Comments on: A DRM dilemma: What should I do?

By: Alan Wallcraft

Alan Wallcraft — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:50:10 +0000

John: Most Kindle ebooks have a sample first option, so one way to detect TOPAZ is to get the sample (requires whispernet access). Another way that seems to work is that AZW ebooks list file size and print length but TOPAZ only lists print length.

There are many reasons for avoiding TOPAZ. Page turns are slow and the embedded fonts are not anti-aliased (and sometimes have other defects). The transfer from pbook to ebook is often poorly done as well. TOPAZ is most often used for technical books, because MOBI (AZW) does not have a mono-spaced font capability (among other issues).

By: chris bates

chris bates — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:06:07 +0000

I agree with Rick, buy the hardcover – that way the author gets a better cut on the royalty.

The connection between the author’s words and the reader’s enjoyment is what reading is about – not DRM, not corporate middle-man, not even publishers.

Support your authors. Or alternatively, don’t.

You can always forget about books and watch some of the many cerebral reality TV shows for entertainment!

By: Paul Durrant

Paul Durrant — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:00:25 +0000

If I was buying the choice would be easier. I could buy the hardback for

By: Gary Frost

Gary Frost — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:39:34 +0000

False choice. DRM format is not relevant; the e-book is still owned by the screen and the p-book is still owned by the paper. The real choice is selection between the attributes of paper or screen. You will never be able to physically compare two e-books side by side or re-read an e-book excerpt quickly twenty years later or self-authenticate the edition in hand four hundred years later. My guess is that the original posting references a p-book act. On the other hand the e-book has one click convenience and immediacy to say nothing of its finding and text parsing aids. So which sort of “ownership” is desired? Probably both.

By: John Hagewood

John Hagewood — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:08:54 +0000

I completely agree with what BBusyBookworm said and have taken a similar stance myself. I have a PRS-505 but refuse to buy from Sony for this reason (and other quality issues I’ve had with them).

I am thinking of getting a Kindle this year, so I have a question: can one TELL before purchasing a Kindle book which flavor of DRM is has?

By: clark

clark — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:56:35 +0000

I don’t know. I’ve broken my no drm rule before for instant gratification, but every time i have I get the immediate pangs of buyers remorse. DRMed books will never be yours and $15 is a lot to pay to rent a book.

By: Rich Adin

Rich Adin — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:07:11 +0000

Buy the hardcover and if you like it as much as you think you will, share the book with friends. I am opposed to supporting Amazon’s ebook strategy, which, I believe, if it prevails over the course of time, will be even more anticonsumer and pro-Amazon than currently. Why encourage Amazon?

I am even more opposed to high-priced DRMed ebooks, and buying them sends the wrong message. A DRMed book is not worth more than $8 and actually should be priced like a movie rental (or less).

By: BBusyBookworm

BBusyBookworm — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:12:58 +0000

I’ll have to say that while tempting, It’ll really depend on what format its available in at the kindle store. i.e. Mobi or Topaz.

I’ve made a personal decision sometime in the past to only buy books whose DRM can be removed if I need to, so that is the publisher goes out of business or CHANGES their Mind or T&C(I’m looking at you Overdrive / Hatchett) I’ll still have the book I paid for.

So If the book is in Azw (Mobi) format and not Azw1 or .Tpz (Topaz) and are comfortable in stripping the DRM then go for it.

Now I’m not saying you have to do it if you don’t need to, but I’ve found that just having the capability to do so if needed makes me comfortable enough to Pay reasonably high prices for DRM protected books which I would not buy otherwise.

By: Nixy Valentine

Nixy Valentine — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:57:25 +0000

That’s still cheaper than booksonboard.com or ebooks.com, so it seems like a good deal.

I say buy it.