DRM poll: How do you deal with it. - Page 3

bill_mchale · 10-27-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibbo

I have to vote for "other" cos I mostly buy DRM ebooks and also free ebooks from baen.com

Just a point, but I didn't intend to imply that buying DRM'd books was your exclusive method of buying books. Rather, I am interested in whether you do buy at least some books with DRM and if so, do you strip the DRM off of them or not.

--
Bill

pilotbob · 10-27-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

But if you loose you p-book collection it is just one collection that is lost. In the case of Amazon all peoples collections are lost. The reduction of happiness is much bigger in this case.

But, I download and back up all my Kindle ebooks anyway. So, if Amazon goes away I don't really loose anything. Also, if Amazon decides to stop storing the ebooks in your media libary... they will give advanced warning of that so people can d/l and archive their ebook files.

BOb

bbusybookworm · 10-27-2008, 01:05 PM

I voted for Buy DRM books and strip the DRM later, but it is not the complete answer.

As mentioned by others, I first always try to buy non DRM"d versions if availible, and try to support sites that do so.

When I do Buy DRM protected books, I do usually strip the DRM as while I buy Mobi books I also have a Sony Reader, and as such find it easy to convert it and a DRM free archive copy at the same time as while eBook may be cheaper, I do want to be able to access my content in the future on any device I might own.

But the bigger question that I face with eBooks is more often then not whether to get with DRM or not, it is whether or not it is available at all.

Unfortunately only a small fraction of books are available as eBooks and as such, even when you are willing to buy them they are not available. In contrast if you are willing Darktent versions are easily available

Publishers Wake up!!

Alisa · 10-27-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

But, I download and back up all my Kindle ebooks anyway. So, if Amazon goes away I don't really loose anything. Also, if Amazon decides to stop storing the ebooks in your media libary... they will give advanced warning of that so people can d/l and archive their ebook files.

BOb

Didn't they give people a year last time? Some folks like to make it sound like they just pulled the rug out. It's not an ideal situation to have DRM-servers go away ever, but if they're going to, I think a year is a reasonable amount of warning.

=X= · 10-27-2008, 01:15 PM

I voted Other. Although I mostly avoid DRM books by supporting DRM free publishers like BEAN and SteveJordan, I also read a lot of Non-Fiction where the content is important enough to tolerate DRM.

Oh and I have been reading tons of Public domain works that would have been financially impossible to afford without PG and MobiRead.

=X=

bill_mchale · 10-27-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

Didn't they give people a year last time? Some folks like to make it sound like they just pulled the rug out. It's not an ideal situation to have DRM-servers go away ever, but if they're going to, I think a year is a reasonable amount of warning.

The problem, as far as I am concerned, is that a year or even 5 years means that ultimately, you are unable to read books you have legally purchased. Sure you might be able to read them on your current reader, but what happens when it breaks? Sure you might have already read the book.. but what if you want to read it again later?

If you have bought DRM, the only way you can ultimately save the book is by adopting the questionable legal tactic of stripping the DRM from the book.

--
Bill

GntlmnBndt · 10-27-2008, 01:16 PM

Like most people, I avoid the issue when possible, finding lots of good stuff to read that does not have DRM. When the book I am looking for is only available with DRM, I stick to eReader, though I don't strip it. If I cannot get it in eReader, I usually get it in paper from my local library.

As for concerns about the servers, I do re-download when I change credit cards, so all my files are are keyed to the current card -- this may sound like a pain, but it has only come up once in seven years. If the server ever goes away for good, I just need to record the card I have at that time.

The Bandit

Alisa · 10-27-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

Unfortunately only a small fraction of books are available as eBooks and as such, even when you are willing to buy them they are not available. In contrast if you are willing Darktent versions are easily available

Publishers Wake up!!

A friend of mine at dinner last night was going on and on about how great Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey Maturin (Master and Commander) series is. Really made me want to check it out. After I got home I sat down at the computer and couldn't find a legal copy anywhere. This is apparently a very popular series from what I can tell. There was a even a major, and rather successful, film based on one of the books. That's usually enough to get publishers interested in something even if it's back catalog. You would think this would be available. Well, it is on the darknets. One Google search got a ton of hits for the entire collection. I don't know the reason Mr. O'Brian or his estate chose not to publish electronically but if they're worried about piracy, it's a bit late for that. At least if they released a legal copy they'd be getting some money. And some, last I checked, is better than none. DRM or DRM-free is a moot point if the only thing a potential customer finds when they try to buy your book is the illegal download.

