Getting Kindle book from library to Kindle for PC

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Strange. I wonder why the difference?

No idea.

[Blossom]

Thanks for the workaround. I don't jump through hoops. Them changing how to check out books I've gone back to using epub library books. I'll only check out a Kindle book if the only alternative is pdf.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Thanks for the workaround. I don't jump through hoops. Them changing how to check out books I've gone back to using epub library books. I'll only check out a Kindle book if the only alternative is pdf.

But you're not jumping through hoops. The only difference is the last step.

For non-Penguin books, it says: "xxx, please chose a Kindle device or reading application for delivery of your purchase:" Select your device or app and hit the "Continue" button. It's then sent to that device or app.

For Penguin books, it says: "xxx, please choose which Kindle you plan to transfer your title to via USB:" Select your Kindle device and hit the "Continue" button (ignore the download popup). It's then sent to your archives where it's immediately available for all devices and apps.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

For non-Penguin books, it says: "xxx, please chose a Kindle device or reading application for delivery of your purchase:" Select your device or app and hit the "Continue" button. It's then sent to that device or app.

For Penguin books, it says: "xxx, please choose which Kindle you plan to transfer your title to via USB:" Select your Kindle device and hit the "Continue" button (ignore the download popup). It's then sent to your archives where it's immediately available for all devices and apps.

Now I get it! Thanks for that one last explanation.

So not only is Penguin not allowing their new titles to be lent via OD, they're also making special demands on how their old titles can be delivered?

Silliness.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

So not only is Penguin not allowing their new titles to be lent via OD, they're also making special demands on how their old titles can be delivered?

Yes, they call it friction.

[DiapDealer]

Friction chafes and galls.

[gracie]

I can't reproduce this, because, as I said yesterday, the book is now gone from my Holds and not in my cart... But, here's the scenario as I best recall........

I have an account at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
I have a book on request that came in, and the library notified me.
When I got there and went through the regular check-out, it only came up as a Kindle book or a pdf. Since I have the Kindle software on the PC, I figured I'd get the Kindle version, and selected that.
I went though the normal process and hit the "download" button.
The next stop was Amazon..... I've done this a dozen times, and there's never been a problem - at Amazon there's the delivery option where I select my "Kindle", either the smart phone or the Kindle for PC, then hit whatever button I have to hit, start the Kindle software on the PC, and the book shows up for me to finish the download..........
I may have some details wrong, but that's my recollection of the gist of things.

THIS TIME... I got to Amazon, and there NO section with the "pick your device", no download button, no nothing.
In a separate window, I opened Amazon, and although I can see the book at Amazon in Window 1, in Window 2 it is NOT in my Archive, not in my set of books, not ANYWHERE.
Back in Window 1, there's a block of text that says something like "due to the publisher this book can ONLY BE DELIVERED THROUGH A USB CABLE or some such...
It didn't show in the Kindle for PC software or anywhere else, and apparently after 30 minutes it disappeared completely, back into the bowels of the Philadelphia library.

SO, that's why I asked the question, 'cause the "normal" process that I've used many times, is now somehow different at the Amazon part, and I wasn't able to find a way to get the book.

BTW: The information from the library is now TOTALLY OUTDATED, and still refers to delivering everything wirelessly, which is evidently incorrect for some publishers. I sent in an "Ask a Librarian" question and got a reply that indeed, some publishers now have the ability to prevent Amazon from letting you get your book to your smartphone or PC or any of the "free Kindle apps".

Thus, the, "So how DO I get the Kindle book to my Kindle for PC software?"

And if the answer's "You Don't" I'll know I have to absolutely limit myself to borrowing books that are epub, which will also mean I won't be buying those series I can't try a book in... It's not Amazon's fault, but they're going to get the blame... So, since I couldn't get book 1 of a 4-book series, I fer sher won't be buying books 2,3, or 4 if I liked book 1 'cause I can't READ book 1. I reckon Penguin or whoever the publisher was would rather NOT have me buy three or four books than make it easy for me to try one...

So, did I miss a button somewhere, or a selection I had to make or something? 'Cause I sure couldn't find the "regular" stuff I had to do at Amazon to get the book.

[DiapDealer]

Was it a book published by Penguin? That's the important thing here. Because what all this testing is telling me is that without an actual Kindle device... you can't borrow a Penguin book from Overdrive (regardless if they're not stating this point-blank). Overdrive books by other publishers should be able to be delivered to your various Kindle for Whatever applications.

