Hello from an Ebook Newbie

[ritpg]

I bought my wife an Aluratek Libre and last night was the first chance I had to help her figure out how to use it. Right off the bat, we downloaded a book from B&N and quickly ran into problems. I've been reading lots of posts in different forums and have yet to conclude that the Libre cannot handle B&N books. I tried converting the book to something readible using Calibre to no avail (so far). I got a message to the effect that Calibre can't violate the DRM restrictions on the file. I then played with ADE also to no avail. I then dowloaded the latest firmware update from the Aluratek website only to discover that it is the same version that came insalled in the device (15). I see there is a version 16 but don't know how to get it or what it offers. I then tried to find the same book at ebooks.com. They had it but for twice the price of the B&N download. I clearly have a lot to learn about this technology. If anyone would like to comment, I would sure appreciate it. I guess my biggest question right now is, where do I download the kinds of books my wife likes to read (typical B&N fiction) and what do I need to do to them to enable the Libre to read them. Did I buy her the wrong reader? Thanks, ritpg

[AnemicOak]

Welcome.


The Libre supports Adobe Adept DRM (Adobe Digital Editions). Here are a few booksellers that sell ePub books with that form of DRM...

Kobo
Sony
Harlequin
Books On Board


To read the B&N book the DRM would need to be removed first or a possible future firmware upgrade will need to take place.

Adobe shipped the new SDK to manufacturers earlier this year and they are working now on integrating it into their firmwares, but I don't know which (maybe all?) manufacturers plan to do the upgrade. The upgrade will allow B&N DRM'd epubs to work.

[DJHARKAVY]

Originally Posted by ritpg

I bought my wife an Aluratek Libre and last night was the first chance I had to help her figure out how to use it. Right off the bat, we downloaded a book from B&N and quickly ran into problems. I've been reading lots of posts in different forums and have yet to conclude that the Libre cannot handle B&N books. I tried converting the book to something readible using Calibre to no avail (so far). I got a message to the effect that Calibre can't violate the DRM restrictions on the file. I then played with ADE also to no avail. I then dowloaded the latest firmware update from the Aluratek website only to discover that it is the same version that came insalled in the device (15). I see there is a version 16 but don't know how to get it or what it offers. I then tried to find the same book at ebooks.com. They had it but for twice the price of the B&N download. I clearly have a lot to learn about this technology. If anyone would like to comment, I would sure appreciate it. I guess my biggest question right now is, where do I download the kinds of books my wife likes to read (typical B&N fiction) and what do I need to do to them to enable the Libre to read them. Did I buy her the wrong reader? Thanks, ritpg

search for ignoble epub.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Welcome.


The Libre supports Adobe Adept DRM (Adobe Digital Editions). Here are a few booksellers that sell ePub books with that form of DRM...

Kobo
Sony
Harlequin
Books On Board

Does this mean also that he can download epub books from his local library using ADE??

If so......ritpg, check out the local offerings available to you online, and enjoy the ride. Books close after the check out period, and most allow you to choose between 7-21 days

[petechan]

desertgrandma,

The Libre can handle Adobe DRM ebooks from digital collections of public libraries. I have accounts from two nearby public libraries and have been borrowing without any problems.

And the nice thing about the Libre is that the books DO NOT expire after the lending period. You have to open Adobe Digital Editions in your PC and "return" the books within the borrowing period, but until you synch your Libre with ADE, the books on your Libre remain readable, which is a boon for leisurely readers like me who take longer than 2 weeks to finish a library book. Also works well so that you can borrow more than one book at a time. So I would encourage ritpg to check out their public library and see what resources they have available.

I wish someone would make a sticky on this forum so that folks new to ebook readers can avoid spending their hard-earned money buying books from bookstores that they can't use.

I wrote to Aluratek asking about version 16 of their firmware, but so far no reply. I have to say that their customer service is very tight-lipped about everything.

