Should you buy eBooks from Kobo in Desktop only format?

mylesau · 07-23-2010, 03:37 AM

NO!

It has come to my attention from my dealings with Borders Australia and Kobo that some of the eBooks that they sell are only offered in a format that can be downloaded to the Kobo/Borders/??? desktop application, which can then only be transferred to a Kobo, or a device that supports the Desktop software.

It may not be obvious to some that this means that you will never, unless Kobo develop some conversion software or change/add availability of formats, be able to read your eBooks on any other eReader unless it's a Kobo or has the Kobo eBook Reader app available. This will be the only way you will be able to read it - if you don't like the Kobo eReader app, tough luck.

This is a terrible model - I can only suggest you think hard about this before purchasing any Kobo eBooks that are only available in the 'desktop' format.

leighisme · 07-23-2010, 04:45 AM

I've bought 30+ books through Kobo and all of them were available to download as epub...

3d0g · 07-23-2010, 07:38 AM

I always though this was pretty obvious. I allow the kobo to sync my purchases to the sqlite database for convenience, and then also download a copy of the EPUB version for permanent storage on my PC.

mylesau · 07-23-2010, 07:43 AM

I think you've both missed the point.

There are eBooks that only come in 'Desktop' format i.e. there will not be an ePub version to download. These are the books I'm referring to, not the ones that do have an ePub version as well...

HarleyB · 07-23-2010, 07:59 AM

Can you give the details of one of these books so we can see what you are referring to? All my books (and all the ones I have looked at) have been available as ePub files to download so I'm not really sure what I need to look out for.

mylesau · 07-23-2010, 08:07 AM

No I can't provide a link as there is no easy way to search for them and it may not be obvious which ones they are. The following is part of an email I received back from Borders Australia staff today:

Quote:

The issue causing you concern at present is the inability to migrate these books to ADE. I have looked at your account and cannot see any links there. I will investigate this and get back to you. There are some e-books that are available only in the proprietary ePub format, which you would know does not transfer to ADE.

mylesau · 07-23-2010, 08:23 AM

A quick step through available eBooks, and on page 4, there is one listed without the ePub option:

Confederacy Of Silence: A True Tale Of The New Old South

Quote:

FORMAT: Desktop/Mobile

no ePub include in the format list.

Just how many there are like this I have no idea, but I think it something to be aware of...

ficbot · 07-23-2010, 08:26 AM

Here is one. I purchased it awhile back not realizing it could not be downloaded, and when I realized, I complained to customer service and they gave me a one-time refund, telling me to read the fine print next time.

HarleyB · 07-23-2010, 08:37 AM

Thanks for posting the link mylesau.
The book says it is available in Desktop/Mobile whereas all the other books I've seen have Desktop/Mobile, ePub.
It sure is something to look out for and could be easily missed if you didn't know to check. I will certainly be checking from now on.
Sorry ficbot your link isn't available in Australia so I can't see it but I assume it is the same situation.

luqmaninbmore · 07-23-2010, 09:22 AM

The vast majority of books that are not available for download in ePub format are public domain books that are easily obtainable elsewhere. None of the books I have been interested in are in this class. Frankly, I think one just needs to adopt the attitude of a critical, price-conscious consumer and things'll work out fine.

leighisme · 07-23-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

The vast majority of books that are not available for download in ePub format are public domain books that are easily obtainable elsewhere. None of the books I have been interested in are in this class. Frankly, I think one just needs to adopt the attitude of a critical, price-conscious consumer and things'll work out fine.

That's been my experience as well. The books without epub are usually free/public domain.

SameerH · 07-23-2010, 06:58 PM

We used to not have Gutenbergs available in ePub format, but I believe has or is being fixed. I'll take a look.

NNolan · 07-23-2010, 07:26 PM

I watched "The Runaways" dvd when it came out on Tuesday, then went looking for the autobiography that it's based on, "Neon Angel". There's no ePub version; it's desktop/mobile only at Borders, and it's not public domain.

stephenb · 07-23-2010, 07:36 PM

Slightly OT, but has anyone installed both the ePub and sqlite version of a book on to their reader?

mylesau · 07-23-2010, 07:55 PM

@luqmaninbmore and leighisme, the topic is about books that you buy, i.e. not free books. They exist - links to some examples have been provided. These are the books that people need to be aware of.

