Please help before i mess up more

Mad_Scientist · 10-23-2014, 08:10 PM

So i bought my first ebook this week....actually my first 4.

When i thought about ebooks i pictured in my mind downloading books i had purchased, saving them on my home core server and opening them up in my favorite ereader... i like kobo and the kindle app so far..

Anyways.. first book came from amazon and i later figured out that you dont actually own the book.. meh.. ok whatever.. so then i go to ebooks.com and they said ON THE SITE that i could download pdf... well i buy three books but then when i download them it forces me to download the ereader app and i still cant figure out where it actually downloaded the files.

Anyways. What am I doing wrong? Can you guys tell me where to buy books that i can actually download and save and not have to rely on some website staying in business!

susan_cassidy · 10-23-2014, 08:13 PM

You don't have to rely on Amazon staying in business. The book will forever work on the device or app that you downloaded it for. If Amazon goes out of business (heaven forbid), you can probably legally strip the DRM.

Booksellers like Baen Books and Smashwords do not have DRM, so you can use the books on any device. Both of those allow you to download the books in multiple formats, too.

I've never heard of ebooks.com, so I don't know how their stuff works. There should be something on their web site explaining how everything works.

meeera · 10-23-2014, 10:04 PM

Go and make friends with Apprentice Alf, get rid of DRM, and you can put your books on whatever device you like (Amazon and ADE books - ebooks.com says they do ADE). We can't give details here.

fjtorres · 10-23-2014, 10:25 PM

You should also avoid pdf whenever possible. Go with epub or azw/mobi formats.

Lynx-lynx · 10-23-2014, 11:29 PM

@Mad Scientist well all of us on MR will probably say the same thing about buying ebooks and using ereaders - it aint as straightforward as you might have wished!

My suggestion is to download Calibre as your ebook library managment database. It's free and a truly excellent program.

Then you need to be introduced to Apprentice Alf as meeera said.

Doing those two things will immediately make buying and reading ebooks on the device of your choice accessible.

You've got a way to go on your journey yet before you get anywhere near the comfort level you thought was inherent in reading ebooks on any device or app.

Keep asking questions on here and you'll get the hang of it soon enough - we've all been there.

Froide · 10-24-2014, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad_Scientist

So i bought my first ebook this week....actually my first 4.

When i thought about ebooks i pictured in my mind downloading books i had purchased, saving them on my home core server and opening them up in my favorite ereader... i like kobo and the kindle app so far..

Anyways.. first book came from amazon and i later figured out that you dont actually own the book.. meh.. ok whatever.. so then i go to ebooks.com and they said ON THE SITE that i could download pdf... well i buy three books but then when i download them it forces me to download the ereader app and i still cant figure out where it actually downloaded the files.

Anyways. What am I doing wrong? Can you guys tell me where to buy books that i can actually download and save and not have to rely on some website staying in business!

Good suggestions. But I didn't see one that answered your question directly. If you downloaded the Kindle app to a computer, then you should now have on your computer a folder called My Kindle Content. (My folder's inside my computer's Documents folder.) If you can't easily find your My Kindle Content folder, then do a computer search for it. When you find that folder, you'll find your Kindle book files inside it.

Apache · 10-24-2014, 05:37 PM

You have to open Kindle for PC first and right click choose download for the books to download to your computer.

Kai Winters · 10-24-2014, 10:20 PM

I use Amazon to buy ebooks. I use the following method. I send the ebook to my laptop then I open the Kindle app on my laptop to complete the download. I then go to the "My Kindle Content" folder in "Documents" on my laptop and there is the book.
I use Calibre as my library management tool and import the ebook into Calibre where I edit the metadata and convert the format to my preferred formats...epub generally.

I then add it to my reader.

The book is mine.

Perhaps this is where you went wrong. Amazon has offered a service called "Kindle Unlimited". They say you get unlimited access to over 700,000 titles for a fee of course.
I thought this was actually a pretty good deal considering how many ebooks I buy and read so I signed up.
Well it turns out you do not "own" the book. It is not a "download", more of a "loan" of the title allowing you to read it but you do not get the book itself just the ability to read it.
Perhaps this is how you got your books from Amazon?

I cancelled immediately. I want to "own" the title I purchase not rent the book.

