The Cult of Kindle? Are we there yet?

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Now maybe there is some corporate stuff or something you don't anyone to see either, but I for one wouldn't put any work stuff on my Kindle. It's all mine and it's all leisure. Of course, this is just my opinion, but those people who carry around their office stuff 24-7 are crazy. Few people lay on their deathbed and wished that they would have worked more or read more work-related books before they passed.

I can't even put confidential work documents on my home computer. Anything confidential has to go on a machine provided and administered by my IT department. IME this is pretty standard.

[mrkai]

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Since Whispernet is free, I think my reading privacy is an easy trade off. I couldn't care less if they see what I read. I bought most of my books from them in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I don't want "the man" to infringe on our rights too much, but um, reading privacy? Who cares?

What's your address?

I love how people are blissfully marching into the darkness for convenience that doesn't even exist.

You are aware, right, that if amazon is able to track what is on your kindle, and you happen to buy something to put on your kindle that you didn't buy from them and they sell it, that they could decide you have violated their TOS with your "stolen" content and kill everything you bought...right?

How convenient is that eventuality?

[Alisa]

That doesn't quite follow that anything you load on your Kindle that isn't purchased from Amazon is therefore regarded by them as stolen. Myself and everyone I've talked to with a Kindle has more non-purchased content than purchased content (legal public domain or creative commons works). Not an issue. I don't see how their ToS could make it so. It could make an issue with illegal content but it remains to be seen what degree of examination they are undertaking on that front.

Seriously, if you want anonymity in your reading materials I would strongly dissuade you from downloading ANY content as well as from purchasing ANY content with a credit card. Here in the US with 750K on the watch list this is not solely the concerns of paranoiacs. I'm fine if the government knows I have a fondness for Jane Austen. They don't need to know my political leanings. They will likely know that if I download such works here, on a torrent site, on a Kindle, on a Sony Reader, if I pay for it with a credit card, or even if I search on the title on Google. If you want privacy, buy paper and pay in cash. I'm not saying this to lull you into any false sense of security. I'm saying it to warn you that there really is very little security.

[sianon]

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Since Whispernet is free, I think my reading privacy is an easy trade off. I couldn't care less if they see what I read. I bought most of my books from them in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I don't want "the man" to infringe on our rights too much, but um, reading privacy? Who cares?

Now maybe there is some corporate stuff or something you don't anyone to see either, but I for one wouldn't put any work stuff on my Kindle. It's all mine and it's all leisure. Of course, this is just my opinion, but those people who carry around their office stuff 24-7 are crazy. Few people lay on their deathbed and wished that they would have worked more or read more work-related books before they passed.

Anyway, when it comes to TOS or DRM or whatnot, if that's what makes ebooks take off, then I will live with it as long as it's easy for me to grab my stuff and read....

I do have work files on my Iliad and would do so on any e-reader I owned. However my work folder is only ever opened whilst I am at work. I am often out in the field during work hours and having access to documents is very helpful. Having access to my general reading material whilst waiting in court is even better .

[tsgreer]

Originally Posted by mrkai

What's your address?

I love how people are blissfully marching into the darkness for convenience that doesn't even exist.

You are aware, right, that if amazon is able to track what is on your kindle, and you happen to buy something to put on your kindle that you didn't buy from them and they sell it, that they could decide you have violated their TOS with your "stolen" content and kill everything you bought...right?

How convenient is that eventuality?

Did you invent the Sony Reader or something? Why are you so anti-Kindle?

Actually the Kindle wasn't designed for just Amazon-bought content. That's why it supports non-DRM'd mobi files and .txt files and converts several other non-DRM'd formats for free.

I guess it also comes down to that I don't read "stolen" i.e. darknet texts, etc, so I am not afraid if they "check to see what I am reading."

I'm not a huge fan of drug-testing, but guess what? I don't do drugs, so test away, I don't care. If you want to "stay off the grid" don't buy anything. Are you aware that Sony knows what you are reading (if you bought from Sony Connect) or that Mobipocket knows what you are reading if you buy books from them.

Your credit card company knows what you are reading if you bought something from Barnes and Noble unless you paid cash. Walgreens knows that you are having sex if you buy condoms. I mean, come on privacy can be a thing of intangible levels. You can have COMPLETE privacy, but to do that you have to be alone, don't buy anything unless you have cash (by the way, don't put that cash in a bank, they will find you!), don't leave your house, etc.

Listen, I am all for being anti-government, anti-man or whatever, but sometimes you just gotta pick your battles. I don't subscribe to your point of view that this is some vast Amazon conspiracy to see if I am reading stolen porn on my $400 reader or to find out what I am buying and reading so they can enslave me with some new form of malware, figure out a way to install it thru a whispernet optical scan job and control my thoughts to buy the latest Nora Roberts book for $6 from the Amazon-Is-My-One-And-True-God-Store.

Ok, yes, I am aware you didn't say that, but I'm being over-dramatic to make a point.

P.S. My address is in the phone book, so very easy to find. You know why? Because I don't care if people know it. If you chose to stalk me, tie me up and use my skin for lampshades in your apartment, I probably wouldn't be smart enough to cover my tracks enough to hide anyway. I'd prefer that you didn't use my skin for a lampshade by they way, I am quite attached to it...

Oh and a second P.S. Amazon knows my address anyway because I have bought several p-books from them over the years, so the kindle doesn't really invade my privacy any more than that.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Did you invent the Sony Reader or something? Why are you so anti-Kindle?

I have to admit I had a little chuckle that he's a Sony *cough*rootkit*cough* customer.

[tsgreer]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I have to admit I had a little chuckle that he's a Sony *cough*rootkit*cough* customer.

Yeah, if someone is overly concerned about privacy, Sony isn't exactly the place to be loyal to.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Yeah, if someone is overly concerned about privacy, Sony isn't exactly the place to be loyal to.

Sorry, you've slightly lost me. What did the Sony root-kit incident have to do with privacy? It was just an anti-copying thing, was it not?

[tsgreer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sorry, you've slightly lost me. What did the Sony root-kit incident have to do with privacy? It was just an anti-copying thing, was it not?

I'm not sure of the specifics (I'm sure there are many here who can and will correct me) but it did it secretly by installing something on your computer and sent them information on your system. I think. Kinda sorta. I do remember that it caused a big uproar.

I could be totally wrong tho.

[Penforhire]

It was an example of corporate arrogance on a similar scale to Amazon's "new" DRM.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

It was an example of corporate arrogance on a similar scale to Amazon's "new" DRM.

Certainly it was; I'm not doubting that. But, to the best of my knowledge, it didn't transmit any information to anyone and hence had no "privacy" implications, which appeared to be the claim being made.

[Alisa]

No. It was just astoundingly disrespectful of the customer and could leave their computers open to all sorts of hackers which could affect their privacy.

[Ervserver]

If I end up buying the Sony reader I'll probably not install the Sony software

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ervserver

If I end up buying the Sony reader I'll probably not install the Sony software

That's fine - you don't have to unless you want to buy any books from the Sony Connect store.

[carld]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

It was an example of corporate arrogance on a similar scale to Amazon's "new" DRM.

From what I remember the rootkit fiasco was considerably worse.