Newbie question on all this Amazon DRM stuff

[tompe]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Really? Are you saying "the average user" isn't interested in downloading books from the library to read on their Kindles?

When they see what they have to do to be able to do it (running strange programs) then they will not be interested.

[sirbruce]

"The average user" already knows going in that DRMed files from non-Amazon sources won't work on the Kindle. Sure, they might *like* them to work, but Amazon has told them they won't, and they bought the device knowing that. The only difference is "the power users" found a way to do it anyway, and now Amazon doesn't want more people knowing about how to do it.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Really? Are you saying "the average user" isn't interested in downloading books from the library to read on their Kindles?

Maybe so. But the main selling point is the whispernet and ability to just get books right through the device.

I'd suspect the average user is more like that--just sees the ad/hype on amazon, buys one and never looks how to do more with it than get books from the Amazon store.

Not like the people here that are aware of the other ways to get books etc.

But maybe not, it is a niche market device so maybe the average owner is more like the people here and are more serious readers and more willing to look into library ebooks etc. *shrugs*

But I'd also think such people would have done research and found that the Kindle isn't the best choice for making use of library ebooks......

[rhk]

Dunno, I actually got the Kindle2 knowing I wouldn't be able to use the whispernet, but so I could get books from the library and run the simple scripts to make them readable on the Kindle. I figured I could use Amazon as a secondary resource for books if I ran out at the library.

[sirbruce]

Originally Posted by rhk

Dunno, I actually got the Kindle2 knowing I wouldn't be able to use the whispernet, but so I could get books from the library and run the simple scripts to make them readable on the Kindle. I figured I could use Amazon as a secondary resource for books if I ran out at the library.

Well you may have figured that but it wasn't based on anything *Amazon* told you to expect...

I agree, Amazon is being shortsighted here, but it's their right (although whether or not kindlefix is illegal is another issue). The Kindle is still a very competitive ebook reader even if it can only read Amazon books and non-DRM mobi books.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Maybe so. But the main selling point is the whispernet and ability to just get books right through the device.

I'd suspect the average user is more like that--just sees the ad/hype on amazon, buys one and never looks how to do more with it than get books from the Amazon store.

Not like the people here that are aware of the other ways to get books etc.



But I'd also think such people would have done research and found that the Kindle isn't the best choice for making use of library ebooks......

I think you're seriously underestimating the 'average' user. They may start that way, but readers are a curious lot.

Where do you think "the people here" came from?

The Amazon kindle forums, and google search. Because people like me, daffy and countless others tell them about MR, and the things they can learn.

Or at least, USED to be able to learn.

[rhk]

Very true, Amazon never said that it was possible/allowed, but I did do my research and figured out with the available information at the time what made the most sense for me.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I think you're seriously underestimating the 'average' user. They may start that way, but readers are a curious lot.

Where do you think "the people here" came from?

The Amazon kindle forums, and google search. Because people like me, daffy and countless others tell them about MR, and the things they can learn.

Or at least, USED to be able to learn.

Maybe I am. I figured the people here were largely like the people on most forums on the net--more tech savy than most since they're reading and posting on a net forum.

I also wouldn't call myself a reader (read 5-10 leisure books a year, read a ton of academic stuff for work though) so maybe I'm the one out of my element here since I couldn't care less about using it for more than the Amazon store and Feedbooks! :-)

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by tompe

When they see what they have to do to be able to do it (running strange programs) then they will not be interested.

Forgive me Tompe, but I feel you too are seriously underestimating the 'average' user.

Readers want to READ. Now it makes much more sense checking a book out of the library, from your laptop, than running there in your car.

When I first joined here, I was one of the "old set in their ways, scared to do something wrong/new" group.

Thanks to members here, I was able to download the scripts and check out books. Mistakes I made, yes, but there was always someone to help me out.

I feel really badly I won't be able to return the favor to someone else. At least publicly, where perhaps more than one person could be helped.

Kindlefix is the best thing the Kindle had going for it, whispernet be dammed.

I think by now, most people realize its a nice perk, but totally unnecessary to get books.

[DixieGal]

People! PEOPLE!

We can't let Amazon's short-sightedness drive a wedge between us. We are all on the same side: End DRM and protect freedom of speech.

The original post was a simple question by someone who came here for answers. What Amazon did is not readily apparent to those Kindlers who are not ebook tech savvy.

