The Reading Vent & Rant Thread - Page 44

Sirtel · 10-03-2022, 08:28 PM

I have no idea whether any ebooks I've bought from various stores (Kobo, Amazon, Google Play and so on) have become unavailable after I bought them. I've never checked. I download, deDRM and back up every ebook purchase immediately after purchasing and that's it. I have no time or wish to check their availability after that. Why would one even want to do it? Especially if you have thousands of ebook purchases scattered over several stores, going back more than 10 years? I'm pretty sure there are many among them no longer available, but as I said, I've never felt like checking.

And several of the stores I've bought ebooks from are no longer in business (Diesel, BooksOnBoard, AllRomance and a few others). I still have the ebooks I bought from them.

Sirtel · 10-03-2022, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Thanks to Kindle Unlimited forcing exclusivity, I've had several of my wishlist items get pulled off Kobo with the dreaded "Item has changed" message on the wishlist.

Why not buy them from Amazon then?

ownedbycats · 10-03-2022, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Why not buy them from Amazon then?

Doesn't take PayPal. Transferring survey funds to my bank account just to use my debit card is more annoying.

HLS · 10-03-2022, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I have no idea whether any ebooks I've bought from various stores (Kobo, Amazon, Google Play and so on) have become unavailable after I bought them. I've never checked. I download, deDRM and back up every ebook purchase immediately after purchasing and that's it. I have no time or wish to check their availability after that. Why would one even want to do it? Especially if you have thousands of ebook purchases scattered over several stores, going back more than 10 years? I'm pretty sure there are many among them no longer available, but as I said, I've never felt like checking.

And several of the stores I've bought ebooks from are no longer in business (Diesel, BooksOnBoard, AllRomance and a few others). I still have the ebooks I bought from them.

I have several books no longer available for sale but I can still download them from the cloud since they were at one time purchased

Aleron Ives · 10-03-2022, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Happened to me with paper books all the time. They constantly went out of print and I had to hunt for an used copy (difficult to do from another country) or just drop the intention to read that specific book.

That's not the same thing. Physical goods can be discontinued at any time, and if you didn't buy them when you had the chance, then that's on you.

I'm talking about an item I already bought, that the e-book vendor has the power to remove from my library due to various publishing agreements expiring. If you can take away something that I bought, then I didn't actually buy it. It was just a glorified rental, and either I failed to read the fine print that told me it was a glorified rental, or the company violated the contract we made when I purchased the item.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I have a few Kobo books no longer available. They appear in My Books and are still downloadable on both devices and website.

That's good to know. Hopefully the same will be true for me. I suppose Kobo couldn't get away with removing the e-book entirely, because European regulators wouldn't let that stand.

Sirtel · 10-03-2022, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

That's not the same thing. Physical goods can be discontinued at any time, and if you didn't buy them when you had the chance, then that's on you.

I'm talking about an item I already bought, that the e-book vendor has the power to remove from my library due to various publishing agreements expiring. If you can take away something that I bought, then I didn't actually buy it. It was just a glorified rental, and either I failed to read the fine print that told me it was a glorified rental, or the company violated the contract we made when I purchased the item.

That's good to know. Hopefully the same will be true for me. I suppose Kobo couldn't get away with removing the e-book entirely, because European regulators wouldn't let that stand.

As far as I'm concerned, I never count on any outside person, business or force to back up my purchases, European regulations or not. If I don't do it myself, then I won't consider it done at all.

And yes, ebooks are licensed, not sold. If you want to accept that, it's on you.

I never have.

Aleron Ives · 10-03-2022, 10:58 PM

I agree. It's the same reason I still buy CDs and DVDs. I'm not relying on these companies to safeguard my purchases. That's on me, and I reject the streaming model of glorified rentals.

Sirtel · 10-03-2022, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

I agree. It's the same reason I still buy CDs and DVDs. I'm not relying on these companies to safeguard my purchases. That's on me, and I reject the streaming model of glorified rentals.

