Microsoft is taking back ebooks

drjenkins · 04-02-2019, 01:10 PM

Cory Doctorow says "Microsoft announces it will shut down ebook program and confiscate its customers' libraries."

https://boingboing.net/2019/04/02/bu...libraries.html

Maybe a bit dramatic, but the headline is accurate. Basically, Microsoft isn't making enough money from the bookstore, so they are shutting it down. That's OK so far, but they are also shutting down the DRM authentication servers. They are at least offering refunds for books purchased, but when I buy a book it is because I value the book more highly than the money I spend for it.

drjenkins · 04-02-2019, 01:15 PM

Here's an interesting bit from the Microsoft FAQ:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4497396

Quote:

What if I purchased a book with a gift card or credit, or no longer have the original payment method linked to my account?

Refunds will be credited back to your Microsoft account for use online in Microsoft Store.

So, you get a store credit that you cannot use to buy books?

haertig · 04-02-2019, 01:36 PM

So if you changed credit card companies (canceled your original credit card), then your only option is to get a credit to the Microsoft Store? What if you don't want a credit to the Microsoft Store, since after this fiasco you'll probably never want to buy anything there again? Too bad for you, courtesy of Microsoft?

This has got to be the most poignant illustration for "if you can't remove the DRM, don't buy it" I've ever seen.

DiapDealer · 04-02-2019, 02:36 PM

I honestly had no idea the Microsoft Store even had an "ebook" business to get out of. That probably has something to do with me having never been to the Microsoft Store, I suppose.

Wait; is that why Edge on Windows 10 annoyingly tries to open any ebooks I happen to click on?

ilovejedd · 04-02-2019, 03:14 PM

Huh. Didn't even realize Microsoft had an ebook store. Thought they'd completely dumped ebooks after they dropped Microsoft Reader (LIT).

Apache · 04-02-2019, 05:02 PM

Since I never bought anything from their bookstore I will not have to stay awake at night worrying.
When I first saw this I thought it was an April Fools joke.
Apache

rcentros · 04-02-2019, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haertig

This has got to be the most poignant illustration for "if you can't remove the DRM, don't buy it" I've ever seen.

Yep. Isn't DRM wonderful? About a year ago I think someone mentioned that Microsoft was selling eBooks, so I looked into it. I think the reason I didn't pursue it any further (besides the fact I'm not a big Microsoft fan) is that reading the options were pretty limited, especially for a Linux user.

ZodWallop · 04-02-2019, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

...is that why Edge on Windows 10 annoyingly tries to open any ebooks I happen to click on?

Sort of. I'm pretty sure they added ebook reading to Edge before the store was launched, though of course they did the one in anticipation of the other.

I don't mind Edge as a built in ebook reader even if the store closes. I do hope that they leave the functionality there even if they aren't selling books. Since Edge is moving to a Chromium base, I suppose there's likely a plug-in if they do drop it, but it was nice having the functionality built in.

haertig · 04-02-2019, 06:26 PM

There are many good reasons for "buying a lifetime supply" of various items while you can. eBooks are one (assuming DRM removal). Ammunition is another. Incandescent light bulbs for your Easy Bake Oven. Probably lots of other examples too, but my brain is blank at the moment.

So when people come up and and either want to limit you or mockingly say, "Why do you need so much?!" there are good examples to shove in their ignorant faces.

DiapDealer · 04-02-2019, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I don't mind Edge as a built in ebook reader even if the store closes. I do hope that they leave the functionality there even if they aren't selling books. Since Edge is moving to a Chromium base, I suppose there's likely a plug-in if they do drop it, but it was nice having the functionality built in.

It won't bother me a bit if they leave the functionality there. While I understand that Edge is it's "own thing," I've only relatively recently moved on from Windows 7. So anything blue with that 'E' still screams Explorer to me. That's why I couldn't understand why my ebooks all had an Explorer icon! The bottom line is that I have no need of a desktop ebook reader. I only need a desktop ebook editor. It's been a very long time since I've seen an epub with anything other than a Sigil icon on a machine of mine.

pwalker8 · 04-02-2019, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haertig

There are many good reasons for "buying a lifetime supply" of various items while you can. eBooks are one (assuming DRM removal). Ammunition is another. Incandescent light bulbs for your Easy Bake Oven. Probably lots of other examples too, but my brain is blank at the moment.

So when people come up and and either want to limit you or mockingly say, "Why do you need so much?!" there are good examples to shove in their ignorant faces.

