How to Enjoy eBooks on a Nook (Mac Users)

If you have a Mac and a Nook, this is the presentation for you!

eBooks on Mac with a Nook July 2011 update

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Kobo as a Library eBook reader

The basics:

The Kobo is an eInk reader, like the original Nook and the Kindle. This means it shares with them an impressive battery life (2 weeks or more) and a single minded dedication to reading, unlike more hybrid devices. Earlier versions of the Kobo had no internet access; the newest generation, which came out in fall 2010, can connect to wifi.

The price:

The Kobo is very reasonably priced. When ordered direct from the company, the price is $139 - the same as the entry level Kindle with an almost identical feature set. However, the Kobo can also be purchased elsewhere, often for far less. As of this writing, Borders is selling it for $100 and occasionally it's been spotted on sale for as little as $60.

The device itself:

The Kobo has a very minimalist design. Instead of having buttons scattered all over the non-reading surface, there are only a few: a directional pad in the lower right corner and a few buttons along the side which control access to the menus and settings.

In terms of weight and size, the Kobo is nearly identical to the Kindle 2. It's about the size and shape of a mass market paperback and comparable in weight.

Opinion Time:

Pluses

• The light weight means it's less likely to lead to wrist fatigue than some of the heavier eInk readers.
  
• eInk technology means the battery (with wifi turned off) can easily last for a couple of weeks -- or an entire vacation -- without requiring a charge.
  
• The screen is very clear, mimicking the colors and contrast of a paperback and theoretically making reading easier on the eyes.
  
• I found the lack of extra buttons a big plus, because there was plenty of place to hold it without worrying about accidentally pressing something.
  

Minuses

• The location of the directional pad (which is used, among other things, to turn the page) is very right-hand centric. If you prefer to hold the device in your left hand, the layout may be awkward.
  
• eInk is grand, but it isn't for everyone. The nature of the technology means that the screen will flash every time the page is turned, while the ink redraws itself. This turned out to be a bigger issue for me than I expected, and I found I couldn't read as long or as intensely using an eInk device.
  
• The minimalist design can be a plus, but it also turns into a drawback if you have to enter any information, such as a Wifi password or a search term. Input is incredibly cumbersome as you use the directional pad to arrow around a list of letters and numbers.
  

Depends

• If you intend to read a lot outside or where there's plenty of light, an eInk screen reduces glare to about the same amount as would be experienced with a paper book.
  
• If you intend to read in the dark or the dim, the Kobo is not backlit, meaning you will need an external light source to read (just like a paper book.)
  

Using the Kobo with Library eBooks

The Kobo works well and very easily with Library eBooks, but requires the use of a computer as intermediary, much as the Nook and Sony Readers.

1. Follow the instructions to download and install Adobe Digital Editions, including entering (or creating) your Adobe ID to authorize the computer.
   
2. Check out and download an eBook to your computer from the NH Downloadable Books site.
   
3. With Adobe Digital Editions open, use the Kobo's USB cable to connect the device to the computer. Select "Manage Library" on the Kobo.
   
4. If this is the first time you've used the Kobo with Adobe Digital Editions, the Device Setup Assistant will appear and ask if you want to authorize the device. Click "Authorize Device". (This only happens once - after it's authorized it will remain authorized.)
   
5. KOBOeReader will be listed in the left hand "Bookshelves" column.
   
6. In library view, click on the cover of the book you want to transfer to the Kobo and drag it over to where it says KOBOeReader. The book will copy over to the device.
   
7. Once the transfer is complete, disconnect the Kobo from the computer. After the Kobo processes the new content, the new book will be available to read.
   

Borders Concerns

We've all seen the news and we've all seen the stores going out of business. Borders may not be long for this world. What does that mean for the Kobo?

Unlike the Nook, which belongs to Barnes and Noble, and the Kindle, which belongs to Amazon, the Kobo is not actually owned by Borders. The device is made by a Canadian company and they've made a deal with Borders to have the device sold in their stores and to allow the Kobo with wifi to order books directly from the Borders online store. They have a similar deal with a bookstore chain in Canada. So even if Borders goes belly-up, the Kobo will still have support and updates coming.

On top of that, the Kobo is designed to work with ePub format eBooks. This means it's already compatible with eBooks purchased from Barnes and Noble, Borders, and a number of other eBook vendors.

In other words, don't let worries over the future of Borders affect the decision about whether or not to buy a Kobo.

The iPad 2 as a Library eBook Reader

There are plenty of reviews about the iPad 2 as an eBook reader. But how does the iPad 2 rank as an ereader of library eBooks? Here's my take on it.

Quick Links: 

• Installing the OMC and downloading eBooks from the mobile site to the OMC
• Finding all available eBooks at once (full-featured site only)
• Returning eBooks early with Adobe Digital Editions on a PC or Mac (Outdated, but it still works)
• Returning EPUB eBooks early through the OverDrive app (New!)
• Emailing eBooks to the iPad and using the Bluefire Reader app for reading and early returns
• Checking out Kindle Books
• Returning Kindle Books early to the collection (New!)