Alisa · 10-27-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

The problem, as far as I am concerned, is that a year or even 5 years means that ultimately, you are unable to read books you have legally purchased. Sure you might be able to read them on your current reader, but what happens when it breaks? Sure you might have already read the book.. but what if you want to read it again later?

If you have bought DRM, the only way you can ultimately save the book is by adopting the questionable legal tactic of stripping the DRM from the book.

--
Bill

You're preaching to the choir. I'm very much anti-DRM but I'm also pro-accuracy.

GingerTez · 10-27-2008, 01:32 PM

Just voted for device specific DRM because if it's available for my device then I buy the device version.

However, on the rare occasions that the book I want isn't available in the DRM format for my device I will buy it and convert it.

Cheers,
Terry.

tompe · 10-27-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

But, I download and back up all my Kindle ebooks anyway. So, if Amazon goes away I don't really loose anything. Also, if Amazon decides to stop storing the ebooks in your media libary... they will give advanced warning of that so people can d/l and archive their ebook files.

But why then compare to loosing all your pbooks? I commented on that comparison which I thought was a faulty one for the reason I stated.

pdurrant · 10-27-2008, 04:57 PM

This is a problem, and hopefully will become less of a problem with time as more and more books become available. I have, on occasion, made my own eBook for a paper book I own. But I'd much rather pay the author & publisher for a nice eBook than spend my own time on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

But the bigger question that I face with eBooks is more often then not whether to get with DRM or not, it is whether or not it is available at all.

Unfortunately only a small fraction of books are available as eBooks and as such, even when you are willing to buy them they are not available. In contrast if you are willing Darktent versions are easily available

Publishers Wake up!!

montsnmags · 10-27-2008, 11:14 PM

I buy the books I want, DRM or no. I remove the DRM pretty much straight away (though, since almost all of my ebooks have been from MR's ebook vault, I've obviously not had to do that very often).

In regard to the "encouragement" of non-DRM, while I would normally feel no compunction against downloading a darknet ebook of a pbook I already own (but would only do so to re-read, or if I'd bought the pbook but wanted to read it on my Iliad), I did buy Clive James's Cultural Amnesia in ebook form, even though I had the pbook and had read it. I did so because I like it so much and I knew I'd get more out of it as an ebook (using it for easy-accessible reference, and inspiration for more purchases) than in it's pbook form, and because he/the publisher jumped in with it DRM-free. It wasn't a conscious decision to "encourage" non-DRM - more of a "Thank-you" note (plus, I'd been bitching about the lack of it in ebook form for a few months

).

Cheers,
Marc

Alisa · 10-28-2008, 01:26 AM

In my case, Mr. O'Brian's estate is likely going to lose out on me since I'm going to ask my friend to borrow a copy where if they had an ebook available, I'd buy it.

HappyMartin · 10-28-2008, 03:39 AM

I buy mobi drm books, no problem. Have yet to re read a single e book in the year I have been using this technology. Lost one reader and changed my pid at Fictionwise to the Cybook and it was no difficult task. i have become quite lazy and only buy and download mobi pocket books. DRM and otherwise. I have spent enough time reading limited books over and over. I don't need to do that anymore.

A movie costs me the same as a book and I dont expect to be able to walk in to any theater in the future and watch the movie again without paying. I am pretty sure that a lot of people will not agree with me on that but I just cannot work up enough energy to care about this issue.

The only type of DRM I would avoid is one that would give me a time limit in which to finish a book, like a library.

