PRS-950 Reading books purchased at Amazon on my PRS-950

NLight95 · 05-31-2011, 07:56 PM

I've had my PRS-950 for a few months and now I'm looking to purchase some books. I would rather purchase books from Amazon than the Sony's Reader Store because the former has a much better selection and the books are typically cheaper.

I've installed the Amazon's Kindle for PC software (ver. 1.4.1 Build 31629) and already have an account with them. The free books I've downloaded so far are not readable on my PRS-950 due to DRM.

Isn't it one's legal right to read books purchased from any source on one's e-reader? I don't want to be tied to Amazon, Sony, B&N or any other bookseller. I simply want to shop around and purchase books wherever I can find them cheapest and read them on my PRS-950.

Are any of you reading books purchased at Amazon on your Sony Reader? I don't want to purchase any books at Amazon unless I know for certain I can read them on the Sony.

wallcraft · 05-31-2011, 08:01 PM

In the US, it is very probably legal to strip the DRM from ebooks you bought providing you do this for your own use only. See Apprentice Alf's Blog for more info on DRM issues.

jswinden · 06-01-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLight95

...I simply want to shop around and purchase books wherever I can find them cheapest and read them on my PRS-950.

My philosophy too!

I'm not into brand loyalty and fanboy BS...

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLight95

Are any of you reading books purchased at Amazon on your Sony Reader? I don't want to purchase any books at Amazon unless I know for certain I can read them on the Sony.

Darn straight! I buy books from the best source at the time, then I strip away the DRM whether I need to or not, convert the book into ePub if necessary, and sideload it to my 350.

Specific to your example, yes you can buy from Amazon in AZW format and download them to Kindle for PC (K4PC) in order to prepare to strip the DRM. I won't cover the process, but see advice in previous post above. Once stripped of DRM, use a program like calibre (freeware) to convert the AZW (Amazon's proprietary, modified MOBI format) to ePub. Be aware that some Amazon books are in TOPAZ format and CANNOT be stripped of DRM (I think). Most Amazon books come in a Sample you can download, so download the free sample and verify it is in AZW format before buying, that is has an *.azw extension.

pidgeon92 · 06-01-2011, 01:15 PM

Alternately, you can buy a Kindle to read Amazon ebooks on. Certainly easier than breaking DRM and having to convert the files.

troll05 · 06-01-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Be aware that some Amazon books are in TOPAZ format and CANNOT be stripped of DRM (I think). Most Amazon books come in a Sample you can download, so download the free sample and verify it is in AZW format before buying, that is has an *.azw extension.

Fortunately you think wrong

Ask Google for the "Dark Reverser", and you'll find some Plugins for Calibre which can also convert TPZ files into a ZIP Format, which you can then change into something useful

NLight95 · 06-01-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Alternately, you can buy a Kindle to read Amazon ebooks on. Certainly easier than breaking DRM and having to convert the files.

Easier, maybe, but certainly more expensive. After paying for the PRS-950 I really don't want or feel the need to purchase another reader.

NLight95 · 06-01-2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

In the US, it is very probably legal to strip the DRM from ebooks you bought providing you do this for your own use only. See Apprentice Alf's Blog for more info on DRM issues.

Is there a forum where I could ask questions about the procedures on Alf's Blog? I find it little confusing and think I'm overlooking something because I haven't had any success with DRM removal yet. I use both calibre, and Sony's Reader Library for book management.

The books I will buy are for my own use only, unless I let my friend borrow my reader so she can do some occasional reading. Authors and publishers need to make a living too so they should be paid for their work. Having written some materials myself I know it can take a lot of time and hard work

. My pet peeve is editing--I never seem to be satisfied in my work being "finished". But alas, I haven't written anything in years.

ApK · 06-01-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLight95

Is there a forum where I could ask questions about the procedures on Alf's Blog? I find it little confusing and think I'm overlooking something because I haven't had any success with DRM removal yet. I use both calibre, and Sony's Reader Library for book management.

I suspect there is just one small setup step you missed. Once it's set up correctly, then there is simply nothing to do. It just works.

Check your PM.

catsknit · 06-06-2011, 11:37 AM

One thing to be sure of is that you get the older version of Kindle for PC, version 1.5.0. And then uncheck automatic updates so it doesn't update. The newer version doesn't play well with conversions. You can google for the older version.

Edited - Sorry, I mistyped - you want version 1.4 or earlier.

ApK · 06-06-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsknit

One thing to be sure of is that you get the older version of Kindle for PC, version 1.5.0. And then uncheck automatic updates so it doesn't update. The newer version doesn't play well with conversions. You can google for the older version.

No, 1.5.0 is the new broken one!

You want 1.4.1 (or earlier, but 1.4.1 is available and works well.)

ApK

catsknit · 06-10-2011, 08:48 PM

Thanks for correcting that; I had just opened my Kindle for PC window and checked what version it was to write that, and I see that even though I don't have the automatic update checked, it somehow DID update me anyway! So I need to re-install my older one again, too.

ApK · 06-10-2011, 08:59 PM

Hmm. Same thing happened to me. I suspect that the new version had downloaded before I turned off the option, then installed itself next time it started.

