6 ms·

Looking at it, seems like Scribe is $339 and Elipsa is $399. Also, if you already have a huge Kindle library, makes little sense to change reader and lose it

tjoff 4y ago
It never made any sense to have a huge library locked to a vendor. And there are ways to convert your library so you don't have to make the same mistake twice.
- FalconSensei 4y ago
  Unless you pirate, for most publishers, there's no way to buy books without DRM. If you buy books for Kobo, you are locked on Kobo. Also, last time I tried, Kobo's phone app was just not good. There was no vertical scroll like Kindle, the animations were not smooth. The online store is also a bit weirder for me to navigate - but that might be just me. And last, if it was not bought at their online store, it won't have sync between devices, AFAIK
  - tjoff 4y ago
    There are trivial ways to strip the DRM though. And I always do that regardless if the DRM is native for my device. If that wasn't an option I'd never buy a single ebook.
    - DennisP 4y ago
      But you can strip Amazon's DRM too, so I don't see why the two platforms aren't equivalent.
      - kcartlidge 4y ago
        For me the main difference I've found is that ebooks stripped of DRM tend to end up in EPUB form as the presumption is you're ensuring the books remain accessible on future platforms so you're going for an open and 'standard' format. At which point it's then common to tidy up things like the book metadata (eg correct the genre or add a series identifier). That in turn means the DRM-free EPUB version becomes the better version, so the native and network-free support of side-loading EPUB books on the Kobo etc is a useful thing.
        dividedbyzero 4y ago
        Don't other readers support Amazon's format as well, if de-DRM-ed?
        FalconSensei 4y ago
        as mentioned in another comment: if you are already using calibre and de-drm-ing, you are 1 click away to convert to epub, so yeah, so big deal
        filmgirlcw 4y ago
        But once you DeDRM in Calibre, it’s literally one click to convert it to ePub. My workflow for removing DRM from all my Kindle books is literally to just use Calibre, the plugins and then convert. It takes the exact amount of time it would take for using a Kobo device. Side-loading ePub on Kindle is now a thing btw with the personal document system. So you can literally just email files to your Kindle address.
        selfhoster11 4y ago
        Send to Kindle is a very convenient way to push ebooks to a Kindle device (though it needs network access of course). It's supposed to support EPUB too, unless it already does. I never had issues side-loading EPUBs to a Kindle with Calibre (the de-facto ebook management application standard), so I don't think that's a problem.
      - tjoff 4y ago
        Which was my point. Then why would you say: > Also, if you already have a huge Kindle library, makes little sense to change reader and lose it Despite them being equivalent you still feel locked in. Which is why I do it preemptively.
- dividedbyzero 4y ago
  It's ridiculously absurdly convenient. Someone recommends a book to me or I see one mentioned, I quickly Amazon it, one click to send a sample to my Kindle. Amazon has everything, I can't remember when I last couldn't get something there. When I finish a book, I always have a bunch of samples, and Amazon gives you a decent portion of the book, so they're actually useful. If I like a sample, it's two or three taps to buy it and continue reading. I don't know any other store that sells such a wide selection of ebooks in both my native language and English to a EU resident. I'm reading a lot more than I did before my Kindle because I don't have the friction of finding book recommendations in my notes and finding a store and getting the purchased book on the device, and the device is fun too. De-DRM-ed backups aren't necessarily a bad idea though, I'm with you on that.
  - kwertyoowiyop 4y ago
    This is the first time I’ve seen ‘Amazon’ verbed. Amazon marketing execs are now experiencing an unexplained sensation of joy. :-)
  - FalconSensei 4y ago
    > It's ridiculously absurdly convenient. Exactly. While de-drm-ing things for backup is nice (although I could just torrent it anyway if that's the case), some people often forget why we use kindle and the it's 'ecosystem'. Great selection on many languages, good device, good apps for mac/windows/android/iphone/ipad, extremely convenient, constant sales on books, etc...
  - themadturk 4y ago
    As an aspiring author, I believe in paying for books to support authors. I may also believe that I own the books I've paid for. Take from that what you will...
    - abawany 4y ago
      One necessarily doesn't follow the other - people pay for their ebooks and then dedrm them to no longer be locked into the ebook device vendor's ecosystem.

tjoff 4y ago

It never made any sense to have a huge library locked to a vendor. And there are ways to convert your library so you don't have to make the same mistake twice.

