Your favorite epub vendor? - Page 2

GeoffR · 10-15-2014, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Yes, there are workarounds... there are almost always workarounds.
KEPUBs can be downloaded via the desktop program and imported with a magic plugin (Nate has it somewhere) and B&N has greasemonkey scripts or Nook for PC (which many people have had problems with)... but the hassle...

For those without a Kindle device, all Amazon books have to be downloaded via the desktop and converted with a magic plugin. If that is a hassle, then with Kobo the hassle is only with 0.1% of books, whereas with Amazon the hassle is with 100% of books.

Apache · 10-15-2014, 04:47 PM

I have always been partial to Baen
Apache

j.p.s · 10-15-2014, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Maybe, but then I'm not posting the books to torrent files for others to download either. Instead I'm just converting them for my own use. I think that should make a difference. And I imagine that many book sellers (including Kobo) expect that at least some buyers will convert books once they have bought them from them.

My point is that if contract breach in and of itself is sufficient to demonize lending of a registered device with licensed content, then it is sufficient in and of itself to demonize DRM stripping.

If contract breach is not sufficient in and of itself to demonize DRM stripping then it is not sufficient to demonize lending a device and is irrelevant to discussing device lending and should be dropped from those discussions.

Contract breach either cuts both ways or it is a smokescreen put up by its invokers.

Illegal mass distribution of content is a completely separate issue from contract breach, especially since much of the so called contract breach is alleged or even completely fabricated.

eschwartz · 10-15-2014, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

For those without a Kindle device, all Amazon books have to be downloaded via the desktop and converted with a magic plugin. If that is a hassle, then with Kobo the hassle is only with 0.1% of books, whereas with Amazon the hassle is with 100% of books.

Amazon is highly consistent with that.

Kobo and B&N are changing the rules out from under people -- what used to work, doesn't.

It is not just "download to the desktop" that is a hassle. It is the fact that B&N has no decent option and the only option for KEPUB is not well known.

K4PC will automatically queue and download your new books if that is your only device, then calibre watches that folder and imports them. It is a well-known and extremely-easy-to-use pipeline.
I've never used Kobo, but can you set it up so all new purchases download to Kobo Desktop? If not, then good luck sorting through all your books to download the ones you need.

The KEPUB plugin is a recent development, and not bundled with the Apprentice Alf tools.
Nook still stinks, and I agree Kobo is better than that.

shalym · 10-15-2014, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

For those without a Kindle device, all Amazon books have to be downloaded via the desktop and converted with a magic plugin. If that is a hassle, then with Kobo the hassle is only with 0.1% of books, whereas with Amazon the hassle is with 100% of books.

Yes...but I can go to a second hand store and get a $5 used Kindle, register it, and never have to use the desktop app or the Kindle. With Kobo, the ones not available download as epub can't be downloaded at all unless you have the app, and with B&N, no books can be downloaded without the app.

Shari

eschwartz · 10-15-2014, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

Yes...but I can go to a second hand store and get a $5 used Kindle, register it, and never have to use the desktop app or the Kindle. With Kobo, the ones not available download as epub can't be downloaded at all unless you have the app, and with B&N, no books can be downloaded without the app.

Shari

+1 and you can even download from the browser via MYK.

And no linux users are left in the cold.

shalym · 10-15-2014, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

+1 and you can even download from the browser via MYK.

And no linux users are left in the cold.

...and I don't have to create an account with Adobe, or install their spyware.

Shari

Victoria · 10-15-2014, 05:22 PM

I have a kobo in addition to a kindle and tried to spread the business around. However, the kobo programs keep erasing my books - and leaving a virtual shell in place of the real file. So I have to redownload my books each time they update something.

This does not happen with the kindle updates. I think it is a thin excuse, and the real agenda is to force me into a corner of only renting vs buying. Fine - I've stopped buying from them.

Purple Lady · 10-15-2014, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I've never used Kobo, but can you set it up so all new purchases download to Kobo Desktop? If not, then good luck sorting through all your books to download the ones you need.

I think everything downloaded to the Kobo desktop is a kepub, not epub. You can turn them into epubs, but the formatting may be different. I had a book bought at Sony that was kepub only and the formatting was different between the two.

Purple Lady · 10-15-2014, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, not right. Download the book using "Nook for PC". You now have the ePub which can be converted.

There have been problems de-drming Nook books lately so I don't want to take a chance on them anymore. I requested a check for the Apple ebook settlement and won't buy from them anymore.

As others have said, Google is still good to buy from.

eschwartz · 10-15-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I think everything downloaded to the Kobo desktop is a kepub, not epub. You can turn them into epubs, but the formatting may be different. I had a book bought at Sony that was kepub only and the formatting was different between the two.

True.

But the question I was wondering is, can you even set it up with the same kind of automation that you can for K4PC?

Lemurion · 10-15-2014, 06:07 PM

All my favorite epub vendors (except Baen) are out of business now.

Purple Lady · 10-15-2014, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

True.

But the question I was wondering is, can you even set it up with the same kind of automation that you can for K4PC?

But if the formatting will be different would you want auto downloading?

eschwartz · 10-15-2014, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

But if the formatting will be different would you want auto downloading?

If someone really wants to read their purchased KEPUB... (which is the point of them downloading it in the first place)

Besides, the Modify EPUB plugin can repair a KEPUB and make a proper EPUB. Or so I'm told.

PurpleStar · 10-15-2014, 06:35 PM

Baen. DRM-Free and no desktop app needed.

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10-15-2014, 04:47 PM	#17
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I have always been partial to Baen Apache

10-15-2014, 05:22 PM	#23
Victoria Wizard Posts: 1,017 Karma: 19767610 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia Canada Device: ipad, Kindle PW, Kobo Clara; iphone 7	I have a kobo in addition to a kindle and tried to spread the business around. However, the kobo programs keep erasing my books - and leaving a virtual shell in place of the real file. So I have to redownload my books each time they update something. This does not happen with the kindle updates. I think it is a thin excuse, and the real agenda is to force me into a corner of only renting vs buying. Fine - I've stopped buying from them.

10-15-2014, 06:07 PM	#27
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	All my favorite epub vendors (except Baen) are out of business now.

10-15-2014, 06:35 PM	#30
PurpleStar Wizard Posts: 1,625 Karma: 11387182 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Clara BW, Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)	Baen. DRM-Free and no desktop app needed.