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How to get the most out of e-books and find them for free

    The early models of e-book readers, made about 25 years ago, weighed more than a pound and had to be connected to a computer. Those clunky records paved the way for the modern, lightweight devices that can download the latest bestsellers and old classics (which are often free) in just seconds.

    E-book hardware and reading apps continue to evolve, so if you’re looking to upgrade your device, find a gift idea, or start reading electronically, here’s a guide.

    You can read electronic books on e-readers, smartphones, tablets, computers and other devices. Before choosing a device, think about what you want to read.

    If you prefer text-based books, an e-reader like an Amazon Kindle, a Barnes & Noble Nook, or a Rakuten Kobo makes sense. Compared to tablets, the monochrome, paper-like screens are easier on the eyes, the devices have a long battery life, and there are no interference from other apps.

    Dedicated e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle provide a smooth reading experience with sharp, high-resolution text on a neutral background.Credit…Amazon

    If you enjoy reading comics, illustrated books, digital magazines and other visually oriented materials, you should consider a tablet with a large color screen. With a tablet or a phone, you can use one device for different tasks and entertainment options.

    Text-only books work fine on this too, although screen glare and eye strain can hinder your reading.

    Displaying e-books is just one function of a multifunctional tablet like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Color tablets are generally better for displaying visual content such as graphic novels, children’s picture books, and photo collections.Credit…Samsung

    If you need advice on which e-reader to buy, The New York Times product review site Wirecutter recommends the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids as the top e-reader choice this year, with the Kobo Clara HD and Kobo Libra 2 as alternatives.

    The site also has recommendations for the best tablets in a variety of price ranges, with a preference for Apple’s iPad, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and the Amazon Fire HD8.

    If you’re upgrading your hardware, consider donating your old Kindle or iPad to an organization that can reuse it after clearing your personal information from it.

    With an e-book reader you can buy and download books directly over a wireless connection. If you already have a phone, tablet or computer and want to buy e-books, you can install an e-bookstore app (or apps) on it and create an account.

    Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Rakuten Kobo all have Android and iOS apps that let you read eBooks, organize your library, and listen to audiobooks (or books with built-in text narration).

    These digital bookstores also have desktop software or browser-based reading options, which can be great for those who prefer to read on a large desktop monitor.

    One caveat: you can’t buy e-books directly from these apps. You must purchase the book or other content on the company’s website, thanks to Apple and Google’s in-app purchase policies, and then your books will be delivered electronically to your app.

    And app store owners have their own rules. The Apple Books app lets you purchase content directly on your Apple hardware. Google Play Books & Audiobooks, which runs in a browser, has apps for Android and iOS, but iOS users must purchase their content from the web first.

    After downloading a book, explore the settings on your device and in the app to customize your reading experience, such as making the text larger.

    The steps vary based on the app and device, but tapping the top of the screen usually brings up a toolbar where you can adjust the font, font size, line spacing, and background color of your eBook. (The iOS 16 update for Apple Books moves the menu and toolbar to the bottom of the screen.)

    To look up a word in the dictionary or Wikipedia, translate a sentence, highlight a passage, make a note, or search the book, hold your finger on the screen over the text until a toolbar appears with reference and annotation options.

    In the recent iOS 16 update, the Apple Books reading toolbar has been moved to the bottom of the screen.Credit…Apple

    In addition to the reference tools, some Kindle books include Amazon’s X-Ray, a feature that provides information about characters, plot, and context.

    Like other reading apps, the Amazon Kindle software includes controls for customizing the look of the text and ways to learn more about the book itself.Credit…Amazon

    When you’re ready to take a break, you can usually tap the top right corner to set a bookmark. If you use your Books app on multiple devices, bookmarks and other annotations can be synced so you don’t lose your place.

    Ebookstores offer sample chapters for you to try before you buy, and most also have free public domain books.

    Check with your local library to see if it lends e-books to its cardholders. Libraries using the OverDrive distribution system typically lend digital materials through the Libby app for Android and iOS. (However, the New York Public Library uses the SimplyE app for Android and iOS.)

    With apps like Libby, on the far left, and SimplyE, you can sign up for a library card and view e-books from your library’s digital collection. Many e-readers can also borrow books from libraries via the OverDrive distribution system.Credit…exaggerate; SimplyE

    The Internet Archive, a massive repository of digitized content, has public domain books along with an online lending library. The Google Books website is another treasure trove of scanned books and digital text; many titles are free, but the site directs users to stores and libraries for copyrighted works.

    Finally, there’s Project Gutenberg, a site that offers free downloads of 60,000 public domain books in a variety of file formats. The site’s founder, Michael Hart, is often credited with creating the first modern e-book available for download when he typed the Declaration of Independence into a university’s mainframe computer on July 4, 1971.