Amazon ends allowing downloads

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by theducks

If you use a WiFi kindle, you are using their servers to download to the device, even if the books are in Calibre.
Their Network
Their RULES (on what the allow or do).

???If you have Calibre! What is so hard plugging in a USB cable? (Leaves WiFi on the K off )

That's exactly what I do, in fact as I had to replace my Kindle fairly recently the new one apart from registration has never been connected to wifi and never will be. I do go one step further, and this might be a bit excessive but, I use my laptop to buy and download e-books I then transfer them via USB to my desktop which has Calibre on it so my e-book library is shielded from the internet completely.

I have an order from Amazon being delivered tomorrow (something for my parents that they needed fairly urgently and they didn't realise I was getting rid of Amazon so I postponed deletion to order this one last thing for them) and then my Amazon account will be gone*

* Thinking about it I should probably check I can actually buy from the other two ebook vendors I was looking at first (I know Kobo UK works fine)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by theducks

If you use a WiFi kindle, you are using their servers to download to the device, even if the books are in Calibre.
Their Network
Their RULES (on what the allow or do).

???If you have Calibre! What is so hard plugging in a USB cable? (Leaves WiFi on the K off )

It's a lot easier (IMHO) to setup the Reading List plugin. Then when you know what books you want to add to the Reader, you can easily add them to the Reading List and when you want to plug in to download, the get downloaded automatically and you don't have to remember what it is you wanted to add to the Reader.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's a lot easier (IMHO) to setup the Reading List plugin. Then when you know what books you want to add to the Reader, you can easily add them to the Reading List and when you want to plug in to download, the get downloaded automatically and you don't have to remember what it is you wanted to add to the Reader.

Personally I use a custom column for this, I don't want anything to be loaded automatically to my ereaders.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I expect lots of folks use their ereader while out and about, and not anywhere near their computer. So it's easier for them to download a book via wifi.

I only read at home and don't need wifi on my ereaders at all. But I'm probably in the minority.

I read while out and about. But I keep WiFi off. I have enough eBooks on my Libra 2 that I don't need to download a book to read.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Personally I use a custom column for this, I don't want anything to be loaded automatically to my ereaders.

I like the idea of auto-loading on connect. It just makes it so easy.

[jhowell]

I am sticking with Amazon Kindle for now. Most of my reading is loans from libraries and Kindle Unlimited so DRM is not an issue. For my increasingly rare book purchases from Amazon I do prefer to have a backup. That has always been possible up to now and I find it highly unlikely that they will ever be able to close off all avenues for DRM removal. If that does eventually happen I will deal with it then. I have more important things to worry about in my life.

I used to have thousands of paperbacks filling many bookcases and the attic of my home. Over time and several moves I got rid of them all and I do not miss them. They became more of a burden than a source of joy. Lately I am starting to get similar feelings about my e-book library.

[Apache]

I stopped buying books from B&N when they stopped allowing me to download my purchases. I will also stop buying books from Amazon too. I have always downloaded, stripped DRM and backed up my eBooks. I will continue to do this. I will start buying most from kobo and continue to buy from Baen and others.
Apache

[DrNefario]

In 15 years of kindle ownership, I don't think I've ever actually downloaded a book to my PC, so I imagine I will continue to use amazon when they have the best price.

I download and deDRM all my epubs, and keep them in Calibre, but I've never done that with my kindle library. I guess because I've had epub readers from different vendors and with wifi problems, but my kindles have generally been ok.

[DrNefario]

Originally Posted by Graham44

and then my Amazon account will be gone

It seems a bit nuclear to delete the account. You could always simply not use it.

I get that maybe you want to send a message.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

It seems a bit nuclear to delete the account. You could always simply not use it.

I get that maybe you want to send a message.

I agree on Amazon, but some accounts DO need deleted, assuming they really do. I doubt many sites really delete, esp, Facebook, X-Twitter, Amazon, Linkdin etc.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Graham44

I have an order from Amazon being delivered tomorrow (something for my parents that they needed fairly urgently and they didn't realize I was getting rid of Amazon so I postponed deletion to order this one last thing for them) and then my Amazon account will be gone

And if you ever want to buy anything from Amazon, you'll be SOL as you won't have an account. Don't delete your account. Just don't use it for eBooks. Use it for other stuff when you want/need.

[Quoth]

Amazon now has too many exclusives. On three occasions I've had to order ordinary household products from them that used to be available in town and also other tech products otherwise unavailable (sometimes no shipping to Ireland on other web sites), or only from much dodgier sites. Most stuff on Amazon DE delivers here (not ebooks) and I've got paper books from Amazon US not available elsewhere (bizarre that works and USA ebooks don't work). Even a radio from Amazon USA available nowhere else. Sadly it didn't work, but return postage from Ireland to USA was free.

I'm no fan of Amazon or their monopolistic practices, or their "Dark UI" selling of Prime and KU etc, but deleting the account isn't the solution. I just buy as much as possible elsewhere.

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And if you ever want to buy anything from Amazon, you'll be SOL as you won't have an account. Don't delete your account. Just don't use it for eBooks. Use it for other stuff when you want/need.

It's a matter of principle with me, when a giant corporation oversteps the mark and tells me what I can or can't do with something I purchased I will express my displeasure by not using them anymore. Amazon is not God there are other businesses out there.

I have noticed two things with Amazon over the last few years 1) They way they organise, display, filter e-books when you are searching for something new is now bad, really bad (IMO) I have to wade through pages of dross to find a few gems, 2) When it comes to other purchases they are not as competitive as they were, now they've slimmed down the competition their prices are creeping up, or the products are just s***e.

Also going through the last years purchases about 60-70% was e-books, well they've stopped me buying them effectively so they are not going to get my money for the other 30-40% of other stuff I bought. I will just have to invest a little more time and shop around when I want something.

As I said Amazon is not God and I'm happy to put in some extra work if it means not supporting them anymore

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Graham44

I have noticed two things with Amazon over the last few years 1) They way they organise, display, filter e-books when you are searching for something new is now bad, really bad (IMO) I have to wade through pages of dross to find a few gems, 2) When it comes to other purchases they are not as competitive as they were, now they've slimmed down the competition their prices are creeping up, or the products are just s***e.

All true, and their search is now so bad and poisoned that searching on DuckDuckGo is better.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Amazon now has too many exclusives. On three occasions I've had to order ordinary household products from them that used to be available in town and also other tech products otherwise unavailable (sometimes no shipping to Ireland on other web sites), or only from much dodgier sites. Most stuff on Amazon DE delivers here (not ebooks) and I've got paper books from Amazon US not available elsewhere (bizarre that works and USA ebooks don't work). Even a radio from Amazon USA available nowhere else. Sadly it didn't work, but return postage from Ireland to USA was free.

I'm no fan of Amazon or their monopolistic practices, or their "Dark UI" selling of Prime and KU etc, but deleting the account isn't the solution. I just buy as much as possible elsewhere.

Fortunately that's not the case in our backwater here. I don't even remember when I last bought something else than ebooks from Amazon. Years ago, probably (I no longer buy paper books). Household stuff I buy from local shops, cat stuff I buy from the German Zooplus, mostly. I've bought electronics, cables and the like from Amazon occasionally, those are not always available in local shops.