Help needed - Alternative to Amazon

Graham44 · 02-18-2025, 10:50 AM

Like many others I have just seen the message on Amazon that I am not going to be able to download my e-books anymore (UK, saw the message yesterday) so it looks like I am going to have to find an alternative to Amazon for my books.

And this is where I am going to need some help/ hand holding

I download and De-DRM all of my ebooks via Calibre (all of which have been from Amazon), and it's easy, download the file add to calibre and its done.

I've looked into buying from other sources i.e. Kobo etc as I understand you can convert most (?) ebook formats to a Kindle format via calibre but I really, really don't understand all of this involvement of having to run it through Adobe digital editions (think thats what it's called)

I've looked at some online tutorials but they confused me even more, why cant you just download a file like you do with Amazon?

I understand if I wish to move to another Ebook provider I'm going to have to learn a new procedure of getting books to Calibre/ my Kindle, if someone could help me with understanding this procedure/ talk me through the steps I would be really grateful!

Any tips/ hints/ instructions greatly appreciated.

Just one note I'm in the UK so would like to stick to stores that operate in the UK to avoid having to convert currency etc (which my bank will charge me to do)

maddz · 02-18-2025, 11:03 AM

Do you usually strip the DRM when you import to Calibre?

Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) is another (older) DRM scheme. It requires you to sign up for an Adobe ID (don't loose your log-in details and password as they cannot be retrieved even by Adobe), then it's a matter of downloading the ASCM file you get sent from Kobo, and it can be imported into Calibre directly (with a plug-in) without needing the Digital Editions step.

The other thing is that not all books will come with DRM from Kobo - they actually provide genuine DRM-free books as direct epubs. Other places to buy are sites like ebooks.com, Google Play, Humble Bundle, StoryBundle (if you read a lot of indie authors), Smashwords, Book View Cafe, direct from publishers, and other places. For public domain books, the various Gutenberg sites including Faded Page (but watch out for different copyright lengths).

Re currency conversion, PayPal is your friend. You pay in £ from your bank, they pay the retailer in their local currency.

JSWolf · 02-18-2025, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Do you usually strip the DRM when you import to Calibre?

Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) is another (older) DRM scheme. It requires you to sign up for an Adobe ID (don't loose your log-in details and password as they cannot be retrieved even by Adobe), then it's a matter of downloading the ASCM file you get sent from Kobo, and it can be imported into Calibre directly (with a plug-in) without needing the Digital Editions step.

The other thing is that not all books will come with DRM from Kobo - they actually provide genuine DRM-free books as direct epubs. Other places to buy are sites like ebooks.com, Google Play, Humble Bundle, StoryBundle (if you read a lot of indie authors), Smashwords, Book View Cafe, direct from publishers, and other places. For public domain books, the various Gutenberg sites including Faded Page (but watch out for different copyright lengths).

Re currency conversion, PayPal is your friend. You pay in £ from your bank, they pay the retailer in their local currency.

You left out BAEN Books. No DRM. Mostly Military SciFi.

maddz · 02-18-2025, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You left out BAEN Books. No DRM. Mostly Military SciFi.

Falls under 'direct from publishers'. I could have added Rebellion/Solaris, NewCon, and other small press.

ownedbycats · 02-18-2025, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham44

I've looked into buying from other sources i.e. Kobo etc as I understand you can convert most (?) ebook formats to a Kindle format via calibre but I really, really don't understand all of this involvement of having to run it through Adobe digital editions (think thats what it's called)

The DeACSM/ACSM input plugin you can just import the token file into Calibre and directly get an ePub. If you have DeDRM it does it same time.

Graham44 · 02-18-2025, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Do you usually strip the DRM when you import to Calibre?

then it's a matter of downloading the ASCM file you get sent from Kobo, and it can be imported into Calibre directly (with a plug-in) without needing the Digital Editions step.

I do always strip the DRM from my Kindle books as I have two Kindles, one registered (old and broken) and one new one not registered and never connects to the internet (as I don't want Amazon having access to it)

You say download Adobe Digital Editions and sign up/ sign in to it then you say download the ASCM file from kobo (which would go to my computers download file) and then import it into Calibre without opening it up in Digital editions, does the plug in take care of the opening in Adobe digital edition instead for you then?

Sorry for the questions, trying to get my head around this

Graham44 · 02-18-2025, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

The DeACSM/ACSM input plugin you can just import the token file into Calibre and directly get an ePub. If you have DeDRM it does it same time.

So no need for Adobe Digital Editions? Just import the downloaded file from Kobo?

Sirtel · 02-18-2025, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham44

So no need for Adobe Digital Editions? Just import the downloaded file from Kobo?

You need an Adobe account, if you don't have one (to register in the plugin settings). Otherwise, no, with the deACSM plugin Adobe Digital Editions is not needed.

