Download books from amazon.com or B&N?

Ms M · 01-27-2011, 09:53 AM

Please have patience with me

... I am new to the eReader world and love that I can download books directly onto my new Kobo WiFi. However, after some conversation with a KOBO tech during my initial setup, I thought I remembered him telling me that I could not download from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Is this true? Also, I've downloaded a book or two through the Kobo Bookstore..how do I "manage" my books through Calibre?

Psyke · 01-27-2011, 10:00 AM

I'm not sure about barns and noble, but you can't download books from Amazon and put them on the kobo as neither of them support the others format. However, if the book is free from digital rights management, then you could put load it into Calibre, and convert it to the epub format that the kobo supports.

managing books in calibre is pretty much telling calibre where the books are and telling it where you want them to be. I'd suggest watching the tutorial video available on calibre's website to get the very basics

Poppaea · 01-27-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms M

Please have patience with me

... I am new to the eReader world and love that I can download books directly onto my new Kobo WiFi. However, after some conversation with a KOBO tech during my initial setup, I thought I remembered him telling me that I could not download from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Is this true? Also, I've downloaded a book or two through the Kobo Bookstore..how do I "manage" my books through Calibre?

No, you can not buy there as easily as you buy at Kobo.

1. All books are coded with something called DRM (DigitalRightsManagement). This is to protect the book from being copied and distributed by the bookloving pirate.

2. Books do come in file formats. Amazon uses Mobi or Topaz. Kobo, Sony and B&N use epub.

3. To complicate matters further B&N sets their own DRM on top of the normaly used DRM.

This means for you: Shop any other store that sells epub, but do not shop B&N and Amazon unless you are willing and able to strip the DRM (not really legal).

Ms M · 01-27-2011, 02:21 PM

Thanks to you both! Now, in regard to Calibre, how do I "tell Calibre where my books are"? I've tried to search (while in Calibre) and the only thing listing is the Quick Start Guide that loaded up when I installed the program...I know, I know... I am technically challenged. Even the video didn't help me get my new book listed in Calibre---although I do have it downloaded on my reader..

Poppaea · 01-27-2011, 02:45 PM

When you look at your Calibre screen there is a red book with a white cross on it on the upper left. This is where you upload your books to Calibre. When you click on it it will open a window that is like your explorer window and you select where Calibre should retrieve the book from.

I am to stupid to make a screenshot with my netbook, sorry....

Canorka · 01-27-2011, 06:27 PM

Or you could just drag and drop the ebook icon into Calibre. Works in OSX, at least...

Anthem · 01-27-2011, 06:42 PM

You can license books through your Kobo/Borders Desktop software (as you know!).

You can also license books for viewing on Borders.com

I also like to purchase or license books on Diesel, Ebooks.com, and Fictionwise.

They will all have ebooks in formats the Kobo will find useful. And Fictionwise has plenty of multiformat ebooks without DRM that will work on nearly anything (but jealously guard the files as you would any possession. Tell your friends to buy their own damn books.).

01-27-2011, 09:53 AM	#1
Ms M Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 4158 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kobo WiFi	Download books from amazon.com or B&N? Please have patience with me... I am new to the eReader world and love that I can download books directly onto my new Kobo WiFi. However, after some conversation with a KOBO tech during my initial setup, I thought I remembered him telling me that I could not download from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Is this true? Also, I've downloaded a book or two through the Kobo Bookstore..how do I "manage" my books through Calibre?

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01-27-2011, 10:00 AM	#2
Psyke Evangelist Posts: 482 Karma: 534340 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ottawa/Canada Device: Kobo Wi-Fi - Kobo Touch - GNex - N7	I'm not sure about barns and noble, but you can't download books from Amazon and put them on the kobo as neither of them support the others format. However, if the book is free from digital rights management, then you could put load it into Calibre, and convert it to the epub format that the kobo supports. managing books in calibre is pretty much telling calibre where the books are and telling it where you want them to be. I'd suggest watching the tutorial video available on calibre's website to get the very basics

01-27-2011, 02:21 PM	#4
Ms M Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 4158 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kobo WiFi	Thanks to you both! Now, in regard to Calibre, how do I "tell Calibre where my books are"? I've tried to search (while in Calibre) and the only thing listing is the Quick Start Guide that loaded up when I installed the program...I know, I know... I am technically challenged. Even the video didn't help me get my new book listed in Calibre---although I do have it downloaded on my reader..

01-27-2011, 02:45 PM	#5
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 2,575 Karma: 20638583 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Kobo Libra Colour	When you look at your Calibre screen there is a red book with a white cross on it on the upper left. This is where you upload your books to Calibre. When you click on it it will open a window that is like your explorer window and you select where Calibre should retrieve the book from. I am to stupid to make a screenshot with my netbook, sorry....

01-27-2011, 06:27 PM	#6
Canorka Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 4254 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Norway Device: Kobo Touch	Or you could just drag and drop the ebook icon into Calibre. Works in OSX, at least...

01-27-2011, 06:42 PM	#7
Anthem Guru Posts: 704 Karma: 1622328 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Oasis, OnePlus Nord	You can license books through your Kobo/Borders Desktop software (as you know!). You can also license books for viewing on Borders.com I also like to purchase or license books on Diesel, Ebooks.com, and Fictionwise. They will all have ebooks in formats the Kobo will find useful. And Fictionwise has plenty of multiformat ebooks without DRM that will work on nearly anything (but jealously guard the files as you would any possession. Tell your friends to buy their own damn books.).

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