FalconSensei 4y ago
Unless you pirate, for most publishers, there's no way to buy books without DRM. If you buy books for Kobo, you are locked on Kobo. Also, last time I tried, Kobo's phone app was just not good. There was no vertical scroll like Kindle, the animations were not smooth. The online store is also a bit weirder for me to navigate - but that might be just me. And last, if it was not bought at their online store, it won't have sync between devices, AFAIK
- tjoff 4y ago
  There are trivial ways to strip the DRM though. And I always do that regardless if the DRM is native for my device. If that wasn't an option I'd never buy a single ebook.
  - DennisP 4y ago
    But you can strip Amazon's DRM too, so I don't see why the two platforms aren't equivalent.
    - kcartlidge 4y ago
      For me the main difference I've found is that ebooks stripped of DRM tend to end up in EPUB form as the presumption is you're ensuring the books remain accessible on future platforms so you're going for an open and 'standard' format. At which point it's then common to tidy up things like the book metadata (eg correct the genre or add a series identifier). That in turn means the DRM-free EPUB version becomes the better version, so the native and network-free support of side-loading EPUB books on the Kobo etc is a useful thing.
      - dividedbyzero 4y ago
        Don't other readers support Amazon's format as well, if de-DRM-ed?
        FalconSensei 4y ago
        as mentioned in another comment: if you are already using calibre and de-drm-ing, you are 1 click away to convert to epub, so yeah, so big deal
      - filmgirlcw 4y ago
        But once you DeDRM in Calibre, it’s literally one click to convert it to ePub. My workflow for removing DRM from all my Kindle books is literally to just use Calibre, the plugins and then convert. It takes the exact amount of time it would take for using a Kobo device. Side-loading ePub on Kindle is now a thing btw with the personal document system. So you can literally just email files to your Kindle address.
      - selfhoster11 4y ago
        Send to Kindle is a very convenient way to push ebooks to a Kindle device (though it needs network access of course). It's supposed to support EPUB too, unless it already does. I never had issues side-loading EPUBs to a Kindle with Calibre (the de-facto ebook management application standard), so I don't think that's a problem.
    - tjoff 4y ago
      Which was my point. Then why would you say: > Also, if you already have a huge Kindle library, makes little sense to change reader and lose it Despite them being equivalent you still feel locked in. Which is why I do it preemptively.
dividedbyzero 4y ago
It's ridiculously absurdly convenient. Someone recommends a book to me or I see one mentioned, I quickly Amazon it, one click to send a sample to my Kindle. Amazon has everything, I can't remember when I last couldn't get something there. When I finish a book, I always have a bunch of samples, and Amazon gives you a decent portion of the book, so they're actually useful. If I like a sample, it's two or three taps to buy it and continue reading. I don't know any other store that sells such a wide selection of ebooks in both my native language and English to a EU resident. I'm reading a lot more than I did before my Kindle because I don't have the friction of finding book recommendations in my notes and finding a store and getting the purchased book on the device, and the device is fun too. De-DRM-ed backups aren't necessarily a bad idea though, I'm with you on that.
- kwertyoowiyop 4y ago
  This is the first time I’ve seen ‘Amazon’ verbed. Amazon marketing execs are now experiencing an unexplained sensation of joy. :-)
- FalconSensei 4y ago
  > It's ridiculously absurdly convenient. Exactly. While de-drm-ing things for backup is nice (although I could just torrent it anyway if that's the case), some people often forget why we use kindle and the it's 'ecosystem'. Great selection on many languages, good device, good apps for mac/windows/android/iphone/ipad, extremely convenient, constant sales on books, etc...
- themadturk 4y ago
  As an aspiring author, I believe in paying for books to support authors. I may also believe that I own the books I've paid for. Take from that what you will...
  - abawany 4y ago
    One necessarily doesn't follow the other - people pay for their ebooks and then dedrm them to no longer be locked into the ebook device vendor's ecosystem.