College Text ebooks

hnoto · 02-18-2012, 03:44 PM

I am taking some postgrad courses at a college where ALL our texts are online in pdf format. I love the ebooks of course, but for one thing. These books are all password locked, requiring me to unlock every time I open them with my school username and pw. I would love to be able to put these texts on my reader instead of reading on-screen. Now, I'm not asking anyone to tell me how to break any copyright rules. The question is, is it possible to work around this password requirement? I have a sony and so it isn't wi-fi connected and so I can't enter the pw on it for the book.

Philosophically, anyone else think this is dumb? I did PAY for the book...why can't I put it on my reader so I can read it, oh, on the bus or somewhere I'm not hooked up to the internet?

Any ideas?

Billi · 02-18-2012, 04:39 PM

I don't know if there is a technical workaround, maybe it would be best to ask the technical stuff of your college if they could provide you the ebooks in another way, maybe protected via Adobe DRM.

But I have my doubts if you would become very happy reading the textbooks on your Sony 505. It may be that these pdf files are produced for a far bigger page size than A6/6"/15 cm. If this is the case the books won't be readable on your Sony Reader because his size is too small.

But of course you're right, this is more than dumb.

anamardoll · 02-18-2012, 07:36 PM

You can definitely download PDF unlocking "conversion" tools (converts from a password-protected PDF to one that isn't), and it's greatly simplified by the fact that you already even have the password.

Nate the great · 02-18-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hnoto

I am taking some postgrad courses at a college where ALL our texts are online in pdf format. I love the ebooks of course, but for one thing. These books are all password locked, requiring me to unlock every time I open them with my school username and pw. I would love to be able to put these texts on my reader instead of reading on-screen. Now, I'm not asking anyone to tell me how to break any copyright rules. The question is, is it possible to work around this password requirement? I have a sony and so it isn't wi-fi connected and so I can't enter the pw on it for the book.

Philosophically, anyone else think this is dumb? I did PAY for the book...why can't I put it on my reader so I can read it, oh, on the bus or somewhere I'm not hooked up to the internet?

Any ideas?

We can't answer that until we know what system your school is using to manage the passwords. There are a bunch of possibilities.

Got a link?

02-18-2012, 03:44 PM	#1
hnoto Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 177180 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Device: Sony PRS 505	College Text ebooks I am taking some postgrad courses at a college where ALL our texts are online in pdf format. I love the ebooks of course, but for one thing. These books are all password locked, requiring me to unlock every time I open them with my school username and pw. I would love to be able to put these texts on my reader instead of reading on-screen. Now, I'm not asking anyone to tell me how to break any copyright rules. The question is, is it possible to work around this password requirement? I have a sony and so it isn't wi-fi connected and so I can't enter the pw on it for the book. Philosophically, anyone else think this is dumb? I did PAY for the book...why can't I put it on my reader so I can read it, oh, on the bus or somewhere I'm not hooked up to the internet? Any ideas? Last edited by hnoto; 02-18-2012 at 04:07 PM.

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02-18-2012, 04:39 PM	#2
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	I don't know if there is a technical workaround, maybe it would be best to ask the technical stuff of your college if they could provide you the ebooks in another way, maybe protected via Adobe DRM. But I have my doubts if you would become very happy reading the textbooks on your Sony 505. It may be that these pdf files are produced for a far bigger page size than A6/6"/15 cm. If this is the case the books won't be readable on your Sony Reader because his size is too small. But of course you're right, this is more than dumb.

02-18-2012, 07:36 PM	#3
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	You can definitely download PDF unlocking "conversion" tools (converts from a password-protected PDF to one that isn't), and it's greatly simplified by the fact that you already even have the password.

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