Amazon and DRM changes

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

DRM removal for some can be a one-time setup.

Even when Amazon changes the DRM (as they have - hence the thread and new instructions)?

[John F]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

You're moving the goalposts. You went from "one time setup" to "not that much of a hassle."

How much of a hassle it is (or isn't) is of no concern to me. I merely thought it ironic that you were claiming "one time setup" in a thread that was created clearly because it's not a one time setup. That is all.

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

You're moving the goalposts. You went from "one time setup" to "not that much of a hassle."

How much of a hassle it is (or isn't) is of no concern to me. I merely thought it ironic that you were claiming "one time setup" in a thread that was created clearly because it's not a one time setup. That is all.

And I find it fasinating you need to nitpick about simple one time setups. If something changes, or something is new, I expect to do a setup, hopefully one time.

It seems ironic that you have no concern about how much of a hassle it is/isn't, and yet you were surprised that people were going through "great lengths ..."?

And it seems a little disengenuous to post that one is surprised, when there are many posts, going back many years, about people using multiple ecosystems and stripping DRM and why they do it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Can you give a few examples of a device other than Amazon's that are tied to a store's format. As an example, ePub is not tied to a store so that eliminates epub capable ereaders. Ecosystem might be arguable though I tend to find that quite a few of the people I've talked to who use ereaders that read ePub ebooks tend to purchase from multiple sources.

I do and have purchased from multiple eBookstores when purchasing ePub. I've used stores no longer in business and I use Kobo, eBooks.com, and Google.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Even if you are not converting the format, removing DRM helps to protect you from the DRM servers being shut down. When Microsoft shut down the DRM servers for the .lit format ebooks, ConvertLit saved my collections of .lit ebooks from becoming a waste of storage space.

It's because of ConvertLit that I bought my first Sony Reader.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I meant format as in EPUB vs Kindlebook. And yes, I meant Kobo ecosystem/store vs other ecosystems/stores. In other words ... it's surprising to me (and apparently issybird) that so many people would buy books from Amazon to read on a device that a) doesn't support KindleBooks natively and b) has its own integrated store with which to buy books that don't need to be diddled and converted first.

Some buy based on price as long as they can remove any DRM and convert to the format their device uses. Others buy from Amazon because the eBooks they want to read are not available at any other store.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Even when Amazon changes the DRM (as they have - hence the thread and new instructions)?

The DRM for KF8 has not changed. And for KFX, it's a no-time setup as it can't be done.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by John F

If something changes, or something is new, I expect to do a setup, hopefully one time.

Which by definition would actually be one MORE time. You can't win here, John. DRM removal (whether simple or complicated) has never been a one time setup. That's why there's been new versions of The Tools, and why this thread exists.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Which by definition would actually be one MORE time. You can't win here, John. DRM removal (whether simple or complicated) has never been a one time setup. That's why there's been new versions of The Tools, and why this thread exists.

Newer versions have existed because of changes in Calibre and fixes. Yes, newer versions have existed because of DRM and newer versions of some programs. But not always is DeDRM updated just because of DRM.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Which by definition would actually be one MORE time. You can't win here, John. DRM removal (whether simple or complicated) has never been a one time setup. That's why there's been new versions of The Tools, and why this thread exists.

Ok, you win.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

That's why you do it. I'm surprised at the number of people who might feel as you do. Kindle Unlimited is an Amazon product. I would expect most people to use it as it was intended or to not use it.

Why? If you like an author who decided to participate in Kindle Unlimited and therefore became Amazon exclusive, but you otherwise prefer devices from a competitor, them the DRM-removal makes sense.

And really, before the most recent change it really was (as Ron Popiel says) "set it and forget it." While there are new versions of the Tools, I rarely update them, because what I have already works. Same with Sigil in fact. When I do update them, it is a whim, not because the old tools stopped working.

The reason this particular thread is so long is because this is the first significant DRM change from Amazon in a good long while.

Also, making it all work was fun in its own right. Like using a hackintosh or WINE on Linux or something like MAME or getting an old game to run on a modern OS. The tinkering is part of the fun.

Now I do agree buying an eink Kindle just to continue being able to buy books from Amazon is a step too far. While I enjoy tinkering, I don't want to have to spend more money just to remain an Amazon customer. And what happens when they decide download and transfer is no longer needed?

I am transitioning to buying books from Kobo. While K4PC continues to work, I'll use it for Amazon exclusive authors. When it no longer works, I'll read something else.

[JoeC]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's because of ConvertLit that I bought my first Sony Reader.

ConvertLit takes me back... Microsoft, RocketBook, and Fictionwise all inspired me to only buy from providers that have a means to remove DRM just in case they disappear.

[DiapDealer]

How quickly we forget. Yes, it's been "set it and forget it" for a long time but it has not always been so (and will likely not be again). Gaps in people's ability to remove DRM in the manner they were used to have occurred not all that long ago. I know because I was one of the ones working to figure out how to restore those particular DRM removal procedures/procedures.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Why? If you like an author who decided to participate in Kindle Unlimited and therefore became Amazon exclusive, but you otherwise prefer devices from a competitor, them the DRM-removal makes sense.

And really, before the most recent change it really was (as Ron Popiel says) "set it and forget it." While there are new versions of the Tools, I rarely update them, because what I have already works. Same with Sigil in fact. When I do update them, it is a whim, not because the old tools stopped working.

The reason this particular thread is so long is because this is the first significant DRM change from Amazon in a good long while.

Also, making it all work was fun in its own right. Like using a hackintosh or WINE on Linux or something like MAME or getting an old game to run on a modern OS. The tinkering is part of the fun.

Now I do agree buying an eink Kindle just to continue being able to buy books from Amazon is a step too far. While I enjoy tinkering, I don't want to have to spend more money just to remain an Amazon customer. And what happens when they decide download and transfer is no longer needed?

I am transitioning to buying books from Kobo. While K4PC continues to work, I'll use it for Amazon exclusive authors. When it no longer works, I'll read something else.

But what will you do when an Amazon exclusive author releases a new book in a series you've given a good amount of reading to? When you can no longer download it in a way you can remove any DRM and convert?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But what will you do when an Amazon exclusive author releases a new book in a series you've given a good amount of reading to? When you can no longer download it in a way you can remove any DRM and convert?

Read something else? Maybe the situation will change? Ascribe it to the same category as ASOIAF and Patrick Rothfuss? Buy it at Kindle and read it on your phone?

It’s just a book, not Holy Writ.

[slm]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I meant format as in EPUB vs Kindlebook. And yes, I meant Kobo ecosystem/store vs other ecosystems/stores. In other words ... it's surprising to me (and apparently issybird) that so many people would buy books from Amazon to read on a device that a) doesn't support KindleBooks natively and b) has its own integrated store with which to buy books that don't need to be diddled and converted first.

I can't speak for others, but I have found it well worth the bother.

Over the years, I've switched my preferred reader many times. I've been on and off Kindles (a lot of them), Kobos, Nooks, various Android programs and--at the moment--Pocketbook. Calibre and DeDRM have preserved my ability to read whichever books I want on whichever machine I favor at the moment. Since I often re-read books, this is a significant benefit, well worth the little bit of extra time it take.

Except for the five books I had not downloaded by Barnes and Noble when they stopped letting you download from there. Lesson learned.

YMMV