This also means you can't read the book using a different reader app. Only the Kindle app, which is not my preferred reader though I have no complaints when I have used it.

"Alf" is the man...

Mad_Scientist · 10-25-2014, 03:06 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm downloading calibre now and will be reading up alot more on drm

Katsunami · 10-25-2014, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

@Mad Scientist well all of us on MR will probably say the same thing about buying ebooks and using ereaders - it aint as straightforward as you might have wished!

You're right, but compared to getting DVD's and Blu-Ray discs from different regions into a somewhat/supposedly future-proof format (h.264 video, flac and/or AC3 audio, in an mkv container), ebooks are a walk in the park nowadays, thanks to Alf and Calibre.

sadievan · 10-26-2014, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad_Scientist

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm downloading calibre now and will be reading up alot more on drm

As others have mentioned, google 'Apprentice Alf'.

Difflugia · 10-26-2014, 08:07 PM

If you happen to like PDF, then ebooks.com is one of the few sellers left that carry them. I still buy books from them that I want in PDF (I've yet to see an epub or mobi of something like this book that isn't a complete horror show).

Also, books that are available in both epub and PDF can be downloaded in both formats with the same purchase. If multiple formats are listed as available, you can download all listed formats. Note, however, that books are downloadable in whatever the currently available format is. HarperCollins, for example, used to offer most of their books as PDF and epub, but the PDF option has been removed from a number of my ebooks.com books as HarperCollins stops authorizing their sale. On the other hand, I've had formats added to my books, too.

If any of your books allow multiple format downloads, you'll see multiple options in the download dropdown. I've attached a screen grab so you can see what you're looking for. If multiple formats are listed, then you can download each format separately.

The biggest downside to ebooks.com is that they do not discount prices. Their prices will sometimes reflect a publisher sale, but they usually are straight retail price.

saoir · 10-27-2014, 05:37 PM

As far as I am concerned, when I pay for an eBook and I click on "Buy" and download it ... then it is mine. It is wholly mine. I own it. I don't give a monkey's Fcuk what they or the law might say. I pay for it - it's mine.

STEPS:

I buy the eBook - or download a free eBook.

Then import the book in to Calibre.

Immediately I use one of Calibre's plugins to strip MY BOOK of any DRM.

Then I upload it to whatever device I want to use to read it. If it's on my iPhone then I convert the format first.

Then all of my eBooks get backed up to Time Machine, and at the end of the day they get backed up to SuperDuper.

10-23-2014, 08:10 PM	#1
Mad_Scientist Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 110 Join Date: Oct 2014 Device: Note tablet	Please help before i mess up more So i bought my first ebook this week....actually my first 4. When i thought about ebooks i pictured in my mind downloading books i had purchased, saving them on my home core server and opening them up in my favorite ereader... i like kobo and the kindle app so far.. Anyways.. first book came from amazon and i later figured out that you dont actually own the book.. meh.. ok whatever.. so then i go to ebooks.com and they said ON THE SITE that i could download pdf... well i buy three books but then when i download them it forces me to download the ereader app and i still cant figure out where it actually downloaded the files. Anyways. What am I doing wrong? Can you guys tell me where to buy books that i can actually download and save and not have to rely on some website staying in business!

10-23-2014, 11:29 PM	#5
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,069 Karma: 91561091 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Blackberry Playbook, Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2	@Mad Scientist well all of us on MR will probably say the same thing about buying ebooks and using ereaders - it aint as straightforward as you might have wished! My suggestion is to download Calibre as your ebook library managment database. It's free and a truly excellent program. Then you need to be introduced to Apprentice Alf as meeera said. Doing those two things will immediately make buying and reading ebooks on the device of your choice accessible. You've got a way to go on your journey yet before you get anywhere near the comfort level you thought was inherent in reading ebooks on any device or app. Keep asking questions on here and you'll get the hang of it soon enough - we've all been there. Last edited by Lynx-lynx; 10-23-2014 at 11:32 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
what a mess	dlsh1962	Devices	4	08-06-2012 04:54 PM
PRS-T1 words in a mess	lcmhcf	Sony Reader	3	02-06-2012 11:37 AM
How to clean up this mess??	kharrisma	General Discussions	15	06-10-2011 05:06 PM
Help please I have a big MESS!	Imatechie2006	Sony Reader	2	09-23-2009 05:45 AM

10-23-2014, 08:13 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	You don't have to rely on Amazon staying in business. The book will forever work on the device or app that you downloaded it for. If Amazon goes out of business (heaven forbid), you can probably legally strip the DRM. Booksellers like Baen Books and Smashwords do not have DRM, so you can use the books on any device. Both of those allow you to download the books in multiple formats, too. I've never heard of ebooks.com, so I don't know how their stuff works. There should be something on their web site explaining how everything works.

