Originally Posted by Jasonofindy
I think I have a handle on the various Ebook stores and the way each of their DRM works, but I wanted to write a quick summary to make sure that I am not missing anything important before I start actually spending money and purchasing a lot of content. I have both a Kindle3 Wi-fi from last October and a Nook Wi-fi that I recently purchased. I would really appreciate being corrected if I am misunderstanding something about the various stores.
I've used the following, but so far only for free books:
Amazon.com- The books from their store are essentially mobi format with a proprietary DRM. Books purchased from them will only work on the Kindle and the various devices that now have software "Kindle Apps."
Right
Barnes & Noble- The books from their store are epub with their own proprietary DRM using your credit card number that will only work on the Nook and the various devices that now have software "Nook Apps."
Right
Sony Reader store- The books from this store are epub with Adobe DRM. You must use downloaded Sony Reader software to purchase the books, but once on your PC you can transfer them to any ereader that supports Adobe DRM. (including the Nook, the Sony eReaders, and a bunch of others)
Right
Overdrive- Not so much a store, but the company/service that many libraries use to lend ebooks. Uses epub or pdf with Adobe DRM. You can then use Adobe Digital Editions to transfer the ebook to any ereader that supports Adobe DRM. (including the Nook, the Sony eReaders, and a bunch of others)
Or you can use the Sony Reader Library and forgo ADE.
Netlibrary- Another library service somewhat like Overdrive, it works pretty much the same way.
I have not used the following but BELIEVE that they work as described. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.
Google Books- sells epub/pdf with Adobe DRM. You can then use Adobe Digital Editions to transfer the ebook to any ereader that supports Adobe DRM. (including the Nook, the Sony Readers, and a bunch of others) Additionally google has apps for idevices and android devices to read books bought in their store.
Kobo- sells epub with Adobe DRM. You can then use Adobe Digital Editions to transfer the ebook to any ereader that supports Adobe DRM. (including the Nook, the Sony Readers, and a bunch of others) Additionally Kobo appears to have apps to read their books on idevices, android devices, Blackberry devices, and Palm devices.
Smashwords- sells ebooks in multiple DRM free formats including mobi, epub, pdf, and html.
Websubscription.net (Baen)- My understanding is that they sell both standalone books and monthly compilations of partial books of sci-fi material in multiple formats including both mobi & epub. As far as I can tell from the description it is DRM free. They also host the Baen free library with a number of books in multiple formats DRM-free. (I have used the latter)
Apple ibooks- as far as I can tell this store sells ebooks in the epub format with a proprietary DRM that only works on iDevices.
For those of you with more details or anything important that I may have missed or simply may be flat wrong about, please correct me (be gentle, I'm new). For those whom have not looked in depth into the various stores and formats yet, hopefully this helps a bit.
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