Sorry Kindle, You're Not Invited

[Barbara1955]

No just Fancy LOL

[khalleron]

For those of you questioning why most ebook readers went to epub instead of mobi - it's because Amazon, the owner of mobi, would not allow any dedicated readers to support both DRM-mobi and any other DRM format.

They can support any number of DRM formats if they use epub - they can only support DRM-mobi if they choose to support mobi.

If you were an e-reader manufacturer, what would you do?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by khalleron

They can support any number of DRM formats if they use epub - they can only support DRM-mobi if they choose to support mobi.

If you were an e-reader manufacturer, what would you do?

Hmm. If that Mobi DRM means the current KINDLE drm, as in, can buy from ebooks direct from Amazon, the I'm surprised no other manufacture has jumped on the Amazon bandwagon. That would be quite a differentiator for some of these lesser-known readers.
If you mean the Mobipocket DRM, then yeah, I get you.
But how do you know these are Amazon's terms?

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Gwen Morse

Overdrive does not have the right to take *my* tax dollars and then limit the way I access library books.

I'm a tax-payer. I pay for the library. Overdrive does not pay for the library in my locality (Overdrive does not have offices in my neighborhood). *Yes*, they're providing a service, but that service does *not* give them the right to come between me and my library books. Overdrive does that for the benefit of the publishers, not for the benefit of the library patrons.

Agreed. And last time I checked, libraries and librarians are in the business of encouraging reading. Not discouraging it. I've known and lived with librarians over the years, and I never met one who didn't want everyone to be able to read more. DRM is not there because the libraries want it or care about it. It is there purelyfor the interests of the publisher.

[iandix]

how is it in the interest of Publishers?? if they didn't want people to borrow books then they would not have epub in libraries. They often use libraries to promote new authors. Overdrive also has mobi books available, but Amazon is the one that changed their system to make it harder to borrow books not Overdrive not the libraries ... but Amazon they are the ones that really don't want you to borrow books from libraries.

I understand, it easy for people to slam publishers and see them as the big bad guy, but I always find it interesting how Amazon fans ignore or even come up with weak excuses to explain why Amazon has done something... If Amazon was the only game in town (like the fan boys all seem to want) then we would not have any ebooks in Libraries.

I will not bother debating with people who's whole argument is .. I want something ..so I take it .. I don't bother with laws or ethics ..I just want so I take!!

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by ApK

Hmm. If that Mobi DRM means the current KINDLE drm, as in, can buy from ebooks direct from Amazon, the I'm surprised no other manufacture has jumped on the Amazon bandwagon. That would be quite a differentiator for some of these lesser-known readers.
If you mean the Mobipocket DRM, then yeah, I get you.
But how do you know these are Amazon's terms?

It's Mobipocket DRM.

Amazon won't let any other dedicated readers support Kindle DRM - and there's absolutely no point having a reader that only supports the old MOBI DRM. Old-style MOBI DRM would be great as a secondary format - but not the only DRM format.

[Lemurion]

As for the issue about it being taxpayers' money so they shouldn't limit access that way: consider this situation.

Back in the 80's, libraries started offering videotapes. However, if the library only offered something on VHS and you had a Betamax, you were out of luck. It's not about some attempt to infringe on your rights, it's about the libraries spending their budget on what they can get.

Amazon doesn't support libraries: so the libraries get their eBooks from companies that do.

[elcreative]

Ask them and they'll tell you... they don't hide there ToC of doing business, just bury it beneath many layers of menus...

Originally Posted by ApK

Hmm. If that Mobi DRM means the current KINDLE drm, as in, can buy from ebooks direct from Amazon, the I'm surprised no other manufacture has jumped on the Amazon bandwagon. That would be quite a differentiator for some of these lesser-known readers.
If you mean the Mobipocket DRM, then yeah, I get you.
But how do you know these are Amazon's terms?

[Barbara1955]

I wondering IF buying a Tablet would be the way to go. Then you can download all the places to buy ebooks from you want. Without worrying about the DRM. What do you folks think?