If you are getting frustrated with repeating yourselves, do what I've done. I stole a nice polite explanation that another MRer posted, copied it to Word, and more or less paste it in PM's to anyone who asks.

We need to stick together. Kindler, Sonyists, and all of the many other device owners have a common enemy: DRM.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Forgive me Tompe, but I feel you too are seriously underestimating the 'average' user.

Readers want to READ. Now it makes much more sense checking a book out of the library, from your laptop, than running there in your car.

Well maybe. But having seen that most people get scared by a command line program for WIndows I am not optimistic.

I also though that average was the reader that just read 5-20 books a year and have bought a Kindle.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

People! PEOPLE!

We can't let Amazon's short-sightedness drive a wedge between us. We are all on the same side: End DRM and protect freedom of speech.

The original post was a simple question by someone who came here for answers. What Amazon did is not readily apparent to those Kindlers who are not ebook tech savvy.

If you are getting frustrated with repeating yourselves, do what I've done. I stole a nice polite explanation that another MRer posted, copied it to Word, and more or less paste it in PM's to anyone who asks.

We need to stick together. Kindler, Sonyists, and all of the many other device owners have a common enemy: DRM.

What'd I say???? What'd I say????

[RickyMaveety]

Well, yes, when I bought my Kindle, I noted that it did not natively support the formats from my local library. I also did a bit of research and found there was a work around for that. I didn't get that information on Mobileread. I actually came across kindlepid.py (or the discussion of it) for the first time on Amazon.com.

Now, considering that I would have all the benefits of my local library as well as access to Amazon.com's selection of books specifically for the Kindle, it was a no-brainer.

I purchase several hundred dollars worth of books a year. Every year, year in and year out. 99% of the time, over probably the past four years or more, those purchases have been from Amazon.com. I don't live near a bookstore and I hate to drive all the way into Austin just for a book. When I purchase a book, I am more than happy to purchase it from Amazon ... if they have it available.

However, if a book is something that I'm only marginally interested in, I'm going to check it out from the library rather than buy it. For me, rather than an hour round-trip drive (and 2-3 gallons of gas added to my carbon footprint) to the library, and another one when I take the book back, I could use a script to allow me to skip the trip, and check out the book and read it on my Kindle? I'm not going to buy the book if I can't get it from the library ... I'm just not going to READ the book. Remember ... only marginal interest.

In addition, if I can't buy the book from the Kindle Store, because they don't SELL the book, then it's not like they are losing my business in terms of that particular book. The only reason I would purchase it from another online store is because .... Amazon.com does not carry that book for the Kindle, and I don't care to wait until they do, any more than I would want to wait around for the bookstore on 5th St. to get a book "sometime in the future", when the bookstore a block away already has the book on its shelves.

I bought a Kindle. That means that Amazon.com will be my natural first stop whenever I am looking for a book to BUY. Not to borrow for a week, to buy. As my first stop, if they have the book at a reasonable price, then I'm going to buy it from them. If they don't have the book, then I can't buy it from them. That doesn't mean I won't do whatever I have to in order to be able to take it with me on my Kindle.

And ... that's the view of a fairly average Kindle purchaser.

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

In addition, if I can't buy the book from the Kindle Store, because they don't SELL the book, then it's not like they are losing my business in terms of that particular book. The only reason I would purchase it from another online store is because .... Amazon.com does not carry that book for the Kindle, and I don't care to wait until they do, any more than I would want to wait around for the bookstore on 5th St. to get a book "sometime in the future", when the bookstore a block away already has the book on its shelves.

That's exactly the reason I buy half of my books from outside vendors. If Amazon had the books I read out the same time as other online vendors, they would always be my 1st choice but since that's not the case I use other resources. Amazon still get my business because by the time I finish read the books I buy from another ebook vendor, the rest of the books then become available at Amazon so I buy them there. So Amazon gets half of my business each month but that's due to their own fault. I'm just grateful for kindlepid because it gives me options and I would not love my Kindle half as much without the Python scripts!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

If you are running Vista,even the version 6.0 won't recognize the Kindle.

We know Mobipocket Desktop 6.0 understands the K1. So are you saying that Mobipocket Desktop 6.0 has to be installed under Windows XP in order to get the PID of a K1? If this is true, have you tried it in Windows XP compatibility mode?