Where to buy - non-Amazon?

zakman · 02-18-2020, 06:06 PM

I have to buy a couple of ebooks (library doesn't have them) but I don't want to give any more money to Amazon if I can help it.

Looking for a legitimate retailer that will give me an actual ebook file that I can download and drop into Calibre. Any suggestions?

DNSB · 02-18-2020, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zakman

I have to buy a couple of ebooks (library doesn't have them) but I don't want to give any more money to Amazon if I can help it.

Looking for a legitimate retailer that will give me an actual ebook file that I can download and drop into Calibre. Any suggestions?

Hmmm... Kobo, Google, quite a few other ebook shops. For myself, I would also add Baen and Tor to the list.

Since you have no location listed, best I can do for now.

zakman · 02-18-2020, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmmm... Kobo, Google, quite a few other ebook shops. For myself, I would also add Baen and Tor to the list.

Since you have no location listed, best I can do for now.

Sorry, location is USA.

vikarti · 02-18-2020, 08:27 PM

Smashwords?

Quoth · 02-19-2020, 05:38 AM

Yes, Smashwords.
Support Kindle, Sony LRF, Palm and epub (Basically every current ereader that's not an Amazon Kindle). No DRM.

shalym · 02-19-2020, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmmm... Kobo, Google, quite a few other ebook shops. For myself, I would also add Baen and Tor to the list.

Since you have no location listed, best I can do for now.

Know that if the books have DRM, you will have to install Adobe Digital Editions for most of the epub books in order to use them in Calibre. If you buy from Kobo, you can install the Kobo app to your PC and use the OBOK plugin to import them into Calibre.

Shari

vikarti · 02-19-2020, 10:41 AM

Also, you could look at Pocketbook's bookland.com/eng (most of their english-language books are using Adobe's DRM and available in some other places).

ZodWallop · 02-19-2020, 11:27 AM

This conversation makes me miss the old B&N, where you could easily download books and they used what they called 'social DRM'. They were real competition to Amazon. Unfortunately, they arbitrarily changed their DRM scheme and downloading with no word beforehand.

JSWolf · 02-19-2020, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

Know that if the books have DRM, you will have to install Adobe Digital Editions for most of the epub books in order to use them in Calibre. If you buy from Kobo, you can install the Kobo app to your PC and use the OBOK plugin to import them into Calibre.

Shari

Um.. WRONG! You can download ePub from Kobo without the need to install Kobo Desktop.

To remove the DRM from ePub, go to https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com to download the DeDRM plugin for Calibre and to read about it and as question on how to use it.

I highly suggest you install ADE 2.0.1 if you are using Windows or a version of OS X that's not Catalina. https://www.adobe.com/support/digita...downloads.html

DNSB · 02-19-2020, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

Know that if the books have DRM, you will have to install Adobe Digital Editions for most of the epub books in order to use them in Calibre. If you buy from Kobo, you can install the Kobo app to your PC and use the OBOK plugin to import them into Calibre.

Shari

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Um.. WRONG! You can download ePub from Kobo without the need to install Kobo Desktop.

Out of a perhaps morbid curiosity, what is wrong about shalym's answer? An alternative to using ADE was pointed out. Are you stating that you can not use the Kobo Desktop application and OBOK to import books into calibre?

JSWolf · 02-19-2020, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Out of a perhaps morbid curiosity, what is wrong about shalym's answer? An alternative to using ADE was pointed out. Are you stating that you can not use the Kobo Desktop application and OBOK to import books into calibre?

OK, not wrong, but the most inefficient way to get eBooks from kobo for converting to a Kindle.

I read it as the only way to do it and that is not the best way to do it for conversion to a Kindle. Because if you go to OBOK way, you do need to have the Modify ePub plugin installed to remove the KePub code. KePub from Kobo does have some javascript. There are some who do not want JS in the eBook.

shalym · 02-19-2020, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

OK, not wrong, but the most inefficient way to get eBooks from kobo for converting to a Kindle.

I read it as the only way to do it and that is not the best way to do it for conversion to a Kindle. Because if you go to OBOK way, you do need to have the Modify ePub plugin installed to remove the KePub code. KePub from Kobo does have some javascript. There are some who do not want JS in the eBook.

I was actually mentioning it as an alternative to ADE for those of us who don't use that program. It's why I still buy books from Kobo.

Shari

JSWolf · 02-19-2020, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

I was actually mentioning it as an alternative to ADE for those of us who don't use that program. It's why I still buy books from Kobo.

Shari

But unless you know how to take the KePub and convert to to a plain ePub, it's not a good idea. Besides, it the OP is already buying ePub and using ADE, then going ePub from Kobo is the best way to do it as it means not having to install anymore software or plugins.

j.p.s · 02-19-2020, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But unless you know how to take the KePub and convert to to a plain ePub, it's not a good idea. Besides, it the OP is already buying ePub and using ADE, then going ePub from Kobo is the best way to do it as it means not having to install anymore software or plugins.

Many do not have ADE and do not want it. There is nothing wrong about pointing out alternatives to installing ADE. You are free to point out that introduces javascript and might necessitate additional conversions, but not to berate anyone that makes that choice.

shalym · 02-19-2020, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But unless you know how to take the KePub and convert to to a plain ePub, it's not a good idea. Besides, it the OP is already buying ePub and using ADE, then going ePub from Kobo is the best way to do it as it means not having to install anymore software or plugins.

Where did you get the idea that the OP was already buying epub and using ADE? I don't see any mention of that? This is the original post:

Quote:

Where to buy - non-Amazon?
I have to buy a couple of ebooks (library doesn't have them) but I don't want to give any more money to Amazon if I can help it.

Looking for a legitimate retailer that will give me an actual ebook file that I can download and drop into Calibre. Any suggestions?

Shari

02-18-2020, 06:06 PM	#1
zakman Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 2119794 Join Date: Jan 2016 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2019	Where to buy - non-Amazon? I have to buy a couple of ebooks (library doesn't have them) but I don't want to give any more money to Amazon if I can help it. Looking for a legitimate retailer that will give me an actual ebook file that I can download and drop into Calibre. Any suggestions?

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02-18-2020, 08:27 PM	#4
vikarti Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1004974 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Solar system, Earth Device: none	Smashwords?

02-19-2020, 05:38 AM	#5
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,016 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Yes, Smashwords. Support Kindle, Sony LRF, Palm and epub (Basically every current ereader that's not an Amazon Kindle). No DRM.

02-19-2020, 10:41 AM	#7
vikarti Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1004974 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Solar system, Earth Device: none	Also, you could look at Pocketbook's bookland.com/eng (most of their english-language books are using Adobe's DRM and available in some other places).

02-19-2020, 11:27 AM	#8
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,478 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	This conversation makes me miss the old B&N, where you could easily download books and they used what they called 'social DRM'. They were real competition to Amazon. Unfortunately, they arbitrarily changed their DRM scheme and downloading with no word beforehand.