Just got a Kindle.

So what is the deal with proprietary stuff? I just called my local public library and asked and they said they can't loan out books to Kindle for proprietary reasons but they can loan them to other e-readers. But I thought someone earlier in this thread had said that that's no longer an issue. Can anyone clarify? I don't have my Kindle yet but I plan to get it soon and I was a little dismayed to hear my public library shoot me down.
 
What do you mean it's easy to convert between formats? The library lady (the lady I talked to that is literally at my local library, not Library Lady from here) told me that other e-readers are okay but that Kindle is not. So if I have a Kindle what do I do? Is there some software I can load onto my Kindle that will make it possible for my local library to download to my Kindle?
 
Just to add--it's been mentioned before, but IMO Calibre is a really indispensable tool for anyone with a Kindle or other ebook reader. And it's free!
 
Kindle's .azw format is the same as .mobi used by some libraries. There is only one bit that is different to distinguish the two. You can go to Overdrive.com to search for libraries close to you that support it.

There are tools on the web that will sniff out your Kindle's pid which Amazon deliberately hides so that you won't be temped to download free library books. You have to have the device's pid to download books.

There are other tools that will flip that one bit in the .mobi file you download from the library changing it to an .azw file that you can send to your Kindle. Is it legal? Good question. It doesn't change the terms of the library loan, the book will still only be able to be read on your Kindle for the two or three weeks. It doesn't change or reverse engineer the Kindle. But, Amazon's lawyers have gotten websites to remove references to [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. (oops!)

I'm not sure about Calibre stripping DRM. My understanding is that Calibre's developers won't allow it to do that. They don't want to break the law.
 
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I actually managed to run the battery down last night which is quite a feat. No warning interestingly, it just went to zero.

Still chuffed to bits with it though.
 
Keeper said:
I actually managed to run the battery down last night which is quite a feat. No warning interestingly, it just went to zero.

Still chuffed to bits with it though.
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You probably left Wireless turned ON. That will drain battery power. Keep the wireless off unless you're using it.

To further clarify questions about switching the Kindle off and battery power, it is actually recommended that you don't power it all the way down unless you need to fully reboot the device when upgrading firmware or if it freezes, etc. So the recommended procedure is to always use sleep mode. The thing about e-ink is that, unlike LCD displays, e-ink does not actually consume power (or consumes a negligible amount) to display the text--only to change pages. That's why the battery lasts so long. AFAIK, the only times when the Kindle actually consumes power are:
1) turning pages/using menus
2) using wireless mode
3) transferring files via USB
4) booting up (yes, shutting it all the way down every time actually drains the battery faster than leaving it "on," as weird as that sounds)
5) using audio (playing mp3 files or text-to-speech)

About Sleep mode: Sleep mode is really "button lock mode." As far as the Kindle and power consumption are concerned, there is no difference between sleep mode and displaying a book. The only real reason to even flip the switch when you're done reading (it automatically goes into sleep mode after a few min.) is so that buttons don't get pressed accidentally, or "pocket-dialing" in cell-phone parlance.

I got my Kindle in November, have never powered it down and have recharged it only three times.
 
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Woot! Got my Kindle on Tuesday (3G + WiFi). I now have 34 books....

Currently reading : A Game of Thrones
 
It's dawning on me how if you're a person that is in the habit of getting books from the library and reading them and returning them, a Kindle isn't such a great deal. I called the local public library before and now I just called the University library and neither of them do e-lending to Kindles. Some books on Amazon do e-lending but I"m guessing it's mostly not the newer ones in high demand.

In the past I would check a book out from the library, possibly having to wait to get it since someone else may have it already. But when I get my Kindle my options will be to buy an e-version of it or else not read it. Or wait for what will probably be a fairly long time before Amazon e-lends it.

For instance, one book on my list was Bill Carter's "Late Night Wars." It is about the Tonight Show and Conan and Leno and how all that went down. I doubt it's some scintillating masterpiece but when I saw it promoted on TV I thought it looked interesting and I decided I'd add it to my list.

Well I'm about to get my Kindle and I now realize that my options are to pay $12.99 to Amazon have it on my Kindle (as opposed to $15.03 on Amazon to buy a physical book) or else not read it. Yes, if I buy it for my Kindle I'll get to keep it forever but while I anticipate enjoying the book I don't anticipate ever needing to access it again after I read it once.

They ought to have all books available for e-lending but have a fee for newer ones. I'd gladly pay a dollar or two to be able to rent this book for a month on my Kindle and then have it disappear. But $12.99...I kinda balk at that. I've been going to the library to get books for so long rather than buying them I'm realizing that going back into book buying mode is going to be hard for me, as well as expensive.

ETA: It occurs to me that by current my reading habits (borrowing and returning) I'll never fill up my 3,500 Kindle library. Now and then I'll want to buy books to keep for good but mostly I want to use them like I do at the the library...borrow it, read it, give it back and then not have access to it anymore unless I want to borrow it again someday. In addition to having an option of paying a buck or two to e-borrow a book for a month or so, to fit people with habits like me they could also have a version of the Kindle that holds a lot fewer books, assuming that would lower the price. I'm under no illusion any of this will happen, I'm just sayin'.
 
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Thanks Psi. You're dead right, I used the wireless last weekend and forgot to turn it off. I understand the whole power thing now - although still surprised there was no low battery warning. Not exactly a problem though as I love it.
 
Number Six said:
They ought to have all books available for e-lending but have a fee for newer ones. I'd gladly pay a dollar or two to be able to rent this book for a month on my Kindle and then have it disappear. But $12.99...I kinda balk at that. I've been going to the library to get books for so long rather than buying them I'm realizing that going back into book buying mode is going to be hard for me, as well as expensive.
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This is actually a very good idea. I think as more and more mainstream readers start turning to Kindles, this might actually happen.

On the other hand, maybe you could get some venture capitalists together and negotiate a deal with publishers and with all the e-readers out there to “lend” for a four week period any books at a $1 or $2 each. It might never be a major cash earner, but I bet it would turn a tidy profit.

ETA: It occurs to me that by current my reading habits (borrowing and returning) I'll never fill up my 3,500 Kindle library. Now and then I'll want to buy books to keep for good but mostly I want to use them like I do at the the library...borrow it, read it, give it back and then not have access to it anymore unless I want to borrow it again someday. In addition to having an option of paying a buck or two to e-borrow a book for a month or so, to fit people with habits like me they could also have a version of the Kindle that holds a lot fewer books, assuming that would lower the price. I'm under no illusion any of this will happen, I'm just sayin'.
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I wonder if there isn’t currently a lending system out there that you can sign up for. Similar, in some respects, to the file-sharing systems like Napster of old, but lending books to each other.

ETA: Just bought mine today!
 
Keeper said:
Thanks Psi. You're dead right, I used the wireless last weekend and forgot to turn it off. I understand the whole power thing now - although still surprised there was no low battery warning. Not exactly a problem though as I love it.
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I didn't know there wasn't a warning, but didn't you notice the little battery icon get lower and lower?

I think at some point it also shows that the battery is too low to power the the wireless.
 
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