Quoth · 02-18-2025, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You need an Adobe account, if you don't have one (to register in the plugin settings). Otherwise, no, with the deACSM plugin Adobe Digital Editions is not needed.

There is a way to have an anonymous account, which is useful if your OS can't easily run ADE. I don't know if an account can be created on Android, which does have an ADE reader app, and then used in the plugin.

Graham44 · 02-18-2025, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You need an Adobe account, if you don't have one (to register in the plugin settings). Otherwise, no, with the deACSM plugin Adobe Digital Editions is not needed.

Thanks Sirtel, I will try signing up to Adobe at the weekend and installing the plugin in Calibre. I have no way of having Adobe Digital Editions as I am running Linux Mint so hopefully as you say just having an Adobe account to put into the plugin will be enough!

Quoth · 02-18-2025, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham44

I have no way of having Adobe Digital Editions as I am running Linux Mint so hopefully as you say just having an Adobe account to put into the plugin will be enough!

I also run Linux Mint. I didn't signup. Do backup Calibre using Export and then an Import on another computer or a new HHD will have the settings.

Aleron Ives · 02-18-2025, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham44

I have no way of having Adobe Digital Editions as I am running Linux Mint so hopefully as you say just having an Adobe account to put into the plugin will be enough!

Technically you can run ADE on Mint with WINE. I used to do this, until my downloads stopped working with a mysterious error message. I switched to the ACSM Calibre plugin at that point and haven't looked back.

Graham44 · 02-19-2025, 11:14 AM

Well I signed up to Adobe, installed the deACSM plugin, bought a book from the Kobo store (making sure it was DRM protected) imported it into calibre and I can't open it, it says it's DRM protected

ownedbycats · 02-19-2025, 11:16 AM

ACSM input does not remove it. Install DeDRM.

Section8 · 02-19-2025, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham44

Well I signed up to Adobe, installed the deACSM plugin, bought a book from the Kobo store (making sure it was DRM protected) imported it into calibre and I can't open it, it says it's DRM protected

You also have to install the DeDRM plugin to Callibre. I am also a Linux user and use Calibre with DeASCM and DeDRM with kobo books.

02-18-2025, 10:50 AM	#1
Graham44 Zealot Posts: 144 Karma: 3581430 Join Date: Sep 2024 Device: Kobo Clara BW	Help needed - Alternative to Amazon Like many others I have just seen the message on Amazon that I am not going to be able to download my e-books anymore (UK, saw the message yesterday) so it looks like I am going to have to find an alternative to Amazon for my books. And this is where I am going to need some help/ hand holding I download and De-DRM all of my ebooks via Calibre (all of which have been from Amazon), and it's easy, download the file add to calibre and its done. I've looked into buying from other sources i.e. Kobo etc as I understand you can convert most (?) ebook formats to a Kindle format via calibre but I really, really don't understand all of this involvement of having to run it through Adobe digital editions (think thats what it's called) I've looked at some online tutorials but they confused me even more, why cant you just download a file like you do with Amazon? I understand if I wish to move to another Ebook provider I'm going to have to learn a new procedure of getting books to Calibre/ my Kindle, if someone could help me with understanding this procedure/ talk me through the steps I would be really grateful! Any tips/ hints/ instructions greatly appreciated. Just one note I'm in the UK so would like to stick to stores that operate in the UK to avoid having to convert currency etc (which my bank will charge me to do)

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02-18-2025, 11:03 AM	#2
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,398 Karma: 30039536 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Do you usually strip the DRM when you import to Calibre? Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) is another (older) DRM scheme. It requires you to sign up for an Adobe ID (don't loose your log-in details and password as they cannot be retrieved even by Adobe), then it's a matter of downloading the ASCM file you get sent from Kobo, and it can be imported into Calibre directly (with a plug-in) without needing the Digital Editions step. The other thing is that not all books will come with DRM from Kobo - they actually provide genuine DRM-free books as direct epubs. Other places to buy are sites like ebooks.com, Google Play, Humble Bundle, StoryBundle (if you read a lot of indie authors), Smashwords, Book View Cafe, direct from publishers, and other places. For public domain books, the various Gutenberg sites including Faded Page (but watch out for different copyright lengths). Re currency conversion, PayPal is your friend. You pay in £ from your bank, they pay the retailer in their local currency.

02-19-2025, 11:14 AM	#13
Graham44 Zealot Posts: 144 Karma: 3581430 Join Date: Sep 2024 Device: Kobo Clara BW	Well I signed up to Adobe, installed the deACSM plugin, bought a book from the Kobo store (making sure it was DRM protected) imported it into calibre and I can't open it, it says it's DRM protected

02-19-2025, 11:16 AM	#14
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,304 Karma: 73404467 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	ACSM input does not remove it. Install DeDRM.