I find streaming services fine for most movies and TV series I watch, as I'm not likely to re-watch the majority of them. And it's a lot cheaper than to buy physical copies of each of them. But yeah, for those I feel I will want to rewatch in the future, I'll make sure I have a personal copy.

It's basically the same as using a library. Fine for one-time-reads, but for rereads, a purchase is better (if you back it up, of course). There are people who never reread, and they aren't probably interested in DRM removal and back-up. I reread a lot, though. My memory isn't all that good.

Aleron Ives · 10-03-2022, 11:16 PM

Yes, for people who watch/listen to things only once and have eclectic tastes, streaming can be a good deal.

Thasaidon · 10-04-2022, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I reread a lot, though. My memory isn't all that good.

Interesting. I also reread a lot and have an excellent memory about books I have read. I just enjoy reading books I have enjoyed in the past a second, third....umteenth time.

Sirtel · 10-04-2022, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thasaidon

Interesting. I also reread a lot and have an excellent memory about books I have read. I just enjoy reading books I have enjoyed in the past a second, third....umteenth time.

Well, if I have read them the umpteenth time, then I'll remember everything as well.

And yeah, there are a few such books. Not after I've read them the first time, though. At least not in a few years.

Apache · 10-04-2022, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thasaidon

Interesting. I also reread a lot and have an excellent memory about books I have read. I just enjoy reading books I have enjoyed in the past a second, third....umteenth time.

I love rereading a good book.
Apache

Apache · 10-04-2022, 07:15 PM

Some people love watching movies over and over, I prefer books.
Apache

ownedbycats · 10-07-2022, 11:22 PM

Reading a sci-fi novel and noticed the author kept referring to 'sentients' -- seeing as there were multiple alien species, I didn't think too much of it (though I'm pedantic enough to think it should been 'sapients'). But then I saw the word 'sentientarian.' Ouch.

Aleron Ives · 10-07-2022, 11:37 PM

How old is the book? There was a time when the prevailing wisdom said that only humans were sentient.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The Technology Vent and Rant Thread	pdurrant	Lounge	3019	Today 06:21 AM
The Vent and Rant Thread	TadW	Lounge	38344	Today 12:54 AM
Query about moderation in the Vent & Rant Thread.	Hitch	Feedback	14	07-16-2016 05:05 PM
Seriously thoughtful why did the vent and rant thread get moved?	kindlekitten	Lounge	10	04-05-2011 04:47 PM

10-03-2022, 08:28 PM	#646
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,530 Karma: 240526511 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I have no idea whether any ebooks I've bought from various stores (Kobo, Amazon, Google Play and so on) have become unavailable after I bought them. I've never checked. I download, deDRM and back up every ebook purchase immediately after purchasing and that's it. I have no time or wish to check their availability after that. Why would one even want to do it? Especially if you have thousands of ebook purchases scattered over several stores, going back more than 10 years? I'm pretty sure there are many among them no longer available, but as I said, I've never felt like checking. And several of the stores I've bought ebooks from are no longer in business (Diesel, BooksOnBoard, AllRomance and a few others). I still have the ebooks I bought from them.

10-03-2022, 10:58 PM	#652
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,689 Karma: 16307824 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	I agree. It's the same reason I still buy CDs and DVDs. I'm not relying on these companies to safeguard my purchases. That's on me, and I reject the streaming model of glorified rentals.

10-03-2022, 11:16 PM	#654
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,689 Karma: 16307824 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Yes, for people who watch/listen to things only once and have eclectic tastes, streaming can be a good deal.

10-04-2022, 07:15 PM	#658
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,279 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Some people love watching movies over and over, I prefer books. Apache

10-07-2022, 11:22 PM	#659
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,018 Karma: 75555555 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Reading a sci-fi novel and noticed the author kept referring to 'sentients' -- seeing as there were multiple alien species, I didn't think too much of it (though I'm pedantic enough to think it should been 'sapients'). But then I saw the word 'sentientarian.' Ouch.

10-07-2022, 11:37 PM	#660
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,689 Karma: 16307824 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	How old is the book? There was a time when the prevailing wisdom said that only humans were sentient.