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Originally Posted by LCIII
I've finally decided to get an e-reader. I want a quality reader that isn't about being tethered to the maker's proprietary network. Like an mp3 player, I simply want open-format e-books that I store on my hard drive and load onto the reader. I get the impression that Sony and Kobo are like that, whereas Kindle and Nook are more network-oriented. Is that correct?
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They all have their own stores, but Kindle is the only one really tied to a retailer, at least for stuff from bigger publishers. Many smaller pubs will often sell their stuff DRM free in both Mobi (Kindle) and ePub format.
Nook books can only be read on Nooks (or tablets/phones with a nook app installed, much like Kindle), but the Nooks also support Adobe ID based DRM allowing you to read DRM'd books from other stores like Sony, Kobo and Books on Board.
Kobo, Sony, etc. support Adobe ID based DRM and support DRM'd books from various stores.
That said for books from the big pubs are all Agency Priced meaning they can't be discounted and so it makes little difference where you're buying from. Non-agency books in my experience are cheaper or the same at Amazon. The only way any of the DRM'd books are really open is if you remove the DRM and then with conversion software it makes little difference which format you choose (at least for fiction) so I'd just pick the reader who's features you like the best.
Note: you don't say where you are so some of these comments might not apply if you're outside the US.
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What's the best program for maintaining an open-format e-library on a hard-drive (preferably something that's available for both Windows and Linux)?
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Take a look at Calibre for both maintaining your library and for conversion.