What's with the Paranoia?

[Elektron]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What do you call someone who will not register a Kindle because they do not want to send data to Amazon?

Paranoid. Pure and simple.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by pazos

I also don't care about the info I send to amazon. That's the point. It's a matter of caring or not. It doesn't relate with being paranoid or not.

BUT, if you consider both scenarios the same thing or relating to the same kind of issues I would think about you having issues discerning other people issues .

Anyways I agree it's not something we should care about.

I don't think either situation is something to have issues with, but the bottom line is I don't really care about anyone elses issues, so long as they don't impact me.

But if they start trying to make their issues into something they think I should care about, I'm going to tell them to go take their medication and leave me alone!

[fabricalado]

Originally Posted by Elektron

Paranoid. Pure and simple.

Since we're all into diagnosing people here, one could also argue that just like claiming everyone is doing it for paranoid reasons, seeing everyone who does it as "paranoid, pure and simple" can be a defensive projection. Meaning, it's not my acceptance of surveillance that is the problem, it's your avoidance of it!

Interesting discussion, nonetheless.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fabricalado

Since we're all into diagnosing people here, one could also argue that just like claiming everyone is doing it for paranoid reasons, seeing everyone who does it as "paranoid, pure and simple" can be a defensive projection. Meaning, it's not my acceptance of surveillance that is the problem, it's your avoidance of it!

Interesting discussion, nonetheless.

Why buy a Reader from a company you don't trust enough to register?

[fabricalado]

I'd assume people buy ereaders because they want to be able to read ebooks, first and foremost. Maybe privacy's not an issue for some people, while for others it's still a thing. And it's fine, as long as no one's imposing their worldview on others, one could say.

Still, where is it written that I need to register my Kindle or Nook or whatever just because I bought it? By that same standard, couldn't we make the case that everyone who accesses a porn website has to provide a credit card number? Cause if you use a company's product or platform, that means you trust them?

And that'd be neither here nor there, I think.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fabricalado

I'd assume people buy ereaders because they want to be able to read ebooks, first and foremost. Maybe privacy's not an issue for some people, while for others it's still a thing. And it's fine, as long as no one's imposing their worldview on others, one could say.

Still, where is it written that I need to register my Kindle or Nook or whatever just because I bought it? By that same standard, couldn't we make the case that everyone who accesses a porn website has to provide a credit card number? Cause if you use a company's product or platform, that means you trust them?

And that'd be neither here nor there, I think.

If you don't trust the company enough to register, why not buy a Reader from another company that you do trust more? There is Kobo, Tolino, Amazon, Pocketbook, Onyx, Likebook, and B&N (there are others but those are the most well known brands). If you cannot find one where you trust the company enough, then forget buying.

[fabricalado]

Sure, but how would that work for banks or mobile carriers? And I'm agreeing with you here; at some point, it's easier to go in, paranoic warts and all. Still, does that mean you trust them 100% not to charge you something they shouldn't?

Also, some of the privacy-friendly alternatives - whatever that is - may require a level of tech literacy that might alienate people. For instance, I have an InkPad X for comics, which is not the most friendly UX, but which I'm fine with.

Again, I see your point, but still think there might be other valid reasons not to register aside from the paranoia.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you don't trust the company enough to register, why not buy a Reader from another company that you do trust more? There is Kobo, Tolino, Amazon, Pocketbook, Onyx, Likebook, and B&N (there are others but those are the most well known brands). If you cannot find one where you trust the company enough, then forget buying.

What is with the obsession over whether other people register their readers?

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by fabricalado

I see your point, but still think there might be other valid reasons not to register aside from the paranoia.

I go further and think that no reason at all is needed to not register. (My kindles are registered and my kobo, onyx, pocketbook, and iriver story hd are not and I do not feel or see any need to justify either registration state.)

[JSWolf]

In some cases, if you don't register, you lose features or it just won't work until registered. So you have to see what you can or cannot do and then decide what's the right thing to do. If you buy eBooks from Kobo or Amazon, you have to give them your information so why not register as they have your info anyway.

I am curious of the reason(s) not to register if it's nothing to do with paranoia/privacy issues.

[fabricalado]

For me, with the Kindle, it's not liking the idea that my ebooks are tied to a particular device. I switched to a Kobo after moving to Canada, so, freedom to move files between devices is something I value.

Also, whenever possible, I'd rather pay the publisher directly to help them, since Amazon takes a cut of every sale through their platform. For instance, Verso Books sells mobi and epub digital versions of their ebooks.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by fabricalado

For me, with the Kindle, it's not liking the idea that my ebooks are tied to a particular device. I switched to a Kobo after moving to Canada, so, freedom to move files between devices is something I value.

Also, whenever possible, I'd rather pay the publisher directly to help them, since Amazon takes a cut of every sale through their platform. For instance, Verso Books sells mobi and epub digital versions of their ebooks.

I don't get it, how is registration related to sideloading your ebooks? My Kindles are registered, but all ebooks on them are sideloaded and not tied to Amazon in any way.

[fabricalado]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I don't get it, how is registration related to sideloading your ebooks? My Kindles are registered, but all ebooks on them are sideloaded and not tied to Amazon in any way.

You're right, it's not related. Still, it takes a bit of legwork to migrate your library if you're registering and buying from these platforms (I remember having to downgrade my ADE, installing Calibre add-ons etc).

Speaking of that: it's been a while since I did that, but last time I checked Amazon was making it harder to de-DRM stuff bought from them? If so, that'd be another reason for me not to want to register (if I were a newcomer to ereaders).

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by fabricalado

You're right, it's not related. Still, it takes a bit of legwork to migrate your library if you're registering and buying from these platforms (I remember having to downgrade my ADE, installing Calibre add-ons etc).

Speaking of that: it's been a while since I did that, but last time I checked Amazon was making it harder to de-DRM stuff bought from them? If so, that'd be another reason for me not to want to register (if I were a newcomer to ereaders).

Yes, it's harder to de-DRM Kindle books, but not impossible, at least not yet.

Still, registering one's ereader doesn't force one to buy from the built-in store. I buy my ebooks from many different stores and read them on any of my ereaders, depending on which of them I'm using at the moment. All my readers are registered, but I don't have to buy from Amazon, B&N or Kobo, unless I want to. Of course I've been using Calibre and the relevant plugins from the start. In fact, I would never have bought a single ebook at all if Calibre and Apprentice Alf didn't exist. Registering or not registering is not related to the DRM issue at all, in my opinion.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yes, it's harder to de-DRM Kindle books, but not impossible, at least not yet.

It's no harder to remove the DRM from Mobi or KF8 eBooks then it is with ePub eBooks.

If you have a Kindle, you just download the eBooks direct from Amazon and you get KF8 or Mobi.

Still, registering one's ereader doesn't force one to buy from the built-in store. I buy my ebooks from many different stores and read them on any of my ereaders, depending on which of them I'm using at the moment. All my readers are registered, but I don't have to buy from Amazon, B&N or Kobo, unless I want to. Of course I've been using Calibre and the relevant plugins from the start. In fact, I would never have bought a single ebook at all if Calibre and Apprentice Alf didn't exist. Registering or not registering is not related to the DRM issue at all, in my opinion.

And don't forget library eBooks from Overdrive. If @fabricalado is in the US, he won't be able to borrow Kindle eBooks from Overdrive.

I also buy eBooks form different places. Kobo, eBooks.com, Amazon, Google, Smashwords, and others. I have no problem reading these eBooks with my Kobo.