[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Sorry, but that's bullshit. If there is a button to download the file and it doesn't work, there is a bug. They deserve the opportunity to fix the problem. And the only way they can know, without testing every single link from every single browser and operating system and language and lots of other things that are different, is if the person who discovers the problem tells them.

It is a little odd, is it not, how Kobo seems to be far more prone to website issues of so many kinds, than other vendors?

And why, precisely, would they not be responsible for actually testing their website in multiple browsers at the very least?
Let us leave aside the issue of OS and language. I feel safe assuming DiapDealer was using Kobo Desktop on Windows, and using English as a language... so that is probably not the issue...
Let us leave aside the issue that Kobo should not be having so many problems with a nominally standards-compliant Internet browser.

I would be more inclined to hear your argument if Kobo didn't have a reputation for being quite inept in that regard. Unnaturally inept, as far as I am concerned.

Obok was developed by a different person than the other DRM removal tools, so it is quite reasonable for it not to be in the same place.

That does not mean they cannot fall under the same umbrella. Alf now hosts tools that were worked on by several different people, you would think oboK could be included with the rest. But that is I think Alf's fault.

You have not even touched on the other point raised -- "Not to mention that the idea of needing a DRM removal tool to make retrieving a drm-free epub easier is fairly offensive to me in the first place."

So it is wrong for Kobo to develop their application to follow Microsoft's standards? Yes, you can make an argument that they should be in the documents directory, but where they are is a valid place for data that is only to be used by the one application. The DRM protected books fit into that category and it would make no sense to separate them. The issue is not how these books are downloaded using the Kobo application or even the need to use the application. The issue is that Kobo have a problem preventing the book from being downloaded from their web site when clearly it is intended that they should be. When Kobo fix that, the problem goes away. And if this is important to you, Kobo is already ahead of Amazon as they do offer direct download links for DRM free books. Personally, I have never had a problem when I went to download books I have purchased from Kobo.

Well, Kindle for PC has files stored in Documents\My Kindle Content\ despite being specific to that one application. It makes it usable when the book is DRM-free.

Amazon is miles ahead of Kobo -- all you need do is install the desktop application and you can access all your books. There is never any hassle or doubt. On the rare occasion you cannot download it (it is a fixed-format book or something), the product page clearly states which devices are supported -- and they never fail to be clear and accurate about where you can and cannot use them.

Kobo's claim to be so much more awesome and cool because they provide direct download links is a paper tiger, until they can actually do so with some sense of consistency.

Google, last I heard, is also quite good at consistency, because apparently serious companies take business seriously.