PDF downloads are going away

[DNSB]

I was noticing that Kobo is no longer going to be supplying PDF files as of November 1st, 2017. While this affects only 3 of my books and I've already downloaded those, I'm wondering how many people are going to be affected by this decision.

[El Duderino]

Hmm, does this news indicate Kobo is abandoning any hope of improving the PDF reading experience with subsequent firmware updates?

If so, a strong reason to install KSM/KOReader.

[pickyaxe]

Originally Posted by El Duderino

Hmm, does this news indicate Kobo is abandoning any hope of improving the PDF reading experience with subsequent firmware updates?

If so, a strong reason to install KSM/KOReader.

The problem is that if Kobo is abandoning PDFs, they have no reason ever to make a a device larger than the Aura One. Which by the way, I would immediately buy. (and I'd argue that half the users here would, as well.)

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I was noticing that Kobo is no longer going to be supplying PDF files as of November 1st, 2017. While this affects only 3 of my books and I've already downloaded those, I'm wondering how many people are going to be affected by this decision.

where did you read that?

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by pickyaxe

The problem is that if Kobo is abandoning PDFs, they have no reason ever to make a a device larger than the Aura One. Which by the way, I would immediately buy. (and I'd argue that half the users here would, as well.)

Comic books/Graphic Novels(which are typically sold as ePUBs and not PDFs on their store). Sideloaded PDFs. People who just want a larger screen for whatever reason.

Not selling PDFs is a different issue from not supporting PDFs. They don't sell CBZ, CBRs either but their devices still read them.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pickyaxe

The problem is that if Kobo is abandoning PDFs, they have no reason ever to make a a device larger than the Aura One.

I'd actually say that exactly the opposite would be true. A PDF displays fixed content per page; if you have a larger screen, you see the same page, only larger. If Kobo sell PDFs (and I must admit I wasn't aware that they did!), such PDFs are presumably optimized to display well on the screen sizes on Kobo devices, and nothing would be gained from using a larger screen.

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by pickyaxe

The problem is that if Kobo is abandoning PDFs, they have no reason ever to make a a device larger than the Aura One. Which by the way, I would immediately buy. (and I'd argue that half the users here would, as well.)

Personally, I'll only upgrade my Aura reader with another Kobo if they release one with both an SD slot and a comfort light. Otherwise I'll wait for a foreign knock-off which offers both of those + Android.

Originally Posted by Nate the great

where did you read that?

Good question Nate. I'd also like to know the source.

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Not selling PDFs is a different issue from not supporting PDFs. They don't sell CBZ, CBRs either but their devices still read them.

Indeed!

Originally Posted by HarryT

If Kobo sell PDFs (and I must admit I wasn't aware that they did!), such PDFs are presumably optimized to display well on the screen sizes on Kobo devices, and nothing would be gained from using a larger screen.

I'm for using the best tool for the job, so for EPUBs I use Kobo stock, and likely to install KOReader for PDF/CBZ. With stock and custom firmware optimized to take advantage of the full-width of the display, my 6" Aura should be sufficient for years to come displaying any supported format comfortably.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If Kobo sell PDFs (and I must admit I wasn't aware that they did!), such PDFs are presumably optimized to display well on the screen sizes on Kobo devices, and nothing would be gained from using a larger screen.

The rare PDF I've seen from Kobo isn't specially formatted for smaller screens, but a standard PDF like many publishers used to sell (& some still do). Basically the print pre-press file with crop marks & stuff removed. That's been my experience anyway.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

where did you read that?

Originally Posted by El Duderino

Good question Nate. I'd also like to know the source.

The source? Looking at My Books on the Kobo website. I've attached the notice I see to this message.

I will admit that I am now curious as to how many others are seeing this notice. Would seeing this notice require having a pdf in your library?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The source? Looking at My Library on the Kobo website. I've attached the notice I see to this message.

I will admit that I am now curious as to how many others are seeing this notice. Would seeing this notice require having a pdf in your library?

Given the wording of the message, that seems likely. I don't see that message, but I've never bought a PDF from Kobo.

[Byrdie]

That's the message I got last night when I went to download a new book (epub) I'd just bought. And I buy ONLY epubs at Kobo. However it's possible some of the many freebies I've gotten there have been pdf-only books. Unusual, but it sometimes happens. I'll have to go thru my library & check.

Hmm ... looks like so far my only Kobo .pdf is the manual for my ereader. Does this mean they're gonna do epubs of those now? Hope so, I really hate bloody pdfs!

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I will admit that I am now curious as to how many others are seeing this notice. Would seeing this notice require having a pdf in your library?

I see it and have one (maybe more?) PDF in my library. You also get the same message in the download pop-up when going to download the PDF book...

Download this file?

To read this file on your eReader, download and install Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) on your computer, then connect your eReader to your computer.
Export this file to your eReader with ADE, and then find it in your Library.
Important update

Beginning November 1st, Kobo will no longer make your eBooks in PDF format available for download.
We'll do our best to replace your PDF books with their equivalent EPUBs, but it is possible that some cannot be replaced.
We'll let you know by email which books we can't replace. You'll need to download these books before November 1st to continue enjoying them.

They have the book that's in my library for sale as an ePub from the same publisher so we'll see if it gets "converted".

[dmapr]

I recall one of the freebies I got being a PDF and I do see this message.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The source? Looking at My Books on the Kobo website. I've attached the notice I see to this message.

I will admit that I am now curious as to how many others are seeing this notice. Would seeing this notice require having a pdf in your library?

thank you

I can see it.

[Stephen Cole]

eBooks.com still supports PDF and EPUB formats, for these reasons. In summary: a) some smaller publishers still aren't equipped to deliver EPUB, and b) some books are much better suited to PDF than EPUB.