I have Kobo glow and have some questions about registration and ebooks

[Dr. Drib]

First, my Kobo glow is in the U.S. When I go there Dec. 20, I'll be able to register it.

Here are my concerns:

I'm thinking of buying a few ebooks right now from Kobo.com BEFORE I register the Kobo.

(1) Will there be any problems later when I actually register my Kobo Glow?

(2) Can the calibre plugins handle the conversion of epubs bought from Kobo.com, so that I can read them on my other devices?



Thanks,
Don

[Suzanna]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

(1) Will there be any problems later when I actually register my Kobo Glow?

There shouldn't be any problems. I had an account I used with other Kobo devices and I was able to register my Glo on my account. Kobo was strictly an ebook store for a time before they launched their first device.

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

(2) Can the calibre plugins handle the conversion of epubs bought from Kobo.com, so that I can read them on my other devices?

Kobo offers epubs in two different formats. When you sync your device wirelessly or through the desktop software, the Kobo epub (kepub) versions are synced onto your device. However, most books also have an Adobe epub version available. What I do when I purchase a book on Kobo is sync the kepub onto my device, but I also download the Adobe epub as a backup. The standard Calibre plugins for the Adobe adept DRM works on these files.

The books I've seen that don't have an Adobe epub version are usually free classics, but you can also get those from Project Gutenberg or elsewhere. Just make sure to check first, before you purchase an ebook, to make sure it's available in the Adobe epub version.

[Cdesja5]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

First, my Kobo glow is in the U.S. When I go there Dec. 20, I'll be able to register it.

Here are my concerns:

I'm thinking of buying a few ebooks right now from Kobo.com BEFORE I register the Kobo.

(1) Will there be any problems later when I actually register my Kobo Glow?

(2) Can the calibre plugins handle the conversion of epubs bought from Kobo.com, so that I can read them on my other devices?



Thanks,
Don

1- you can buy books now, register your reader later as long as it's the same account. I had been buying Kobo books a long time before buying my first Kobo reader!
2- yes the Alf plugins work but not on the books purchased directly on the device; they are "kepubs" and only work on Kobo devices. You have to use a computer to download the actual "epub" from your library on the Kobo site and convert that copy in Calibre for reading on other devices.
I personally never buy books using my Kobo readers, I always purchase on my PC since I run everything through Calibre. That's because I buy from several sources including Amazon and have several different devices I read on.

[Dr. Drib]

Thank you Suzanna and Cdesja5.

I'll go ahead and register now.





Don

[Lynx-lynx]

Yep, my experience is the same as the other posters.

I bought my first Kobo ereader (Glo) on Friday and had otherwise been buying Kobo books for over a year.

I used my lap top to install the software on my Glo, not wifi, and just gave my normal Kobo account details. (You realise that you need to install the Kobo software on the device as the first activity?)

As part of the installation process you will be asked to download the Kobo desktop software which is different to the kobo.com interface.

All your previously purchased Kobo books will load into that program, and that's where you can sync your device. You can access the bookstore from within that program as well.

I don't bother using that program unless I want to sync something because i don't like it - I just use the kobo.com still. (Each to their own on that point)

Also - I just use Calibre to copy files onto the device - so again, there's no need for me to open the Kobo Desktop.

I got the Glo because of the light, and from that point of view I'm not disappointed. (My Sony is just too dark for me)

Edit:

I forgot to mention that of course you can save your book/s to the micro sim card as well, without having to attach the device.