Price:

Let's be honest, the price (starting at $500) removes the iPad as an option for many people. It's a lot of money to plunk down for an eBook reader -- and, frankly, even as an all-in-one entertainment and work device. You have to have a serious case of iPad lust to justify this purchase.

So let's say you do have a case of iPad lust and can afford it -- should you put your hopes into using the iPad as a library eBook reader? Yes. It makes a very good eBook reader.


Let's talk cons: 

• There is a glare on the glossy screen in direct sunlight or lamplight. This is not the ereader to bring to the beach. Even sitting indoors in a sunbeam can be problematic. Has this stopped me from reading (as a passenger) in a car during the day or sitting on the couch next to a southern-facing window? No. I might have to adjust the angle, but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying my eBook. 
• The battery life is great for a tablet, but if you are a heavy user or someone who pushes their email every 15 minutes, expect to charge it every day or two. The iPad doesn't hold a candle to dedicated E-Ink readers when it comes to battery life. Has this been a problem for me? Not at all. I typically charge devices regularly. 
• I really thought the size of the device would be the killer. Do I wish it was smaller and lighter? Of course! Has the size stopped me from using it? A little. There are times (especially late at night in a dark room) when I reach for my iPod Touch instead of the larger, heavier, and brighter iPad. 

Now the pros: 

• The page turns are perfection. When I first started using it I thought the pages weren't even turning since it worked so quickly. With E-Ink readers the page turns dark each time you "flip" the page. Even the newest version of the Kindle displays page turns this way. Some people really dislike this feature. If you are in this category you'll love the page turns on the iPad. 
• The physical act of turning the pages is great, too. Better, in my opinion, than any of the other dedicated compatible eBook readers available (that I've tried to date). A light tap to the left or right of the screen is enough to turn the page. And what about holding the device in your left hand, how to turn the page? Surprisingly, using your left hand you can swipe your thumb right to left from the left side of the screen to turn the page. No complaints with the act of page turning. 
• The backlit screen is both a pro and a con (the glare). However, since I read a lot in low-light settings (in the car on trips, while hubby is watching TV, etc.) this is a feature I really like. 
• Even though the size of it is listed as a con, holding it for long-term reading isn't bad. I prop it on my lap or knees for couch reading as easily as a dedicated reader. Unlike a book it stays open to the page and requires little balancing. It's light enough that when my lapdog insists getting on my lap, I can carefully perch the iPad on her without feeling guilty. (No one call PETA; she's fine!) 

Reading with the OverDrive Media Console app: 

Reading with the OverDrive Media Console app (OMC) is nice. I have no complaints with the app for reading. The app offers good settings that are easy to find by tapping on the center of the iPad screen. The app, however, is missing one very important feature. It lacks an early return feature. You'll need to install Adobe Digital Editions on a Windows or Mac computer to return the eBooks early. EPUB eBooks can be returned directly from the OverDrive Media Console app.

Reading with the Kindle app:

The Kindle version of the books in our collection can be read on the iPad with the help of the Kindle app. You'll need to install the free app and authorize it with your Amazon account. Follow the Kindle instructions to learn how to check out a Kindle Books from our NHDB collection.

The mobile version of nh.lib.overdrive.com:

I'm not a fan of the mobile version of the OverDrive site that iPad owners are restricted to using. The mobile site lacks a way to single out available EPUB titles. Recent updates has make it easy to see available EPUB and Kindle Books in our digital collection.

Getting eBooks on the iPad:

Without a doubt, the biggest plus to the iPad (and other Apple and Android devices) is the ability to download eBooks directly to the device from the mobile site. Here's my advice for an easier checkout and download process:

• Follow these instructions to install the OMC app and authorize the device with your Adobe ID.
• Browse for available eBook titles from a computer. It will allow you to easily see all available eBooks.
• Check out the eBook from the computer. 
• With the iPad, open Safari, and visit our site.
• Log into the site. 
• From "My Account" >> "Currently Checked Out Items" 
• Click download. The app will open the eBook automatically. 

Another option is to checkout, download, save, and email the EPUB file to yourself to open with the OMC or the Bluefire Reader app. The benefit of sending the file to the Bluefire app is that it will allow for early returns directly from the iPad.

Happy reading on your iPad! Let us know if what you like and dislike about reading library eBooks on your iPad. 

Quick Links: 

• Installing the OMC and downloading eBooks from the mobile site to the OMC
• Finding all available eBooks at once (Full-featured site only)
• Returning eBooks early with Adobe Digital Editions on a PC or Mac
• Returning EPUB eBooks early with the OverDrive Media Console app
• Checkout out and sending Kindle Books to a Kindle device (or app)
• Emailing eBooks to the iPad and using the Bluefire Reader app for reading and early returns