Topic: Kindle books dishonesty?

[Skeptress]

I used to get most of my books from the library or the used book store. Now, Kindle gets a lot of my money. But, I'm hooked. It's just so much easier to read on the Kindle, or one of its apps.

As with all companies, Amazon has a fiduciary obligation to its shareholders to sell their product for what it's worth. Otherwise, the shareholders will want to know why the company is giving away part of their value.

It's just as easy to borrow them from the library for me on my Nook as download them from B&N.

[MikeHz]

A few months ago, Amazon enabled library downloads. But, the selection sucks.

[Skeptress]

A few months ago, Amazon enabled library downloads. But, the selection sucks.

At my library it's nearly the same as for the Nook.  You might also want to try the Free Library of Philadelphia which I've heard has a huge selection and non-locals can purchase a library card for $15.

[JuniorSpaceman]

Hes an aussie. We get ripped off on all sorts of things

Same with NZ. Across the board, things definitely seem more expensive compared to US and UK.

So true. I feel bad about not supporting my local book shops, but when I can get a Richard Wiseman book and a Ben Goldacre book from the UK combined for about 3/4 the price of either here, it's hard not to want to save money.

[Clangador]

I read a lot of stuff that is in public domain. I can find most of it on Kindle for frew. I love my Kindle.

[Desert Fox]

I read a lot of stuff that is in public domain. I can find most of it on Kindle for frew. I love my Kindle.

A concern of mine is that some of the books I have looked at likely don't have much readership. . . .
Technical treatise on iron making from the 1800s. I wonder if the seller of the Kindle book is actually reformatting it or just stealing off of Google books or another such source?

[MikeHz]

I read a lot of stuff that is in public domain. I can find most of it on Kindle for frew. I love my Kindle.

A concern of mine is that some of the books I have looked at likely don't have much readership. . . .
Technical treatise on iron making from the 1800s. I wonder if the seller of the Kindle book is actually reformatting it or just stealing off of Google books or another such source?

That book on iron making actually sounds like something I'd enjoy. I love reading about old technology, especially boilers and steam engines.

[Desert Fox]

This one is $5 not $8 but still. . . .
Google
http://books.google.com/books?id=k2MSAAAAIAAJ&dq=william+fairbairn&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/life-William-Fairbairn-bart-ebook/dp/B00812DDR6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340236847&sr=8-1&keywords=The+life+of+Sir+William+Fairbairn+kindle

[stretcher]

So, are Barnes & Noble Classic Edition reprints in paperbacks dishonest? I paid $20 for Edgar Allen Poe's collected works in a nicely bound edition--was i lied to, because they're all public domain?

I love these things, own four of them.

On point, just because something is in the public domain doesn't mean you can't sell it - to my knowledge. I thought it meant that you could do whatever you want with it (like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).

[pandamonium]

So, are Barnes & Noble Classic Edition reprints in paperbacks dishonest? I paid $20 for Edgar Allen Poe's collected works in a nicely bound edition--was i lied to, because they're all public domain?

I love these things, own four of them.

On point, just because something is in the public domain doesn't mean you can't sell it - to my knowledge. I thought it meant that you could do whatever you want with it (like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).

Yeah, I love those bound editions, too--I actually do have the Edgar Allen Poe collection.
Public domain is actually pretty complicated:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

Usually when you get free public domain books, they're produced by volunteers on Project Gutenberg (the biggest project dedicated to putting electronic public domain books on the internet). Thus the quality issues (which aren't a huge deal to me). When you're getting the same book through Barnes & Noble, you're not paying for the content (Frankenstein, say, or Jane Austen) but for the packaging. There's nothing wrong with either system. I just prefer the free system.