10-23-2014, 10:04 PM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66417824 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Go and make friends with Apprentice Alf, get rid of DRM, and you can put your books on whatever device you like (Amazon and ADE books - ebooks.com says they do ADE). We can't give details here.

10-23-2014, 10:25 PM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	You should also avoid pdf whenever possible. Go with epub or azw/mobi formats.

10-24-2014, 05:37 PM	#7
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,137 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	You have to open Kindle for PC first and right click choose download for the books to download to your computer.

10-24-2014, 10:20 PM	#8
Kai Winters Lover of Books Posts: 218 Karma: 1073074 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern NY Device: iPhone 7+	I use Amazon to buy ebooks. I use the following method. I send the ebook to my laptop then I open the Kindle app on my laptop to complete the download. I then go to the "My Kindle Content" folder in "Documents" on my laptop and there is the book. I use Calibre as my library management tool and import the ebook into Calibre where I edit the metadata and convert the format to my preferred formats...epub generally. I then add it to my reader. The book is mine. Perhaps this is where you went wrong. Amazon has offered a service called "Kindle Unlimited". They say you get unlimited access to over 700,000 titles for a fee of course. I thought this was actually a pretty good deal considering how many ebooks I buy and read so I signed up. Well it turns out you do not "own" the book. It is not a "download", more of a "loan" of the title allowing you to read it but you do not get the book itself just the ability to read it. Perhaps this is how you got your books from Amazon? I cancelled immediately. I want to "own" the title I purchase not rent the book. This also means you can't read the book using a different reader app. Only the Kindle app, which is not my preferred reader though I have no complaints when I have used it. "Alf" is the man...

10-25-2014, 03:06 PM	#9
Mad_Scientist Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 110 Join Date: Oct 2014 Device: Note tablet	Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm downloading calibre now and will be reading up alot more on drm

10-26-2014, 08:07 PM	#12
Difflugia Testate Amoeba Posts: 3,049 Karma: 27300000 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Many Android devices, Kindle 2, Toshiba e755 PocketPC	If you happen to like PDF, then ebooks.com is one of the few sellers left that carry them. I still buy books from them that I want in PDF (I've yet to see an epub or mobi of something like this book that isn't a complete horror show). Also, books that are available in both epub and PDF can be downloaded in both formats with the same purchase. If multiple formats are listed as available, you can download all listed formats. Note, however, that books are downloadable in whatever the currently available format is. HarperCollins, for example, used to offer most of their books as PDF and epub, but the PDF option has been removed from a number of my ebooks.com books as HarperCollins stops authorizing their sale. On the other hand, I've had formats added to my books, too. If any of your books allow multiple format downloads, you'll see multiple options in the download dropdown. I've attached a screen grab so you can see what you're looking for. If multiple formats are listed, then you can download each format separately. The biggest downside to ebooks.com is that they do not discount prices. Their prices will sometimes reflect a publisher sale, but they usually are straight retail price.

10-27-2014, 05:37 PM	#13
saoir Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 2088290 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Paperwhite	As far as I am concerned, when I pay for an eBook and I click on "Buy" and download it ... then it is mine. It is wholly mine. I own it. I don't give a monkey's Fcuk what they or the law might say. I pay for it - it's mine. STEPS: I buy the eBook - or download a free eBook. Then import the book in to Calibre. Immediately I use one of Calibre's plugins to strip MY BOOK of any DRM. Then I upload it to whatever device I want to use to read it. If it's on my iPhone then I convert the format first. Then all of my eBooks get backed up to Time Machine, and at the end of the day they get backed up to SuperDuper.

Advert

Advert