eBook Converter -- any good?

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Bear in mind, just saying that it's easy to remove DRM doesn't actually make it so. A lot of people just can't handle python scripts, period, so things like this program are attractive.

I mean, yeah, of course people who run Linux can figure this out. But the average person can't.

Heck, I used to be a whiz at dos commands, writing batch files and config.syses for computers. But python leaves me puzzled...

I am definitely an average person when it comes to computer skills, I don't know anything about Linux, my eyes glaze over at tech talk, but I managed to find the proper scripts and instructions and accomplish the task, pretty much by Googling. Some of the instructions seemed to be written for techies, but eventually I found clear step by step guides. And it's only the initial setup that can be confusing, after that it's easy.

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by iandix

Yes I also have heard about these calibre plugins, that make stripping DRM all so simple. I was told that all you need to do is load the book into calibre and it strips the DRM as it loads ..how easy is that ...

but stripping DRM is WRONG! and I would never do that myself...

So do NOT google "Apprentice Alf's Blog" and then do NOT go to that site to find links to download the tools needed to do strip DRM from within calibre.

stripping DRM for your own use is W-R-O-N-G!!

Not so many years ago teaching slaves to read was W-R-O-N-G in the slave states of the US, and was severely punished. I'm afraid I don't find your statement convincing.

Regards, Alex

[Superlucky]

Lots of folks around here don't speak subversion or irony.

[iandix]

yes it appears that irony is lost on some people ...

oh well...

[Superlucky]

Originally Posted by iandix

yes it appears that irony is lost on some people...

I just noticed your avatar. Now that is just sad.

It's legal to serve a person alcohol who is under 21 here as long as they are with a parent. I waited tables when I was in college at a restaurant that had a rule that even though it was the law, the restaurant policy was that no minors were to be served, ever. Sometimes a parent and underage child would come in and order drinks. I would say, "I'm not allowed to bring your son a beer, but I'd be happy to bring you two." I almost always got "I don't want two beers! I want one for me and one for my boy, damn it!" *sigh*

[lene1949]

Originally Posted by KenJackson

That's very high praise for Linux users. Thank you.

However, it might do the subtle disservice of suggesting that Linux requires great intelligence or education to use. It doesn't.

For example, Ubuntu Linux (the most popular distro of Linux right now) loudly proclaims, Ubuntu is easy
to use. I use Fedora Linux, which I find easier to use than Windows.

This is why this forum is so time consuming... I now looked a Linux for several hours, including the forum... Why can't I just leave things alone..

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by lene1949

This is why this forum is so time consuming... I now looked a Linux for several hours, including the forum... Why can't I just leave things alone..

Please forgive the advocacy, but I saw this line on the often-referenced Apprentice Alf's Blog.

Installing these scripts is a little more complex that the ... decryption tools, as they require installation of the PyCrypto package.

On Fedora Linux I would first type this command to find the name of the package:
yum search pycrypto
(it's named python-crypto) and this command as root to install it:
yum install python-crypto

Easy! But I don't know how you would do that on Windows. That goes to my point that Linux is easier than Windows.

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by KenJackson

Please forgive the advocacy, but I saw this line on the often-referenced Apprentice Alf's Blog.
On Fedora Linux I would first type this command to find the name of the package:
yum search pycrypto
(it's named python-crypto) and this command as root to install it:
yum install python-crypto

Easy! But I don't know how you would do that on Windows. That goes to my point that Linux is easier than Windows.

that is for using the scripts for calibre you just have to put the plugins in calibre plugins folder.

[jbcohen]

Catlady, don't worry about Linux its what we call an operating system or OS for short. That probably doesn't mean much intil I say that Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 2000 are all OSs.

[kcmay]

Originally Posted by KenJackson

Apparently you are saying it is morally wrong to strip the DRM of a book you paid for and only using yourself.

That's wrong.

That's no more morally wrong than it is to do your own car maintenance and use generic replacement parts.

As an author, I agree with this. I'd hate to know that someone who bought my books couldn't read them on his/her chosen reader. Violating copyright laws is wrong. DRM is merely an attempt (however lame) to uphold those laws.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Catlady, don't worry about Linux its what we call an operating system or OS for short. That probably doesn't mean much intil I say that Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 2000 are all OSs.

Oh, I do know what Linux is, but that's really all I know about it! Don't know any of the ins and outs of it, or why people prefer it--I'm strictly a Windows gal--I even liked Vista!

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by KenJackson

Please forgive the advocacy, but I saw this line on the often-referenced Apprentice Alf's Blog.
On Fedora Linux I would first type this command to find the name of the package:
yum search pycrypto
(it's named python-crypto) and this command as root to install it:
yum install python-crypto

Easy! But I don't know how you would do that on Windows. That goes to my point that Linux is easier than Windows.

You Google it and find the download, and install it. No prob. No typing in of commands.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Or ... just buy a Nook. For $149 you get a purdy e-ink screen and a back-up for your Sony and a legal way to buy and enjoy your B&N purchases. And no need to break the law stripping DRM ... something I would have thought someone in the industry might choose to avoid.

I had hoped when B&N released the nook that it woudl be worth replacing my Sony with it, but I have yet to find it worthwhile. In fact, I just bought a Sony 950 and couldn't be happier. B&N's nook is great for some people, perhaps many people, but I didn't think it was worth the $250 B&N originally asked for it, and I'm not convinced that it is worth the $149 B&N currently wants for it -- FOR ME.

As for stripping the DRM, I am not convinced that it is a copyright violation if doing so is just so I can read it on my reader as opposed to them making it available to others (which would be a violation). I view it like ripping pages out of a pbook I bought.

[jeffcobb]

Originally Posted by iandix

Yes I also have heard about these calibre plugins, that make stripping DRM all so simple. I was told that all you need to do is load the book into calibre and it strips the DRM as it loads ..how easy is that ...

but stripping DRM is WRONG! and I would never do that myself...

So do NOT google "Apprentice Alf's Blog" and then do NOT go to that site to find links to download the tools needed to do strip DRM from within calibre.

stripping DRM for your own use is W-R-O-N-G!!

What an amusing statement. Is this to intimate that if stripping DRM for your own use is wrong, stripping it for someone *elses* use is OK? Honestly if you really did mean that stripping DRM on something you bought was wrong, in what way does it benefit anyone to leave it there? Does it make the book last longer? No. Does it make the book work better on the ereader? No. Not sure what the point it is. DRM is the *first* thing to go when I buy something.

[jeffcobb]

Originally Posted by Catlady

You Google it and find the download, and install it. No prob. No typing in of commands.

Actually I think it is funny to hear that, like there is something wrong with typing something to a computer to tell it to do something. Leaving aside the pedantics of binary, typing something to a computer to tell it to do something is not that different than order dinner in a French restaurant...in French. Or discussing something with a Karate instructor in Japanese. IOW there is nothing wrong with that and a whole lot right with it. Is it for everyone? No of course not but there is indeed nothing wrong with typing something to a computer to tell it to do something. People who look at it like it is some kind of exotic skill are the ones who are funny...to me, having to click on things to get a computer is about as non-intuitive as one can get. To apply this to the French restaurant, it would be like grunting and pointing at things on the menu as if you could not read it...