[neilmarr]

Good to have your company, Ritpg. Hope you soon get over the teething troubles. But DRM is a darned nuisance. Rather than deter pirates (which is the claim) all it does is to inconvenience honest customers and unfairly boost sales. Best wishes. Neil

[treetotree]

I see that Aluratek is on sale at Sears.com for $99.00. I find that enticing. Does anyone know if I could use Overdrive to get library books on to the Aluratek.
Thanks

[Number_6]

If you're a Windows user, do a google search for "inept suite". This is an installer for everything needed to remove the Adobe Digital Editions DRM from Epub and PDF. You can then use Calibre to convert the DRM free books into whatever format your particular ebook reader likes. Of course, you should only do this with books you purchased and if one WAS to do this to books they downloaded from Overdrive you would be on the honor system to delete the converted files when your lending period was up.

[BoxOfSnoo]

Originally Posted by treetotree

I see that Aluratek is on sale at Sears.com for $99.00. I find that enticing. Does anyone know if I could use Overdrive to get library books on to the Aluratek.
Thanks

Yes you can, without even any removal of DRM. You may still want to use the inept stuff to do so, but you don't need to.

[treetotree]

Thanks Snoo

[uRwhatUr]

Originally Posted by petechan

I wrote to Aluratek asking about version 16 of their firmware, but so far no reply. I have to say that their customer service is very tight-lipped about everything.

Per my chat with Aluratek earlier today:

You are now chatting with 'Pete'

Pete: Welcome to Aluratek's Live Help chat! What may I help you with today?

Me: Hey Pete! is .15k the latest libre firmware? are any libre's being shipped with a .16k firmware?

Pete: Actually, the newest models should be shipping with version 0.17.

Me: When will the site be updated to download beyond .15k?

Pete: We have not received the newest firmware for distribution. We will post it as soon as it is available.

[Xanthe]

Thanks for that info.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by petechan

desertgrandma,

The Libre can handle Adobe DRM ebooks from digital collections of public libraries. I have accounts from two nearby public libraries and have been borrowing without any problems.

And the nice thing about the Libre is that the books DO NOT expire after the lending period. You have to open Adobe Digital Editions in your PC and "return" the books within the borrowing period, but until you synch your Libre with ADE, the books on your Libre remain readable, which is a boon for leisurely readers like me who take longer than 2 weeks to finish a library book. Also works well so that you can borrow more than one book at a time. So I would encourage ritpg to check out their public library and see what resources they have available.

I wish someone would make a sticky on this forum so that folks new to ebook readers can avoid spending their hard-earned money buying books from bookstores that they can't use.

I wrote to Aluratek asking about version 16 of their firmware, but so far no reply. I have to say that their customer service is very tight-lipped about everything.

Interesting. Can you borrow new bestsellers from public libraries or they offer mostly classic books?

[ngrant]

Originally Posted by Kris777

Can you borrow new bestsellers from public libraries or they offer mostly classic books?

It varies considerably from library to library, but many choose to carry bestsellers and new releases although you may have to get on the waiting list for these. Once you are a registered member, you can place a HOLD on a book if it is the library collection, and your Digital Account will show what position you are in, e.g. "4 out of 8 on the waiting list". When the book becomes available, you will be sent an e-mail and given 2 or 3 days to check it out, failing which it will go to the next person in the queue. A very fair system, in my opinion.

In addition to belonging to my local library (Volusia County, FL) which has a small collection of Overdrive EPUB books, I joined the Philadelphia Free Library ($15 annual fee for out-of-state members and I think also allows non-USA members if they pay with a US$ check) and the Washington DC Library (free for 30 days, thereafter you must present yourself at a DC branch with ID to confirm your membership). I don't yet know if I can pay for continued membership in DC but they have a great collection and you can give it a try for a month anyway.

Go ahead and browse the collections. Links follow:
Philadelphia Free Library
http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com...owseeBooks.htm
Washington DC Library
http://overdrive.dclibrary.org/CCF0C...owseeBooks.htm

The DC library system is fantastic in that you receive a library member number almost instantly by e-mail when you sign up online and you can start borrowing books immediately! ADE EPUB and PDF, and MOBI books galore.
http://catalog.dclibrary.org/oureg/onlinecard.html

Hey, even if your ereader is not compatible with these formats and you can't, or don't, do the de-DRM thing, you can read these on your computer with the appropriate (free) software installed.

Happy reading!