Anonymous wrote:Google Books allows you to search inside millions of books simultaneously. Usually, you're also allowed to preview a small percentage of the book.


I've found so many great books from there. It is such an amazing resource.


Do you use Google Books? If so, what do you think of it?
And do you suppose that few people are enthused about it?


Here's the website: http://books.google.com/

Is this spam? This OP seems like a total advertisement.

I've tried Google books and my experience has been similar - the process is too complex and other options (Kindle, the library for dead tree versions) are simply better for a dumb old consumer like me.

Kind of funny to read someone(s) on this thread pumping up the brand. Are they getting paid to do that or are they simply a fan?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:16:03 again. Short answer is Amazon.com's Kindle store is so much easier than Google Books. The two aren't even comparable.

Kindle store has one million books while Google Books has over 30 million books.

Why are you promoting Google books?

Anonymous wrote:16:03 again. Short answer is Amazon.com's Kindle store is so much easier than Google Books. The two aren't even comparable.

Kindle store has one million books while Google Books has over 30 million books.

I use it because I am a historian, and most of the primary sources I want to use are in the public domain. For that purpose, it is fantastic.

For more recent books, it's much less useful.

For me, the relevant question is not "Why don't you use it?", but rather "Why should I start using it?".

1. If I want a recommendation for a good book, there are tons of curated lists like GoodReads, there are Amazon reviews, there are book reviews. I'll turn to all of those to get suggestions before I'll just randomly search in the Google database.

2. If I want to obtain a book, I'll either get it free from the library, or I'll buy it from Amazon. Either of those options is easier/better than a copy from Google. The Google copy will either be incomplete (if it's free) or a PITA to obtain (if it's paid).

3. If I want to do research on a topic, I'll use Google Books as one search database. But for most research topics, I can find more current information just as easily through a basic all-web search on Google.

So for any of those scenarios, what will Google Books do better than my other options? Why should I start using it?

It's sort of like evolution. It occurs only if there is some better option available, and not just change for change's sake.

16:03 again. Short answer is Amazon.com's Kindle store is so much easier than Google Books. The two aren't even comparable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really like the set up of google books. Not a fan.

Interesting.

May I ask why?

Sure. First, I hate the set up of it. The first few times I've tried to use it, I've searched for the book or author I want and the list comes up. It doesn't tell me until I've clicked on it if there is an ebook available or not. 9 times out of 10, I don't want a free preview. On the off chance I do, I don't like having to scroll or how it still has all the stuff on the side. Make it a pop up window of just the preview and it will be easier to read. Ok so I'm looking for a book and it says no ebook available. It provides a link for Amazon.com, but if you click on the link, the information sent over is a series of numbers that Amazon doesn't recognize. Ok, so I can search for it in a library near me and it tells me the results. Ok.

For all that effort, I'd much rather go to Amazon.com's Kindle store, plug in the name of the book and download it to my Kindle. It takes about 3-4 steps, whereas Google books is just confusing and frustrating.

I just don't have time to care about it.

Anonymous wrote:I don't really like the set up of google books. Not a fan.

Interesting.

May I ask why?

I don't really like the set up of google books. Not a fan.

I read books on my Kindle or go to the library.

Google Books also lets you read entire books free--if they're in the public domain.

You an do it from your own home

Because I use the public library. It's free. I own fewer than 20 books. I read about 2-3 books each week.

Google Books allows you to search inside millions of books simultaneously. Usually, you're also allowed to preview a small percentage of the book.


I've found so many great books from there. It is such an amazing resource.


Do you use Google Books? If so, what do you think of it?
And do you suppose that few people are enthused about it?


Here's the website: http://books.google.com/