[FF2]

Originally Posted by Katie1

I wondering IF buying a Tablet would be the way to go. Then you can download all the places to buy ebooks from you want. Without worrying about the DRM. What do you folks think?

All of these choices involve tradeoffs. Yes, you can install apps on a tablet that allow you to read most/many/all formats of books. They generally cost more. Some folks find the backlit screens harder or tiring to read. Battery life is much shorter and they are generally quite a bit heavier than e-readers. Very multi-purpose - can more easily browse, check email, show pictures or movies.

E-readers are generally designed to read one format of drm although as has been discussed there are ways around that. Battery life ranges to weeks instead of about 8 hours. Much lighter to hold. Easier on the eyes.

Some folks like that ereaders also limit their urge or ability to stray from actually reading.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

This is a mistake many make. It looks complicated... it sounds complicated. But it's not. It used to be, yes. Of course, it may still be beyond some people's technical skills (I'm not denying it), but if you can manage to download/install Calibre, unzip a file, browse to a specific folder (with a standard GUI dialogue box), and click an OK button... then stripping the DRM from books is not above your pay-grade. Those requirements will certainly still leave some people out in the cold, but nobody will ever convince me that they represent a very significant portion of the ebook purchasing public.

As compared to:
Find book you are interested on Amazon site
Click 'Buy now with 1-click' (or the equivalent on the Kindle itself)
Have book magically appear on your Kindle (iPad/Xoom/etc...)

A major design point of the Kindle is that you never need to use a PC at all. It is a standalone piece of kit that has no reliance on other software or hardware. This makes it 'friendly' and accessibly to a large part of the population who have at least no interest and at most positive fear of computers.
They have never had to install Calibre or mess with ADE of worry about where the books are stored on the computer, it just works. (The hallmark of a good user experience)

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

once more with feeling;


you can read library books on the Kindle!!!!

In exactly the same way that you can read Kindle books on the Sony/Nook/Kobo!!!!

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

As compared to:
Find book you are interested on Amazon site
Click 'Buy now with 1-click' (or the equivalent on the Kindle itself)
Have book magically appear on your Kindle (iPad/Xoom/etc...)

A major design point of the Kindle is that you never need to use a PC at all. It is a standalone piece of kit that has no reliance on other software or hardware. This make it 'friendly' and accessibly to a large part of the population who have at least no interest and at most positive fear of computers.

That particular subset of people you're describing wouldn't be trying to remove DRM (or possibly even know about DRM)... you're just choosing to be obtuse. Of course someone who doesn't like/want/know how to use a PC is going to have trouble with DRM removing scripts/plugins. There's no way around that. I don't think I ever suggested otherwise. But for those who already know their way around some standard gui file manipulation (like I specified)--yes, it's a piece of cake... slice of pie... can of corn.

[mldavis2]

Use of DRM-removal software involves at least one level of computer competence above the basic 'turn it on and click' user. I suspect most people who are serious readers are not computer savvy enough to want to try messing around with scripts and plug-in installation. Yes, a few of us can read library books on our Kindles, but not most.

It's back to the same question of adequacy of the device to the task. What you 'can' do and what you might 'want' to do with your device may differ. Personally, I'd buy an inexpensive second eReader if I really intended to rent library books. But I'm not worrying about doing that, I'll just return to the old fashioned way and read the pBook. There are virtually no books out there that I want to read that are not in pBook format...yet. By the time there are, my K3 will be obsolete or worn out and it won't be a theoretical issue.

(I think we need an emoticon for eBooks not just pBooks. )

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Katie1

I wondering IF buying a Tablet would be the way to go. Then you can download all the places to buy ebooks from you want. Without worrying about the DRM. What do you folks think?

I have all of the major book apps (Kindle, Nook, Kobo, OverDrive, Sony, etc) loaded on my Nook Color, iPod touch, netbook and desktop. Though I rarely read from these devices, my options are wide open allowing me to read any format available without having to convert.

Still, my preferred reading device is my Kindle.