EDIT: The above applies to existing Penguin OD books. There will be no new Penguin titles available via OD. Period.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by gracie

I figure there's got to be a topic in here somewhere about getting library books WITHOUT a USB cable, but my search isn't finding it... So, if I'm in the wrong place, let me know.

I just checked out a book in Kindle format from the public library. And got all the way over to Amazon. Where it told me I MUST use a USB cable to download the book... MY KINDLE APPLICATION IS ON THE PC. There IS no USB. So, HOW do I get the book to my Kindle application?

I contacted Amazon customer support. And after an astonishingly long wait, I was told in broken English that "You CANNOT get the book onto your Kindle application on your PC. You must PURCHASE a Kindle device."

Oh... I requested to be transferred to someone with (hopefully) more knowledge of how to perform this operation, and was refused.

Did I miss a button or something, or has the publisher stupidity infected Amazon, too?

My suggestion is to check it out as an epub or pdf and read it in ADE if you're going to read it on a computer anyway.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by gracie

And if the answer's "You Don't" I'll know I have to absolutely limit myself to borrowing books that are epub, which will also mean I won't be buying those series I can't try a book in... It's not Amazon's fault, but they're going to get the blame... So, since I couldn't get book 1 of a 4-book series, I fer sher won't be buying books 2,3, or 4 if I liked book 1 'cause I can't READ book 1. I reckon Penguin or whoever the publisher was would rather NOT have me buy three or four books than make it easy for me to try one...

I don't understand how borrowing a book in epub or pdf means you can't read it (unless it is available in kindle format only? I doubt Penguin would do that--it's Amazon it appears to want to cut out).

[koland]

Originally Posted by TimW

The OD portion only mentions the "USB Only" part. It's once you get into the Amazon part that you discover that "USB Only" means that apps won't work. You've checked out the book without being able to read it. I don't believe the book will appear the archive until after you've sent the book to your PC with DRM for an actual Kindle. No device, you're stuck.

Buy an old or broken Kindle and register it's serial #. Don't worry about if it works (although it can't be a stolen one).

Then, download for that kindle and then go to app and grab out of archives...

[koland]

Originally Posted by Joykins

My suggestion is to check it out as an epub or pdf and read it in ADE if you're going to read it on a computer anyway.

One reason you might not want to do this is due to company policy or library computers that don't allow downloads. In which case, you might want to use Read Now for the book (I actually had one Penguin book checked out already, so tested this and it worked; you do still have to get it into your archives by having a Kindle registered).

Another reason someone might want to use their Kindle app might be due to having some special reading software on their computer (or they want to be able to clip a decent copy of a recipe to make).

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by gracie

I can't reproduce this, because, as I said yesterday, the book is now gone from my Holds and not in my cart...

You do not have to have a Kindle device to check a Kindle book out of the library. You can use the Amazon Cloud Reader.

You book should be in your account at the library under the section of the account called My Bookshelf. In the pic below, I have a Kindle book on My Bookshelf in my Phillly library account. It's called I, Emma Freke:



I checked the book out a few days ago, but the Get for Kindle button is still available. So.... I just clicked on the Get for Kindle button, and it took me to this page on Amazon:



I clicked on the View Your Loan details link in the green box, and I ended up here:



I clicked the Actions button, and got this popup:



...and... these are my transfer options:



I can only download to an actual Kindle, not to Kindle for Mac, or to any of my devices with Kindle apps.

However, note that on the Actions button popup, the first option is Read Now. This will open the book in the Amazon Cloud Reader. This will allow you to read your book on your computer. I just tried it an it works just fine on my iMac with Firefox. You can even set it up for offline reading.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

You do not have to have a Kindle device to check a Kindle book out of the library. You can use the Amazon Cloud Reader.

You do if the book is from Penguin.

You book should be in your account at the library under the section of the account called My Bookshelf. In the pic below, I have a Kindle book on My Bookshelf in my Phillly library account. It's called I, Emma Freke:

That book is NOT from Penguin; therefore, you don't need a Kindle to check it out.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Now I get it! Thanks for that one last explanation.

You're welcome.

So not only is Penguin not allowing their new titles to be lent via OD, they're also making special demands on how their old titles can be delivered?

Looks like they're taking one last shot at Amazon on the way out the door.