Have Sony e-reader, swag bucks and amazon GCs, can I use for Kindle files?

[Newfiegirl]

So I got a better than free Sony e-reader this spring. I don't earn a lot of swagbucks anymore just a free $5 smazon gc every now and then. They just converted my affiliate points over to swagbucks, so I decided to get a $5 amazon.com GC. If I use it to buy a kindle file from them, is there a way to use it on my e-reader. I also have access to an iPad if necessary, but would prefer to use the e-reader. I have used pdfs on there before, and upsizing the fonts threw the formatting off a bit but I muddled through. Thanks

[bhlombardy]

I'm afraid to say that you cannot use Amazon Kindle downloads on the Sony eReader.

Here is a concise list of places you can read your Kindle books:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000493771

- Any Amazon Kindle branded device (ie: Kindle, Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, etc)
- Any portable device that has a Kindle app available: (ie: iPad, iPhone, Android tablet, Android phone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7)
- Any PC or MAC computer with the Kindle software installed


However, other dedicated eReaders, like Kobo, Sony's eReader, Nook, etc, cannot access Kindle books and services.

[ashokia]

There are ways to get around the DRM protection on an Amazon file so that you can use a program like Calibre to convert it to epub. I don't see anything wrong with doing as you are buying the book. You should be able to read it on whatever you want. Just google it and you'll find a number of sites/blog posts dedicated to the subject.

[Newfiegirl]

Thanks - Do all amazon Kindle books include the DRM protection? I was just looking to get a cheap book, only available electronically.

[Zonny]

I have two Kindles in my family. Calibre is easy to use and free. Download it and see what you can do with it! A friend shared a couple thousand Kindle books with me, and then another friend shared another pile of Kobo books, which I can convert easily with Calibre.

I do have a moral compass, and thought hard about whether sharing these books is OK. But I thought, if I had these books in paper format, I would have no problem sharing my paper library with my friends. Same thing goes here.

[bhlombardy]

There are ways to get around the DRM protection on an Amazon file so that you can use a program like Calibre to convert it to epub. I don't see anything wrong with doing as you are buying the book. You should be able to read it on whatever you want.

I do have a moral compass, and thought hard about whether sharing these books is OK. But I thought, if I had these books in paper format, I would have no problem sharing my paper library with my friends. Same thing goes here.

First up, someone's personal "thoughts" or "moral compass" on the matter doesnt make the act legit nor legal. Some people's "moral compass" tells them that if they don't have the money to pay for something in the store, that they should steal it. Thankfully there are laws in place to help define right versus wrong when our "moral compass" fails us in this regard.

I might lend my friends a DVD movie that I own so they can watch it, but I know that making a copy for them is illegal.

Making copies of DRM protected Kindle books for other people is akin to copying a copy protected DVD for them. -- or more closely, like photocopying a hard-copy book and giving the copy to your friends... not at all the same as lending them your hard/paper copy... and not at all legal. In fact, the reason DRM exists on such files is to PREVENT such acts. Circumventing DRM is a willfull act to defeat the protection in an effort to "steal" the content or use it in a manner for which it was not intended.

That being said, the OP's request asks if doing so is OK, so she can read on her Sony eReader and if it would work. While it might work, the OP should be informed that breaking DRM is still a violation -- even if you don't distribute the files after the fact. Will you get caught? the likelihood is not... but that doesn't make it right.

[ashokia]

And this is why I don't like Kindle. There are always people looking for Amazon.ca codes. If you are afraid of breaking the law, you can always trade your Amazon.ca codes for some Chapters and download .epub books from Kobo.

I have broken exactly ONE DRM book in the past because I wasn't aware that I wouldn't be able to read the book on my Sony eReader. I didn't share it with the world. I loaded it on my Sony and read the book that I bought and paid for.