Question before buying my first e-reader

[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?

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)?

Speaking of mp3 players, I wouldn't mind one being integrated in the reader. It's not a necessity, but it would be nice.

[JSWolf]

The Kindle is tied to Amazon.

The T1, Kobo & B&N are not tied to anyone.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by LCIII

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)?

See http://calibre-ebook.com and the Calibre forums on this web site.

Open-format is only a practical issue when it comes to encrypted books. And neither of the two main systems (Adobe EPUB vs. Amazon Kindle) are really open, at least as I would use the word. Outside the US, copyrighted public library eBooks are, almost all, Adobe EPUB format only, and just about every eReader except Kindle supports that. Only in the US can you also get public library books for the Kindle. That is the big openness barrier I can see for the Kindle, although it will look different if you buy a lot of encrypted books. Calibre will almost automatically convert between the Amazon and EPUB formats -- if not encrypted.

Speaking of mp3 players, I wouldn't mind one being integrated in the reader. It's not a necessity, but it would be nice.

Since I grew up with record players, the one built into my Kindle Keyboard seems, by comparison, good to me. But by the standards younger people have gotten use to, it's lacking. To reorder the songs, you have to hook it up to a computer and use a freeware FAT32 file organization program.

Also, are you aware of all the uses for an eReader beyond the hard drive side-loading model? The Calibre news feature is one example. This explains another:

Forget eBooks

[AnemicOak]

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?

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.

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)?

Take a look at Calibre for both maintaining your library and for conversion.

[LCIII]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the US.

[jbcohen]

I think that you all are looking at the issue wrong. The issue of a reader beeing tied to a particular store needs to be reframed a tad bit. All ereaders need books in one of the formats that it supports. Most support epub, unfortunately the kindle does not it supports AZW or MOBI format, which is not proprietary and there is nothing proprietary about it. I do not buy my ebooks for my kindle from amazon, typically I buy them from Sony or Barns and Nobels. I take the book and put it into calibre and change the format to AZW then up load it to the kindle and guess what it does not have a problem as long as I have the format right. I know thats an extra step but it opens up more competition.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

unfortunately the kindle does not it supports AZW or MOBI format, which is not proprietary and there is nothing proprietary about it.

Please look in a dictionary and learn what the word "proprietary" means: it does not mean what you seem to think it does.

A "proprietary" format is one which is somebody's property (in this case, Amazon's). It does NOT mean that Mobi books can only be obtained from Amazon. The Mobi format, however, most definitely IS proprietary.