Q: How Can I Read iBooks on my Laptop?

keatsfan wrote:

 

I have the Kindle reader. And I have not missed the point, which was made earlier in the thread. When I have bought into the Apple world, why would they restrict how I view content on certain devices and not others.

 

To me, this is not only disrespecting your customers...

I completely agree, so I've just gone elsewehere.

Nothing gets vendors' attention like buying someone else's product.

Frankly, I just use Kindle because it's better designed.

ok - just to let you know, I run a tech advisory company that helps early stage firms develop business models and grow... I work with a lot of VCs and M&A folks, so looking at this stuff every day.

Scenario;

*Apple sells me a license to use the content that they have rights to.

*Apple builds an infrastructure (Walled Garden) made up of many devices that they sell with the promise of everything working together.

*Customers pay a premium for the promise of this "Walled Garden" approach offering fewer headaches (fewer hardware choices and strict control over 3rd party vendors).

All good so far? I am not always happy with this scenario, but it works better for me than the open source approach or the MS approach of the last 10 years.

So here is where things get strange... YES, Apple has the right and the ability to restrict how I use their content... but why would they try to sell me on their vision of interoperability and "it just works" and then start segmenting between iOS and OSX. While I understand that there MAY be (and probably is) a migration path merging the 2 into 1, there is no technical reason to not allow me to access the content that I have bought from the Apple Store/App Store and not be able to access across ALL Apple devices.

Whatever barriers are there have been established by Apple Marketing for some profit-driven motive that flies in the face of the values that Apple has been selling for the last 10 years or so.

So fine, I can download the Kindle reader or any others on my Laptop/iPad/iPhone. But why should I have to and why would Apple want to give Amazon/B&N or anyone else a chance to pry a few dollars from me or maybe even convince me to abandon some/all of their devices?

Seems pretty stupid to me.

I appreciate those who have pointed out alternatives to reading iBooks on the Mac. I think what is bothering most us is Apple's logic to restrict access across Apple-made devices. It is confusing, and goes against principles they seem to promote in other arenas. I think the limitation (and lack of explanation) feels sharper and more hurtful than other business decisions for it seems to be a division within the family (of devices) so to speak.

Please Apple, respond to those who have been supporting (with our purchases) and advocating for the company (with confidence in your logic and vision) for years.

Yes, I'm guessing most people here agree with you.

But, so far at least, Apple hasn't responded.

As a result, the best way to spur change in a vendor is to buy elsewhere.

We don't have to go elsewhere if we don't want to but fortunately it's a choice we have.

At least in this case, we have superior options available. The other ebook solutions available are easier to use, headache free, and have better designed interfaces. For once, Apple is playing catch-up and Amazon and Indigo are leading the way. No doubt, Apple will eventually come up with something competitive. But for now they're getting their lunch eaten on the ease-of-use front.

You might also be right about the convergence of MacOS and iOS.

(As an interface design instructor, I hope that means iOS matures to be more like MacOS, because right now the iOS is a giant step backward in usability and actually has many interaction features that are inept. It has taken minimalism to the point of making the interface obscure and complicated. Everything is less self-evident and less discoverable. The only thing that's easier to do with an iPad than with a laptop is carry it around.)

I agree regarding the OS convergence... do not want Apple to dumb down towards iOS. Will not upgrade my ATV2 to the new GUI and have no interest in my laptop looking like an iPhone.

Anyway... I hope Apple does not force us to walk away before fixing these issues. I hoped for better...

keatsfan

PS - And I really appreciate the input from everyone. Good discussion!

threesixty wrote:

 

...Frankly, I just use Kindle because it's better designed.

For the most part, I agree -- and I've made several purchases from the "Kindle Store" for the very reason that I can read the books from my MBAir, my iPhone(s), my iPad and my Kindle Fire -- in particular, travel books.  Also, the Kindle books tend to run a few dollars less than the same book in the iBookstore. (not a big deal but a curiosity since there are, in theory, 'rules' about price setting in the various stores).

My concern about the Kindle format, however, is that it is in flux and its support varies between the various readers.  Some aspects of the mobi format will only render correctly when the book is viewed on the Fire. 

So, yes, while I can read that book on my Mac or iPad (using the Kindle reader app there) the actual content doesn't render the same as it does on the Fire.  For those non-Fire readers (both the older, Kindle hardware devices and the software-based readers) they are still in a kind of catch-up limbo vis-a-vis the Fire.

Yes, I appreciate that I can, at least, read the book on my Mac, but am I happy that what I see is not what the author intended me to see?  Would it be better if I could only see it on the device that renders it as intended?  It's a tough call.

Hi

Apple just release Kitabu

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/kitabu/id492498910?mt=12

software to read epub format on any mac computer

Kitabu is NOT an Apple product, it is a 3rd party application.  It still will not be able to read iBooks - while iBooks are epub formatted files, they are DRM locked to Apple's iBook app.

Unless the epub file is DRM free, or can be authorized through something like Adobe Digital Editions, even something like Kitabu will not be able to read them.

I scan my books and convert the rtf file to .mobi or .ePub.  If I buy an Android, they seem to have an app, AUDIBLE, that will read my books to me while I'm driving.

This isn't all a copyright issue.

My friend was injured in an accident and cannot read well as a result. But she loves to HEAR books and cannot on her iPhone.  I can loan her books I've scanned... Surely someone, somewhere can come up with an APP that will let her listen to my books.

LEE 3103 wrote:

 

I scan my books and convert the rtf file to .mobi or .ePub.  If I buy an Android, they seem to have an app, AUDIBLE, that will read my books to me while I'm driving.

 

I recommend you start a new discussion for this topic.

The current discussion concerns people wanting to read books on their Mac with their eyes that they have purchased from Apple's iBookstore.  It really has no connection with the process of scanning books and then doing text to speech on the result.

Because of this, I have to buy my books from amazon for kindle. Which there is a kindle app for mac, iphone and ipad.

Hopefully this is resolved with Mountain lion.

CarltonBanks wrote:

 

Hopefully this is resolved with Mountain lion.

Nothing in the info provided about Mountain Lion so far provides any such hope.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/mountain-lion/

Nor can I think of any particular reason why having an iBooks app to OS X requires an OS upgrade.  It is just an app which could have been provided two years ago as easily as next year.

Hello there, Adobe Digital Editions may be able to open it ( it opens epub ) save your book to your desktop then open it in Adobe Digital Editions. hope that helps

No, neither Adobe Digital Editions nor Calibre can open what people who come ot this thread want to open, namely a paid-for iBook from the iBookstore with the customary DRM.

As I have scanned in many books from my library and edited them, the books I want to have read aloud are mine and paid for.