Buying from Amazon and converting?

[meremark]

Is there any way you can buy ebooks from Amazon and then convert the format to something the Sony Reader will recognise?

Can Calibre do it?

[gardenstate]

Amazon ebooks are primarily for the Kindle. You will need to download them to your pc, remove the copy protection (DRM) and convert to another format (like epub) with Calibre.

Please see https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=115272

Use and removal of DRM is a controversial item of discussion.

[delphin]

Indeed this can be done, but Amazon's DRM is designed to prevent exactly this kind of conversion, so you have to use DRM stripping software that can not be directly supported here on this forum for legal reasons.

Unless the book is something that you absolutely can't get any other way, I would check out the Sony Store, Kobo Books, Google Books, or in a pinch even Borders, all of whom can sell you books already in proper EPUB format.

You may have heard that Borders is going bankrupt, but once the book is on your computer, you will never need them in the future even for DRM issues, like re-authorizing a new PC or reader, which is handled by Adobe, not the bookseller. (This is one of the advantages of Adobe's ADEPT DRM)

[frquixote]

Originally Posted by delphin

Unless the book is something that you absolutely can't get any other way, I would check out the Sony Store, Kobo Books, Google Books, or in a pinch even Borders, all of whom can sell you books already in proper EPUB format.

Please let me also recommend BooksOnBoard, which has a purchase credits program and has been significantly expanding its offerings (at least in the genres I am interested in).

[BeccaPrice]

Borders is bankrupt, but not all the stores are closing (yet) - and it's digital book store is powered by, and supported by, Kobo, so no matter what happens to Borders, you don't need to worry about access to digital books.

[catsknit]

I started using the apprentice alf plug-in for Calibre about a month ago with no problems. Today I upgraded Calibre to the latest version, and now I'm getting errors when I try to convert a DRM'd book to epub. I downloaded the newer version of the Tools and installed them, deleted the books, re-imported and tried again, same error. One book actually says "DRM protected" when I try to convert; the other doesn't say that but the other just says Failed Conversion, and does give a whole list of details, if that would help to post here (I am highly ignorant of how this software works).

Any ideas?

[redbees]

Originally Posted by catsknit

I started using the apprentice alf plug-in for Calibre about a month ago with no problems. Today I upgraded Calibre to the latest version, and now I'm getting errors when I try to convert a DRM'd book to epub. I downloaded the newer version of the Tools and installed them, deleted the books, re-imported and tried again, same error. One book actually says "DRM protected" when I try to convert; the other doesn't say that but the other just says Failed Conversion, and does give a whole list of details, if that would help to post here (I am highly ignorant of how this software works).

Any ideas?

What version of the tools are you using? The most recent is v2.6. See the following thread in the Calibre plugin forum for more info, and you can ask questions there. I, too, am largely uninformed on this topic, but I do know that Amazon recently made changes to their DRM scheme that necessitated an update to the tools.

Here is the link. If it doesn't work go to: Calibre > Plugins > K4PC DeDRM Plugin
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...76#post1406576

[Filark]

Meremark, I don't know whether you have done this, but compare the prices on the Sony store to Amazon. They are often the same. Amazon used to be less expensive, but now, especially with a Sony, it pays to shop around.

Besides the stores already mentioned, don't forget your library! Most library books are available in epub format (as you may already know).

But yes, if you don't mind stripping the DRM, conversion in Calibre is easy (once you have an uncopyprotected book).

[catsknit]

Originally Posted by redbees

What version of the tools are you using? The most recent is v2.6. See the following thread in the Calibre plugin forum for more info, and you can ask questions there. I, too, am largely uninformed on this topic, but I do know that Amazon recently made changes to their DRM scheme that necessitated an update to the tools.

Here is the link. If it doesn't work go to: Calibre > Plugins > K4PC DeDRM Plugin
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...76#post1406576

Yes, thanks, I had updated from an earlier version, but then the next day after I posted a newer one came out and that solved the problem. Now I see that there is even a 2.7 out so time to upgrade again.