
> the only way you can download from it, that will make Kindle predominant.
>

Snort. Hardly. There are plenty of people out there that refuse to offer
Amazon that sort of power. For instance, I have the PC app for Kindle books,
but I make a habit of NOT buying e-books from Amazon, as a rule. I have free
reads and samples on the Kindle app. All of my purchases come from
elsewhere, mainly because I don't want locked into reading on the PC, I
dislike the setup Amazon has, and Kindle does not fit my need for a reader.
Not to mention that there are Kindle apps for iPhone and one of the other
popular readers, already. So, you can read Kindle books on things other than
Kindle unit and PC.

>
> And where should we, as writers, market our books? Shall we put them on all
> the source sites?
>

FWIW, I highly suggest offering e-books for sale on ARe/OmniLit, Smashwords
(which will get them onto B&N and Sony), Fictionwise (if you can get them
there), and Amazon Kindle.

>
> What kind of reader would you buy?
>

Though I do a lot of my reading on the laptop, I own two handhelds that can
read books. One is an eBookwise (actually my daughter's), which I borrow
from time to time. The other is my PDA...an old Tungsten E. It works pretty
well, but I prefer the larger screen. If I was going to purchase one today?
Shrug. I'd have to try a few out. I like the look of several of them.
Brenna
-- 
http://www.brennalyons.com  http://www.facebook.com/brenna.lyons
2-time EPIC's e-Book Award WINNER! "Powers or no, the Kielan are their own
worst enemies, caught up in systematic, stagnated tradition, lost to the
hypocrisy of classism, and defenseless despite their psi powers. Time
Currents is a tale that I won’t soon forget." Patrice F. for Joyfully
Reviewed


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