Getting Kindle books without a Kindle

[cynoclast]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

e-books seem to be gaining in popularity and are appearing in quite a few places, albeit slowly at times.

They would be doing a lot better with Amazon's help if they hadn't decided to try to retain sole control of their contribution to the ebook world. *sigh*

Authors deserve payment for their work, and I would gladly pay them a modest sum directly into their hands or bank account for an electronic copy of their work, in preference to a printed copy.

This cuts out the publishers completely, since in the ebook market, publishers are completely superfluous. The problem is they're still around and have the money to purchase laws to enforce their business model.

[cynoclast]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Well, over here, if you know (and that's the key word .... "know") that you are paying for stolen goods, then you have entered into a conspiracy with the person who has done the theft, and you have taken an action in furtherance of that conspiracy (by giving them the money for the stolen thing).

It would probably depend on the value of the property, but I have seen people prosecuted for lots of illegal purchases. For example, paying someone for kiddie-porn is illegal, even if you never receive the porn. Paying someone for sex is illegal ... even if you never actually have sex with the person. In the case of never getting the stolen goods, it's generally considered "solicitation" to commit a crime.

Again ... it's going to come down to the value of the goods, or the seriousness of the illegality of those goods (drugs, porn .... that sort of thing).

But, you know, with the authorities in this country practically going bonkers over digital piracy, I wouldn't put it past them to prosecute someone over something like this.

Except that making a copy of a digital thing is not theft. The legal definition is copyright infringement. I'm not saying it's legal, but calling it theft is incorrect.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by cynoclast

Except that making a copy of a digital thing is not theft. The legal definition is copyright infringement. I'm not saying it's legal, but calling it theft is incorrect.

Making the copy is not theft. SELLING the copy may well be theft. And, knowingly purchasing an illegal copy may be illegal in and of itself.

Can I exit this discussion now?? I really do need to get a little bit of work done today.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by cynoclast

If you could point me to an alternate source for amazon's ebooks, I'd very gladly simply buy them there instead.

I'd rather not contribute money to a company that uses such draconian lock-in tactics.

There are more eBook stores than you can shake a stick at.


fictionwise.com
booksonboard.com

Are the 2 best stores as far as price, selection, and customer service.

http://www.simonsays.com
Simon & Schuster (Simonsays) in my opinion is a publishing company that really gets it the eBook Market. UTheir selection is not as large as some of the other publishers but they do have a good selection. And they have the best prices for eBooks.


Fictionwise and BoB actually come close in price to amazon but are not as cheep. Both these store have some killer sales which you will most certainly get better prices than those listed in amazon.

Personally I have nothing against Amazon I think their a great store, and have a great solution for their customers.

I just wish they offered their books to all customers not just Kindle owners. If you truly have an issue with Amazon, then vote by supporting the retailers I listed above.

=X=

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

What you are asking people to do is , I believe, completely illegal. Also what you want to do is illegal.

Someone correct me, of course, if I'm wrong.

I think illegal is going a bit far. It is against the Kindle EULA since you are licensing the ebook for personal use and can't resell it.

BOb

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by cynoclast

I ask because the ability to do so is a prerequisite to me posting a want ad for a broken kindle so I can register it to my amazon account and purchase ebooks from amazon for conversion and use on my Nokia N810.

It is not possible to buy kindle books unless you own a Kindle. That said, if you own a broken Kindle, you still own a Kindle and you can register it to your Amazon account.

And yes, you can download the ebooks to your PC from Amazon.

But you would have to remove the DRM which while a violation of the DMCA in the US is probably not a big deal if you aren't selling or uploading them. Actually, some people say that removing DRM is not illegal but giving someone a tool to do so is.

BOb

[=X=]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think illegal is going a bit far. It is against the Kindle EULA since you are licensing the ebook for personal use and can't resell it.

BOb

Could an owner purge the book from their account as a form of transferring ownership? Much like transferring the ownership of a regular book?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by =X=

Could an owner purge the book from their account as a form of transferring ownership? Much like transferring the ownership of a regular book?

No there is no way. You can "delete" it from you media library.... but that is a soft delete and you can always recover it from the trash.

BOb

[Mycropht]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

It is not possible to buy kindle books unless you own a Kindle.

It is also not possible to buy a Kindle book if you own a Kindle.

You can just pay for right to read a digital copy of a book on your device. I mean, when you buy a paper book, you can wait until the bookshop crumble to dust and the book might still be around, possibly after changing owners dozen times without anyone yelling "police!". If that is "buying" then for sure we need a different word for paying Amazon to download a Kindle book.

Now, I like the idea of e-book readers and I will own one as soon as they make one I am satisfied with (I would buy a PRS-700 with a PRS-505 screen) and I am not saying selling of a digital book is impossible. Of course it is possible. A share is also a digital thing today and there is no problem with buying or selling them. Something along that line should work just fine.

Until then, once more, I do not see how it is possible to buy a Kindle book.

If I am mistaken, please enlighten me.

[vivaldirules]

70 posts so far. Can anyone answer this question in the affirmative?

Has anyone with a device capable of reading Mobipocket files (that could be PC or a handheld device) asked someone from Amazon and expressed their desire to purchase one of the ebooks they sell? Surely they understand that these Mobipocket files could be read on other devices. I simply want to know if someone has received a response other than "No".

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

70 posts so far. Can anyone answer this question in the affirmative?

Has anyone with a device capable of reading Mobipocket files (that could be PC or a handheld device) asked someone from Amazon and expressed their desire to purchase one of the ebooks they sell? Surely they understand that these Mobipocket files could be read on other devices. I simply want to know if someone has received a response other than "No".

and if no-one has, perhaps someone should, if only for research purposes.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

70 posts so far. Can anyone answer this question in the affirmative?

Has anyone with a device capable of reading Mobipocket files (that could be PC or a handheld device) asked someone from Amazon and expressed their desire to purchase one of the ebooks they sell? Surely they understand that these Mobipocket files could be read on other devices. I simply want to know if someone has received a response other than "No".

Maybe people stopped reading the thread due to the tedious flame war and dead-horse-abuse. Maybe a poll thread would get more response, especially if it would allow people to answer anonymously. I doubt many people would want to fess up publically to violating their EULA and possibly the law if they said "yes" to the request.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Has anyone with a device capable of reading Mobipocket files (that could be PC or a handheld device) asked someone from Amazon and expressed their desire to purchase one of the ebooks they sell? Surely they understand that these Mobipocket files could be read on other devices. I simply want to know if someone has received a response other than "No".

I don't think there is any reason to ask them. Try to buy a Kindle book if you don't have a Kindle registered... and you've got your answer.

BOb

[vivaldirules]

I'm certainly aware that owning a Kindle is the standard requirement. What I was hoping was that some one or more people who have a Cybook, iLiad, etc. or even just their own computer have talked with someone in the Amazon organization and explained why it would be useful to be able to buy their books without having a Kindle and it would, of course, be profitable for Amazon. I was hoping, unlikely as it might be, that someone there would listen to reason and would make some special arrangements for allowing that to happen. Perhaps I'm dreaming but it made sense to ask the question.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

What I was hoping was that some one or more people who have a Cybook, iLiad, etc. or even just their own computer have talked with someone in the Amazon organization and explained why it would be useful to be able to buy their books without having a Kindle and it would, of course, be profitable for Amazon.

Go for it. The worst they can say is forgedaboutit.

BOb