NLight95 · 06-18-2011, 01:24 PM

I now have the calibre plugin + Kindle for PC 1.41 installed and tried a few free books I downloaded from Amazon and it works. Now I can purchase books there.

Thanks guys and ladies!

redbees · 06-18-2011, 07:14 PM

NLight95,

tools_v4.0 has been updated to work with K4PC 1.5.0.

Concerning Topaz:
I'd like to note that although recent versions of the tools are indeed capable of liberating Topaz format ebooks, if these ebooks are downloaded to K4PC rather than to a Kindle it is not possible to convert them 'straight across' (meaning with no modification) with Calibre to be readable on your Sony. (See Alf for an explanation of why).The Topaz books I have freed are only readable on my computer in Firefox (or perhaps in another browser). When I load them onto my PRS-x50, I get a 'PAGE ERROR' message upon opening the books. Perhaps you are able to understand better than I what modifications are necessary to make the file usable on anything other than a Kindle. Although the vast majority of Amazon's books are in .prc format, I suggest downloading a sample of the books in which you are interested in order to check their format. Also, rumor has it that MOST if not all non-Topaz format ebooks have 'File Size' listed in the product description. I may be wrong, but I think older books are more likely to be in Topaz. Happy converting.

05-31-2011, 07:56 PM	#1
NLight95 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 670 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: none	Reading books purchased at Amazon on my PRS-950 I've had my PRS-950 for a few months and now I'm looking to purchase some books. I would rather purchase books from Amazon than the Sony's Reader Store because the former has a much better selection and the books are typically cheaper. I've installed the Amazon's Kindle for PC software (ver. 1.4.1 Build 31629) and already have an account with them. The free books I've downloaded so far are not readable on my PRS-950 due to DRM. Isn't it one's legal right to read books purchased from any source on one's e-reader? I don't want to be tied to Amazon, Sony, B&N or any other bookseller. I simply want to shop around and purchase books wherever I can find them cheapest and read them on my PRS-950. Are any of you reading books purchased at Amazon on your Sony Reader? I don't want to purchase any books at Amazon unless I know for certain I can read them on the Sony. Last edited by NLight95; 05-31-2011 at 08:00 PM.

06-06-2011, 11:37 AM	#9
catsknit Addict Posts: 221 Karma: 34036 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Glo HD, Samsung tablet, Kobo Libra, InkPad 3 Pro	One thing to be sure of is that you get the older version of Kindle for PC, version 1.5.0. And then uncheck automatic updates so it doesn't update. The newer version doesn't play well with conversions. You can google for the older version. Edited - Sorry, I mistyped - you want version 1.4 or earlier. Last edited by catsknit; 06-18-2011 at 08:24 AM. Reason: mistake in advice

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05-31-2011, 08:01 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	In the US, it is very probably legal to strip the DRM from ebooks you bought providing you do this for your own use only. See Apprentice Alf's Blog for more info on DRM issues.

06-01-2011, 01:15 PM	#4
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	Alternately, you can buy a Kindle to read Amazon ebooks on. Certainly easier than breaking DRM and having to convert the files.

06-10-2011, 08:48 PM	#11
catsknit Addict Posts: 221 Karma: 34036 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Glo HD, Samsung tablet, Kobo Libra, InkPad 3 Pro	Thanks for correcting that; I had just opened my Kindle for PC window and checked what version it was to write that, and I see that even though I don't have the automatic update checked, it somehow DID update me anyway! So I need to re-install my older one again, too.

06-10-2011, 08:59 PM	#12
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,318 Karma: 67930154 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	Hmm. Same thing happened to me. I suspect that the new version had downloaded before I turned off the option, then installed itself next time it started.

06-18-2011, 01:24 PM	#13
NLight95 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 670 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: none	I now have the calibre plugin + Kindle for PC 1.41 installed and tried a few free books I downloaded from Amazon and it works. Now I can purchase books there. Thanks guys and ladies!

06-18-2011, 07:14 PM	#14
redbees Enthusiast Posts: 128 Karma: 52196 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: US Device: Paperwhite 2, Nexus 7	NLight95, tools_v4.0 has been updated to work with K4PC 1.5.0. Concerning Topaz: I'd like to note that although recent versions of the tools are indeed capable of liberating Topaz format ebooks, if these ebooks are downloaded to K4PC rather than to a Kindle it is not possible to convert them 'straight across' (meaning with no modification) with Calibre to be readable on your Sony. (See Alf for an explanation of why).The Topaz books I have freed are only readable on my computer in Firefox (or perhaps in another browser). When I load them onto my PRS-x50, I get a 'PAGE ERROR' message upon opening the books. Perhaps you are able to understand better than I what modifications are necessary to make the file usable on anything other than a Kindle. Although the vast majority of Amazon's books are in .prc format, I suggest downloading a sample of the books in which you are interested in order to check their format. Also, rumor has it that MOST if not all non-Topaz format ebooks have 'File Size' listed in the product description. I may be wrong, but I think older books are more likely to be in Topaz. Happy converting.