Hum, a lifetime supply is either a whole lot of ammo, or not very much at all, depending on if you actually go to the range on a regular basis or just stick it in a closet. I tend to treat it like ebooks. With ammo, I stick with popular calibre, with ebooks, I stick to what I can remove the DRM on.

My first big screen ebook reader was a microsoft tablet back in 2007, before the iPads came out. Never bought any books from them though.

GeoffR · 04-02-2019, 08:40 PM

On the other hand, if you are one of those people who only read books once (maybe a majority overall, if not on MR), and can get refunded back to your credit card (seems likely in most cases), then it might be the best deal ever.

tomsem · 04-02-2019, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I honestly had no idea the Microsoft Store even had an "ebook" business to get out of. That probably has something to do with me having never been to the Microsoft Store, I suppose.

Wait; is that why Edge on Windows 10 annoyingly tries to open any ebooks I happen to click on?

Actually Edge was the only way to read books purchased from Microsoft. And yes, it has native support for viewing .epub files (though it does not seem to register for this file type on iOS).

I’m sure you can change the settings on Windows 10 so Edge isn’t default app for .epub.

Sarmat89 · 04-02-2019, 10:52 PM

Cory Doctorow is a clown. If you want to have a personal book, buy it in a store in paper. The cheap licenses to read the text of a book on your computing devices do not entitle you for a life-long ownership.

DNSB · 04-02-2019, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarmat89

Cory Doctorow is a clown. If you want to have a personal book, buy it in a store in paper. The cheap licenses to read the text of a book on your computing devices do not entitle you for a life-long ownership.

Cheap license? The complaint I have is that the majority of the ebooks I purchase are not that cheap. In point, some of them have been more expensive that the paperback edition.

04-02-2019, 01:10 PM	#1
drjenkins Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1702156 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage	Microsoft is taking back ebooks Cory Doctorow says "Microsoft announces it will shut down ebook program and confiscate its customers' libraries." https://boingboing.net/2019/04/02/bu...libraries.html Maybe a bit dramatic, but the headline is accurate. Basically, Microsoft isn't making enough money from the bookstore, so they are shutting it down. That's OK so far, but they are also shutting down the DRM authentication servers. They are at least offering refunds for books purchased, but when I buy a book it is because I value the book more highly than the money I spend for it.

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04-02-2019, 01:36 PM	#3
haertig Wizard Posts: 1,738 Karma: 26006874 Join Date: Sep 2017 Device: PW3, Fire HD8 Gen7, Moto G7, Sansa Clip v2, Ruizu X26	So if you changed credit card companies (canceled your original credit card), then your only option is to get a credit to the Microsoft Store? What if you don't want a credit to the Microsoft Store, since after this fiasco you'll probably never want to buy anything there again? Too bad for you, courtesy of Microsoft? This has got to be the most poignant illustration for "if you can't remove the DRM, don't buy it" I've ever seen.

04-02-2019, 02:36 PM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,546 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I honestly had no idea the Microsoft Store even had an "ebook" business to get out of. That probably has something to do with me having never been to the Microsoft Store, I suppose. Wait; is that why Edge on Windows 10 annoyingly tries to open any ebooks I happen to click on?

04-02-2019, 03:14 PM	#5
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	Huh. Didn't even realize Microsoft had an ebook store. Thought they'd completely dumped ebooks after they dropped Microsoft Reader (LIT).

04-02-2019, 05:02 PM	#6
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,132 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Since I never bought anything from their bookstore I will not have to stay awake at night worrying. When I first saw this I thought it was an April Fools joke. Apache

04-02-2019, 06:26 PM	#9
haertig Wizard Posts: 1,738 Karma: 26006874 Join Date: Sep 2017 Device: PW3, Fire HD8 Gen7, Moto G7, Sansa Clip v2, Ruizu X26	There are many good reasons for "buying a lifetime supply" of various items while you can. eBooks are one (assuming DRM removal). Ammunition is another. Incandescent light bulbs for your Easy Bake Oven. Probably lots of other examples too, but my brain is blank at the moment. So when people come up and and either want to limit you or mockingly say, "Why do you need so much?!" there are good examples to shove in their ignorant faces.

04-02-2019, 08:40 PM	#12
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	On the other hand, if you are one of those people who only read books once (maybe a majority overall, if not on MR), and can get refunded back to your credit card (seems likely in most cases), then it might be the best deal ever.

04-02-2019, 10:52 PM	#14
Sarmat89 Evangelist Posts: 482 Karma: 2267928 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: none	Cory Doctorow is a clown. If you want to have a personal book, buy it in a store in paper. The cheap licenses to read the text of a book on your computing devices do not entitle you for a life-long ownership.