A former Kindle user's manifesto... (or something like that..)

[sbtx99]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Frankly, you are far more patient than I would have been in the same situation. The second time it asked me to to re-validate and re-download anything, I'd have ditched the app and just started merrily stripping all that pesky DRM away.

I was only patient a couple times because I was trying to decide between a buying a Kindle or a Nook. ETA: Evaluating the apps for mobile devices was part of my decision process.

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Maybe you could get your CC company to send you an auxiliary card with a different number/name variation (initial or such) that you could have just for your online purchases and could shut down easily at the first sign of suspicious activity without affecting your main #.

Normally, I just buy gift cards and use those for ebook purchases. That's worked fine every place I've purchased ebooks except B&N. So I just don't buy from B&N. With my Kindle purchases, Amazon doesn't care if my credit card has expired, only that my gift card balance will cover the cost of the purchase.

[FF2]

For the Barnes and Noble "effort" is it your credit card NAME or your Barnes and Noble name?

[ATDrake]

It's the name that goes with the billing address you've entered which is associated with the credit card on your account. If it's spelt slightly differently from how it appears on your actual card (say there's a period after an initial where there isn't one on the actual card), then go with that exact spelling.

Also, if you're using a JetBook Lite, apparently you have to enter the name without any spaces before it'll work.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by FF2

TallMomof2

I apparently "purchased" topaz drm-ed files. Purchased in quotes since they were freebies. But nonetheless, they are not easy to backup. Have you avoided such purchases whether free or not? I gather that even topaz can be backed up in a more tedious method. Maybe I should make it a point to read those first - just in case.

There are scripts to remove the DRM from the Topaz books and convert them to a format readable by Calibre. From there I convert to whatever format I require. These scripts are not as simple as the Calibre plugins but if you are adventurous look for Apprentice Alf's blog and the 2.3 package. Read the readme.txt in appropiate folder for instuctions.

Almost all my Topaz books are freebies and have been liberated for my personal use. If you purchase a Topaz book and don't want to keep it because of the hassle then Amazon gives you seven days to return it.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Karenski

I just joined this forum, but I haven't been able to figure out how to post until I came to the end of this thread. Sorry, but my problem is unrelated to the foregoing. My problem is I'm on vacation in Switzerland (from the US), and I brought my fairly new Kindle -- which suddenly won't turn on! It was fully charged, and what happened was that some screen suddenly appeared that asked where I wanted to go to. I must have hit some key to bring up this note, but I couldn't get out of it. I gave up, and turned the Kindle off -- the way I do when my computer gets locked and I can't get it moving. Now when I try to turn it on, the green light flashes, but IT WON'T TURN ON! I can't contact Amazon, because I don't remember my password -- which is written down at home. Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to wait two weeks to fix it when I get home.

I hope you come back and check as I am sure there will be other responses. try holding the sliding switch to the right for a loooong count, like maybe 45.

if you can access a computer, you can access your email. when you log onto Amazon, there is an oppourtunity to say you have forgotten your password. I believe they will send it to you in your email.

good luck! and welcome to the forums!

[psychotic_chimp]

ok wot I hav learned so far Calibre great!! freeee allows u to change file types etc etc with the DRM well a little research and u will find plenty of info on stripping the DRM related to Kindles serial number ........not good for authors not good for corporations- authors need to be able to bypass corporations Smashwords is great!! anyway back on topic I hav a kindle and well wont change, colored epaper to be released late 2011 and with calibre and ability to strip DRM u r in clover Limewire u can get ebooks for free ha ha peeble adapt...kindle>>>>> free whispernet its th cats meow...

[Jakie]

I too am one of the 50mumble age group, and remember when that company in Redmond was producing a silly gimmick that messed up dos. I too have been around a command line, but finally today, after three attempts at python apps, figured out the calibre plug-ins. Why? Because I believe that if I buy the book, in one format, I should be able to use it in another format. Simple. I do not wish to make a million selling the copy, just have my S/O be able to read the same book, even though she uses a different format. I want to buy the equipment that will do the job for me, and not worry about the format. I have been around for the beta/VHS, etc tech wars, and feel much better about having my books stored in calibre in both un-drm'd epub and mobi. I utilize the android versions of both Kobo and Kindle, and the kobo version for blackberry (Amazon will not allow me in Canada to use the Kindle for blackberry ???) I am going to purchase a Kobo wireless for my S/O for Christmas (DON'T TELL HER!) and possibly a kindle, or a sony, or a jetbook lite....not sure yet. Its not about the hardware...its about the freedom to utilize my purchase, for my purposes.

John

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by psychotic_chimp

a little research and u will find plenty of info on stripping the DRM related to Kindles serial number

And that info would be outdated and pretty much worthless (for Kindles with firmware >= 2.5)

[ManosHandsOfFate]

With a Nook and Kindle in the family - everything I buy for either device is downloaded and the DRM removed as I load it into Calibre. I then convert to the other format. I backup Calibre in the same way I backup family photos - Amazon S3. :-)

[coolbreeze]

Well, time to eat crow. I'm back with a shiny new K3 fresh from Amazon via UPS.