Why are you focusing on free books? They are not the subject of the topic!

07-23-2010, 03:37 AM	#1
mylesau Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	Should you buy eBooks from Kobo in Desktop only format? NO! It has come to my attention from my dealings with Borders Australia and Kobo that some of the eBooks that they sell are only offered in a format that can be downloaded to the Kobo/Borders/??? desktop application, which can then only be transferred to a Kobo, or a device that supports the Desktop software. It may not be obvious to some that this means that you will never, unless Kobo develop some conversion software or change/add availability of formats, be able to read your eBooks on any other eReader unless it's a Kobo or has the Kobo eBook Reader app available. This will be the only way you will be able to read it - if you don't like the Kobo eReader app, tough luck. This is a terrible model - I can only suggest you think hard about this before purchasing any Kobo eBooks that are only available in the 'desktop' format.

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07-23-2010, 04:45 AM	#2
leighisme Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 14 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Whitehorse, YT Device: Kobo Touch, iPhone 4, iPad2	I've bought 30+ books through Kobo and all of them were available to download as epub...

07-23-2010, 07:38 AM	#3
3d0g I make fjords. Posts: 304 Karma: 11192 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Device: kobo 1 (retired), kobo 2, iPad, G2, Galaxy Tab 7+	I always though this was pretty obvious. I allow the kobo to sync my purchases to the sqlite database for convenience, and then also download a copy of the EPUB version for permanent storage on my PC.

07-23-2010, 07:43 AM	#4
mylesau Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	I think you've both missed the point. There are eBooks that only come in 'Desktop' format i.e. there will not be an ePub version to download. These are the books I'm referring to, not the ones that do have an ePub version as well...

07-23-2010, 07:59 AM	#5
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	Can you give the details of one of these books so we can see what you are referring to? All my books (and all the ones I have looked at) have been available as ePub files to download so I'm not really sure what I need to look out for.

07-23-2010, 08:26 AM	#8
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Here is one. I purchased it awhile back not realizing it could not be downloaded, and when I realized, I complained to customer service and they gave me a one-time refund, telling me to read the fine print next time.

07-23-2010, 08:37 AM	#9
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	Thanks for posting the link mylesau. The book says it is available in Desktop/Mobile whereas all the other books I've seen have Desktop/Mobile, ePub. It sure is something to look out for and could be easily missed if you didn't know to check. I will certainly be checking from now on. Sorry ficbot your link isn't available in Australia so I can't see it but I assume it is the same situation.

07-23-2010, 09:22 AM	#10
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	The vast majority of books that are not available for download in ePub format are public domain books that are easily obtainable elsewhere. None of the books I have been interested in are in this class. Frankly, I think one just needs to adopt the attitude of a critical, price-conscious consumer and things'll work out fine.

07-23-2010, 06:58 PM	#12
SameerH Product Manager Posts: 487 Karma: 590887 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura H2O	We used to not have Gutenbergs available in ePub format, but I believe has or is being fixed. I'll take a look.

07-23-2010, 07:26 PM	#13
NNolan Compulsive Gadget Geek Posts: 395 Karma: 4219324 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Almost Canada Device: One of each, and two in some cases	I watched "The Runaways" dvd when it came out on Tuesday, then went looking for the autobiography that it's based on, "Neon Angel". There's no ePub version; it's desktop/mobile only at Borders, and it's not public domain.

07-23-2010, 07:36 PM	#14
stephenb Member Posts: 18 Karma: 82 Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Kobo, Amazon Kindle 3	Slightly OT, but has anyone installed both the ePub and sqlite version of a book on to their reader?

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07-23-2010, 07:55 PM	#15
mylesau Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	@luqmaninbmore and leighisme, the topic is about books that you buy, i.e. not free books. They exist - links to some examples have been provided. These are the books that people need to be aware of. Why are you focusing on free books? They are not the subject of the topic!