View Poll Results: What do yo do about DRM'd books
I don't buy books with DRM.	46	21.70%
I buy books with DRM but remove the DRM later.	103	48.58%
I buy books with less restrictive DRM like ereader only.	7	3.30%
I buy books with device specific DRM (like Mobi and Kindle) and stick to the DRM terms.	24	11.32%
Buy books? Everything I read comes from Project Gutenberg, Manybooks.net or Feedbooks; why would I buy books?	18	8.49%
Other.	14	6.60%
Voters: 212. You may not vote on this poll

10-27-2008, 01:15 PM	#35
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	I voted Other. Although I mostly avoid DRM books by supporting DRM free publishers like BEAN and SteveJordan, I also read a lot of Non-Fiction where the content is important enough to tolerate DRM. Oh and I have been reading tons of Public domain works that would have been financially impossible to afford without PG and MobiRead. =X= Last edited by =X=; 10-27-2008 at 01:28 PM. Reason: Corrected grammer to include Public domain

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10-27-2008, 01:05 PM	#33
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	I voted for Buy DRM books and strip the DRM later, but it is not the complete answer. As mentioned by others, I first always try to buy non DRM"d versions if availible, and try to support sites that do so. When I do Buy DRM protected books, I do usually strip the DRM as while I buy Mobi books I also have a Sony Reader, and as such find it easy to convert it and a DRM free archive copy at the same time as while eBook may be cheaper, I do want to be able to access my content in the future on any device I might own. But the bigger question that I face with eBooks is more often then not whether to get with DRM or not, it is whether or not it is available at all. Unfortunately only a small fraction of books are available as eBooks and as such, even when you are willing to buy them they are not available. In contrast if you are willing Darktent versions are easily available Publishers Wake up!!

10-27-2008, 01:16 PM	#37
GntlmnBndt Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 142 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: iPod Touch, iPad	Like most people, I avoid the issue when possible, finding lots of good stuff to read that does not have DRM. When the book I am looking for is only available with DRM, I stick to eReader, though I don't strip it. If I cannot get it in eReader, I usually get it in paper from my local library. As for concerns about the servers, I do re-download when I change credit cards, so all my files are are keyed to the current card -- this may sound like a pain, but it has only come up once in seven years. If the server ever goes away for good, I just need to record the card I have at that time. The Bandit

10-27-2008, 01:32 PM	#40
GingerTez Stroppy Ginger Scotsman Posts: 62 Karma: 284 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Altrincham, UK Device: Sony PRS-505	Just voted for device specific DRM because if it's available for my device then I buy the device version. However, on the rare occasions that the book I want isn't available in the DRM format for my device I will buy it and convert it. Cheers, Terry.

10-27-2008, 11:14 PM	#43
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I buy the books I want, DRM or no. I remove the DRM pretty much straight away (though, since almost all of my ebooks have been from MR's ebook vault, I've obviously not had to do that very often). In regard to the "encouragement" of non-DRM, while I would normally feel no compunction against downloading a darknet ebook of a pbook I already own (but would only do so to re-read, or if I'd bought the pbook but wanted to read it on my Iliad), I did buy Clive James's Cultural Amnesia in ebook form, even though I had the pbook and had read it. I did so because I like it so much and I knew I'd get more out of it as an ebook (using it for easy-accessible reference, and inspiration for more purchases) than in it's pbook form, and because he/the publisher jumped in with it DRM-free. It wasn't a conscious decision to "encourage" non-DRM - more of a "Thank-you" note (plus, I'd been bitching about the lack of it in ebook form for a few months ). Cheers, Marc

10-28-2008, 01:26 AM	#44
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	In my case, Mr. O'Brian's estate is likely going to lose out on me since I'm going to ask my friend to borrow a copy where if they had an ebook available, I'd buy it.

10-28-2008, 03:39 AM	#45
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	I buy mobi drm books, no problem. Have yet to re read a single e book in the year I have been using this technology. Lost one reader and changed my pid at Fictionwise to the Cybook and it was no difficult task. i have become quite lazy and only buy and download mobi pocket books. DRM and otherwise. I have spent enough time reading limited books over and over. I don't need to do that anymore. A movie costs me the same as a book and I dont expect to be able to walk in to any theater in the future and watch the movie again without paying. I am pretty sure that a lot of people will not agree with me on that but I just cannot work up enough energy to care about this issue. The only type of DRM I would avoid is one that would give me a time limit in which to finish a book, like a library.

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