It's simple, really. I just decided to keep my cheap refurb nook for library and ePub needs and moved back to the Kindle platform for all the stuff I've bought over the years from Amazon.

I still think if Amazon allowed ePubs and DRM ePubs (Adobe) they would absolutely slaughter the ereader market. Of course they are doing *very* well as is, but library and ePub support would give buyers little to no reason to buy anything else.

So no, I was never trolling thank you very much.

[ProfCrash]

No need to eat crow. There is no perfect e-reader and they are finally getting to the point where having two is not overly expensive.

Enjoy them for what they are and be happy. (hugs)

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by coolbreeze

I still think if Amazon allowed ePubs and DRM ePubs (Adobe) they would absolutely slaughter the ereader market. Of course they are doing *very* well as is, but library and ePub support would give buyers little to no reason to buy anything else.

The problem (from a user perspective, at least) is that Amazon isn't trying to corner the e-book reader market. They're more interested in selling Kindle e-books than selling Kindles (as evidenced by the many platforms that are supported by the Kindle reader software). It's more important to them that you can read a Kindle book anywhere than it is that you can read any book on your Kindle.

I think what's going to happen eventually is that DRM will go away for books like it went away for music. I expect it to be DRM-free AZW/MOBI that wins, rather than EPUB though, because I think the momentum is currently with Amazon.

[psychotic_chimp]

uhmmm...so sumthin like 'kindle DRM removal 1.6.0.196' last update dec 6th doesnt work so glad I found out and dint buy it or try th demo mr diaper dealer maybe u talkin about python hacks maybe maybe not who knos huh?

[DiapDealer]

uhmmm...so sumthin like 'kindle DRM removal 1.6.0.196' last update dec 6th doesnt work so glad I found out and dint buy it or try th demo mr diaper dealer maybe u talkin about python hacks maybe maybe not who knos huh?

No. I'm simply telling you that any dedrm process that relies on the serial number of your Kindle to decrypt Amazon purchases, is not going to work for any Kindle that has firmware >= 2.5. Period. And paying anything for any such tool is foolish and unnecessary.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by coolbreeze

Well, time to eat crow. I'm back with a shiny new K3 fresh from Amazon via UPS.

It's simple, really. I just decided to keep my cheap refurb nook for library and ePub needs and moved back to the Kindle platform for all the stuff I've bought over the years from Amazon.

I still think if Amazon allowed ePubs and DRM ePubs (Adobe) they would absolutely slaughter the ereader market. Of course they are doing *very* well as is, but library and ePub support would give buyers little to no reason to buy anything else.

So no, I was never trolling thank you very much.

Ohhh I can think of plenty of other reasons to own a nook over a kindle, ohh trust you me but this is a kindle sub forum so I'll be respectful

but to Amazon and ePub in general, well, never say never. Who would ever dare to think Apple, the King of all walled gardens, would open up iTunes with AAC format? The impossible can happen.

But for Amazon I think it'll be more of wait and see. Like others have said "why fix what aint broke". They'll let the dust settle from the Holiday sales. Everyone will see a huge spike in sales from the nook, kindle even the kobo etc.
They'll keep an eye on the number of ebooks bought for registered kindle owners and how it correlates with the new kindle owner and old kindle owners.

They'll keep an eye on Google books and of course the Barnes and noble especially the nook color and see how everyone is doing.

If they see their sales plateua and not much increase and they see sudden spikes in sales at Google and BN, even if they still don't match the numbers, IOW's even if kindle books are still outselling the others but the numbers haven't changed much from before and if BN and Google are see huge increases. Then it'll be time for looking at things and be open to other discussions on avenues .

ePub is a nice selling point. Many everyday joe's no nothing about it, We here at mobileread are not the norm, we are a small minority of all the people who own ereaders.
Like I was saying many people have no idea about what formats for what and who uses what. It's when these everyday people FIND OUT from other releatives or co workers or friends who own a non kindle device that they can read from the library, shop where you want when sales are going on, that people become genuinly upset.
My co worker is seriously thinking of buying a nook to go along with his Kindle. One I think he's tired of me teasing about his. But he knew nothing of epub or AZW form and the likes. He heard of of Kindle and bought one. And I know of other kindle owners too that say "You can check out books from the library? Can I?" and trust me these people wouldn't have the faintest idea of how to strip DRM and they are also shocked when I show them Calibre.
So I would say 80% of Kindle owners have no idea you have this benefit on other ereaders and it may have played apart in their decision. I hear alot of "Hmmp If I only knew that I would have look at _____. They just heard of kindle and not the others. Which Amazon deserves to be credited for that. They are the only ones are who do this type of heavy mainstream advertising to create such a strong brand awareness.


So I think alot of factors will come into play, but I seriously wouldnt' rule it out of them adding it on in the future, if Google eBooks takes off and BN starts creeping up. And I wouldn't be shocked if they even opened up the Amazon bookstore in the future.

but for right now they are sitting very well off and in a strong position. But things can change on a dim. Just ask RIM(Blackberry) Time will tell.