Live data from Hacker News

Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

kdpcommunity.com

311–320 of 356 posts

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But Kobo is bad too. Try refunding a book. Their website sent me in neverending circles and still I could not find a way to refund. Their stuff requires some specific reader or so. I don't quite remember the details, but I bought a book, thinking to avoid Amazon shit. Then I realized that their stuff sucks and I don't want to buy their blessed device or install special reader software. Also not DRM-free. So I wanted…

Bad take. Kobo lets you know which books have DRM and which don't. And even with DRM, you can get them into Adobe Digital Editions and load them on to basically any e-reader. (Maybe not Kindle since it won't open DRM'd ePubs.) I buy like 60% of my ebooks from Kobo and have never owned a Kobo-brand ereader.

In the end that's also shitty. I don't want to "get them into Adobe Digital Editions". I don't want to have to use Adobe shitware, and I don't want their special formats. Just give me the epub or pdf. Also their website treated me like shit and they have no good way to contact anyone visible on their website.

Kobo is not it. Maybe they once were, at some point before I tried using them. I am not gonna support them after my experience with them.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#312
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The eBooks in Kobo's store are also locked down with DRM.

Yes, but Calibre can get the files onto any other device with a drag and drop operation, which is not the case with the newest version of Amazon DRM.

I guess we just have to wait a little while, until that method using Calibre also does no longer work, because either Kobo or Adobe or someone else wants to make sure it does not work.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#313
Recently i bought a book from Kindle because i couldn't find it in any other platform and I'm so happy it only cost me 1$ because i haven't been able to download the ePub version, none of the methods on the internet have worked for me or they need to use a physical kindle device. God it's so frustrating i just want to read a 1$ book on my Kobo

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bad take. Kobo lets you know which books have DRM and which don't. And even with DRM, you can get them into Adobe Digital Editions and load them on to basically any e-reader. (Maybe not Kindle since it won't open DRM'd ePubs.) I buy like 60% of my ebooks from Kobo and have never owned a Kobo-brand ereader.

In the end that's also shitty. I don't want to "get them into Adobe Digital Editions". I don't want to have to use Adobe shitware, and I don't want their special formats. Just give me the epub or pdf. Also their website treated me like shit and they have no good way to contact anyone visible on their website. Kobo is not it. Maybe they once were, at some point before I tried using them. I am not gonna support them af…

As I explained above, you can get the ePubs directly if you just used the free Kobo desktop app. I think you need to ask yourself why you were OK using the Amazon Kindle app for DeDRM but Kobo or Adobe's was a huge burden. Really Bizzare IMO.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the end that's also shitty. I don't want to "get them into Adobe Digital Editions". I don't want to have to use Adobe shitware, and I don't want their special formats. Just give me the epub or pdf. Also their website treated me like shit and they have no good way to contact anyone visible on their website. Kobo is not it. Maybe they once were, at some point before I tried using them. I am not gonna support them af…

As I explained above, you can get the ePubs directly if you just used the free Kobo desktop app. I think you need to ask yourself why you were OK using the Amazon Kindle app for DeDRM but Kobo or Adobe's was a huge burden. Really Bizzare IMO.

Do you know the concept of time passing? Could it be possible, that my stance regarding ebooks changed over time, and that I have become more aware of the associated issues? Hmmmm.

What is bizarre here is you posting these comments, trying to invalidate my all around terrible experience with Kobo. Your account is green behind the ears and all your comments are on Kobo, Kobo, Kobo. Go figure.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I explained above, you can get the ePubs directly if you just used the free Kobo desktop app. I think you need to ask yourself why you were OK using the Amazon Kindle app for DeDRM but Kobo or Adobe's was a huge burden. Really Bizzare IMO.

Do you know the concept of time passing? Could it be possible, that my stance regarding ebooks changed over time, and that I have become more aware of the associated issues? Hmmmm. What is bizarre here is you posting these comments, trying to invalidate my all around terrible experience with Kobo. Your account is green behind the ears and all your comments are on Kobo, Kobo, Kobo. Go figure.

I like eBooks, I've had eReaders from Sony, Kobo, Amazon and Boox, bought from Amazon, Kobo, Google Play, and several of the smaller players like Baen. Outside of the completely DRM-free places like Baen which are very limited in selection, Kobo is IMO the easiest to get a DRM-free file in the end. Your posts were IMO very off the mark that it got me to comment. I'd rather people try Kobo than keep feeding the Amazon machine.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#317
post #44

I’d advise anyone buying e-books on Amazon to think it through carefully. My account was banned recently because, years ago, I ordered two paper books that Amazon said would be split into two shipments. Both books arrived without any issues, but later Amazon refunded me for one of them, claiming that one package never arrived. This happened 4–5 years ago. Apparently, during a recent review, they decided this counted…

>They also remotely wiped my Kindle

Not sure if this legal or not, the cost of fraud in physical book purchasing (even if it's genuine) will probably never exceed the entire Kindle book library collection.

If this is true, I need to be extra careful buying stuff, virtual or physical from Amazon.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you do now? I’ve been buying physical books off of Abe Books—not a bad thing at all—but I’d like to use my jailbroken kindle again because the form factor is so convenient.

Use your local library? I’m amazed to see so many comments focused on everything but libraries.

It’s a shift but I agree. I think we’re used to having instant access to what we want. Waiting 3 weeks on Libby is a change. I do think it’s been healthy and gives me something to look forward to!

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#319

Recently i bought a book from Kindle because i couldn't find it in any other platform and I'm so happy it only cost me 1$ because i haven't been able to download the ePub version, none of the methods on the internet have worked for me or they need to use a physical kindle device. God it's so frustrating i just want to read a 1$ book on my Kobo

What book?

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bad take. Kobo lets you know which books have DRM and which don't. And even with DRM, you can get them into Adobe Digital Editions and load them on to basically any e-reader. (Maybe not Kindle since it won't open DRM'd ePubs.) I buy like 60% of my ebooks from Kobo and have never owned a Kobo-brand ereader.

In the end that's also shitty. I don't want to "get them into Adobe Digital Editions". I don't want to have to use Adobe shitware, and I don't want their special formats. Just give me the epub or pdf. Also their website treated me like shit and they have no good way to contact anyone visible on their website. Kobo is not it. Maybe they once were, at some point before I tried using them. I am not gonna support them af…

If you don't like DRM, you definitely want to use Adobe Digital Editions. I'll leave it to you to find out why.
Post reply on HN