Amazon is testing “Kindle Unlimited,” an ebook subscription service for $9.99/month

[jhempel24]

Originally Posted by shalym

Can't you hook your Kindle to your computer using USB and then pull the book off of it that way? Why do you need Kindle for PC?

Shari

No, it uses something embedded in the file of Kindle for PC to strip the DRM.

I tried to do that with The Lost Town when I got an ARC because the cover they had was an ARC cover because the original hadn't been finalized yet, and I thought it was ugly so I was going to change it when the official cover was released.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by jhempel24

No, it uses something embedded in the file of Kindle for PC to strip the DRM.

No, unless something's changed it works with eInk Kindle's too (using the s/n), of course we can't discuss specifics here. Many just find using K4PC an easier workflow.

[tomsem]

If you just want to keep track of books that you have read from KU and have returned, and retain easy ability to borrow in the future (assuming it is still in KU then), create an Amazon wish list for this purpose and add the book to that ("KU books" or whatever). Wish Lists are accessible in the Kindle Store interface on Kindles and Fires, and from any web browser. Using a browser you can set 'priority' and add notes as well.

[tomsem]

Personally, $9.95/mo is less than I usually spend on the various Deals, which are usually composed almost entirely of books that are now in KU. I only get around to reading a fraction of them in the end. Now I can more or less ignore Deals, avoid cluttering my library with them, and spending too much time deciding whether or not to buy them. Even if they later disappear from KU, in general they are not expensive to purchase should it come to that, and if I'm still interested of course.

Plus even though KOLL books are 'free' it is at the cost of some not inconsiderable inconvenience (having to use a web browser to return before the month is up to be eligible for a free book in the next, having to borrow on your Kindle). KOLL books don't work with Kindle apps, which I use frequently.

[eschwartz]

There is no inconvenience with KOLL -- you can return them directly from your Kindle device as well. Simply try to check out a new book, and it will ask to confirm that you are returning the old one.

[tubemonkey]

Amazon should add a yearly plan to KU for $99.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon should add a yearly plan to KU for $99.

Why would they do that, when they can get $119.88 out of that same person the way it is now?

[twowheels]

To discourage exactly what people are discussing here. Encouraging people to pay up front so that they feel somewhat obligated to use the service and stay 'in the program'.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why would they do that, when they can get $119.88 out of that same person the way it is now?

See below. Audible does this, so why not Kindle?

Originally Posted by twowheels

To discourage exactly what people are discussing here. Encouraging people to pay up front so that they feel somewhat obligated to use the service and stay 'in the program'.

[HarryT]

You really think that someone who's willing to game the system would be likely to pay for a year, if they only I tend to join for one month in three, or whatever?

[MumblingFumbler]

I think any strategy that 'raises red flags' based on book turnover is going be a very tough one to implement, for some of the following reasons:

1) I like to browse. I check out a book, it stinks, and I return it right away.
2) I'm doing research, and I just need access to a passage in a book. I
read/quote/cite the passage, and return the book right away.
3) I'm fixing my toilet (or pruning my fruit tree, or cooking a recipe, or whatever). I have no intention of reading the whole book. I just get the information I need, and return the book right away.

There are many other cases like this. Its going to be very difficult to separate these cases from those where the reader is up to no good.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by MumblingFumbler

I think any strategy that 'raises red flags' based on book turnover is going be a very tough one to implement, for some of the following reasons:

Do you expect that those would be the majority usage for somebody who is using the program "as designed"? I suspect that people who are doing those things in good faith would also tend to have a few titles (the majority?) out for longer periods that indicate that they're being read in real time.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You really think that someone who's willing to game the system would be likely to pay for a year, if they only I tend to join for one month in three, or whatever?

If it becomes a problem, I see Amazon instituting a provision that only allows 2 cancellations per rolling 12 month period.

Prime will never go monthly, because people will definitely abuse it by only signing up for the holidays (Nov-Dec) and then cancelling.

[CRussel]

Well, I signed up BECAUSE I knew it was month to month. I'll give it a try this month, maybe for one more after. But then they're going to have to improve the quality of the books available or I'm out of it. Well, I'll probably stay until my Audible credits are all logged in. But then? I'm out if it isn't better than current list.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

If it becomes a problem, I see Amazon instituting a provision that only allows 2 cancellations per rolling 12 month period.

Prime will never go monthly, because people will definitely abuse it by only signing up for the holidays (Nov-Dec) and then cancelling.

If you recall, Prime DID go monthly, for a brief period of time. I am guessing it was a test and that they weren't satisfied with the results because it didn't last. However, those who signed up for the monthly plan were able to keep it. I still have it.