Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

Post by OvbiousError » Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 10:10 PM UTC

Arainach wrote: post #98

addicted wrote: post #62

I’m not sure why anyone buys Kindles when there are so many better options available. I bought a Kobo Clara years ago, and it supports regular MOBI and ePub files. My book purchases are no longer liked with the reader and I’ve never had a problem in all these years. And this wasn’t even the best or best value for money device I could have bought. Today there are so many other better alternatives in all price points a…

People don't buy Kindles for the hardware. They buy Kindles because they work with a store that has the books they want to buy (and the hardware is good enough and cheap enough). Without data I believe that more than 99% of ereader users have no idea what a MOBI or ePub file is and have never attempted to manually move a file onto their device. Instead, they go to a digital book store, click "buy", and content appear…

Post by int_19h » Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 10:22 PM UTC

42772827 wrote: post #43

wkat4242 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (2) The ability to transfer books from your computer to your Kindle using a USB cable is not affected. Well, it kinda is. If you can no longer download the books you paid for, you can't upload them over USB. That's what that feature on their website was meant for, in fact. Of course you can still upload non-Amazon content yes. Which is probably what I'll end up doing. I won't buy books on Amazon anymore if I can't…

You can still download books you paid a license to Amazon for, you just have to use a Wi-Fi or 4G LTE-enabled Kindle to do it.

Post by arez » Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 10:24 PM UTC

barbazoo wrote: post #101

freeAgent wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s the bottom line. Kindle books will now be fully locked into the Kindle ecosystem and if Amazon decides to take back something you’ve “purchased,” you’ll have no recourse. I’m done purchasing ebooks from Amazon because of this.

TIL that Kobo integrates with libraries, that means you can download and read library ebooks on your Kobo.

Post by mattl » Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 10:28 PM UTC

goosedragons wrote: post #53

42772827 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can still download books you paid a license to Amazon for, you just have to use a Wi-Fi or 4G LTE-enabled Kindle to do it.

Which may or may not be possible. For 2G Kindles like the Kindle 2 there is no more 2G service and there is no Wifi. Download and Transfer was the only remaining way to load books on from Amazon without ironically removing the DRM.

Post by Uvix » Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 10:29 PM UTC

chipotle_coyote wrote: post #65

Uvix wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm intrigued that you think Kindle has worse text options than Kobo; in my experience it's the other way around. My Kobo doesn't have the ability to justify just body text while leaving headings alone; my Kindles have handled that just fine for over a decade. What options does Kobo have for text that you think Kindle is missing? I use my Kobo for comics and buy those through them (specifically got one with a large s…

With my Kobo Libra 2, if I set justification to "off", it follows the justification that's in the ebook -- which usually tend to do exactly what you're asking, e.g., justify body text while leaving headers alone. When I switched over to Kobo a few years ago, it seemed much easier to manage custom fonts, too, although I think Kindle has improved in that regard. I don't think there's a tremendous amount of difference b…