how can i read ibooks on my mac

You can't, ibooks from Apple can only be read in the iBooks app on an iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch - there isn't currently a Mac nor PC reader for them.

Unfortunately, it's true. There isn't an iBook reader for OS X than can open DRMs paid-for books from the iBookstore. You would think Apple would fix this oversight. 😟 You can download them and pay for them on your Mac, but you can't read them.

I think the problem lies in the difference between the iDevices and Mac. Macs don't have touch screens. (even though they have touch pads. So, there would have to be some way to provide the same level of interface on the Mac (using the touch pad, maybe?) as is available on iDevices. If Apple would produce such an application it would be a great thing since I have a Macbook Pro as well as a Mac Pro with a touch pad. So, I have hardware that _should_ enable an app to use gestures.

But until Apple produces said app (which probably takes a sales incentive from the iDevices which they also want to sell) for Macs, I guess we're stuck. I don't have an iPad and my iPhone screen just isn't something I want to try viewing full pages of text on. I'm not going to buy an iPad just to read iBooks. No matter what Apple thinks.

With Steve Jobs gone, I fear Apple is going to lose its way again by letting Wall Street run the company into the ground. Most business people have no clue how to run technology companies. Especially not one like Apple. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. More for Apple than for hopes of being able to read iBooks on my Mac/Macbook.

"I'm not going to buy an iPad just to read iBooks. No matter what Apple thinks." IDEM !!!

Apple - you are idiots. Let us read a book on our Macs too. Arrogance reigns

Yep. The same here. I was googling for an answer and got here. Oh well, it looks like the choice is easy - to buy ebooks via Amazon. I already got the Kindle App and was a bit hesitant to buy books because I did not like the scrolling in the Kindle App. The same books that I wanted were available in iTunes, albeit at about 20-40% more than what Amazon wanted. I would likely have paid that if I could read them on my Macbook Air. Without that, my money goes to Amazon (buying 2 Agile/Scrum books at $19.95-$24.95 each. iTunes lists them at $35.99).

Why, oh why?! I really do not like the Kindle app. Why would they push their users toward a flawed competitor product on their own devices? I would like to be coding as well as reading on my glorious 27" iMac. I do not want to have to switch over to reading or looking up references on a separate device. I, too, would pay more for publications on iTunes vs Amazon. This smells like a fiscal decision - I'd love to see the justification for this. What ever happened to the Application Ecosystem concept? I want my data in the cloud and accessible by ALL my devices, which includes my iMac. <sigh>

Hi Elin,

I have just purchased an ibook and have Adobe Digital Editions, I think I downloaded this for free from Adobe quite a while back. I dragged and dropped from itunes the book I purchased into Adobe Digital Editions which I have on my dock and it opened fine and is readable. I hope this helps all those out there having trouble. So yes you can read ibooks purchased on your Mac 🙂

Most of them you can't, they have digital rights management on them that tie them to the iBooks app.

nicsta.J wrote:

I have just purchased an ibook and have Adobe Digital Editions

Neither Adobe Digital Editions nor any other app can be used to read paid-for books from the iBookstore with DRM, which is what most people want to do and why these discussion threads exist.

I was under the impression that Mountain Lion was supposed to change this and make it the same as an iphone/ipad. This is a dissapointment and makes no sense.

a1repair wrote:

I was under the impression that Mountain Lion was supposed to change this and make it the same as an iphone/ipad.

None of the information ever released by Apple about what Mountain Lion would do ever mentioned ibooks. The OS is really irrelevant, you just need them to release an app.

I have searched high and low for a solution to this problem. The logic board on my company iPad just broke (out of warranty), leaving me without a way to read my technical books that I purchased through Apple bookstore.

I have a perfectly good Macbook Pro and external display that I can use. If I had know this ahead of time, I would've purchased the books from Amazon. I only purchased the books through the Apple bookstore because I liked the Apple reading application more. Now, I have to go purchase the same books from Amazon. This doesn't leave me with a good feeling. Even if I do get another iPad, no way will I be purchasing books from Apple.

For Apple to see your views, make sure you post them at

http://www.apple.com/feedback

None of the information ever released by Apple about what Mountain Lion would do ever mentioned ibooks. The OS is really irrelevant, you just need them to release an app.

Tom you sound well versed on this issue. Are you an Apple employee support guru?

All I know is that the marketing strategy Apple used to promote Mountain Lion was that all our Apple devices as well as iMac would in fact be the same. I remember telling my wife prior to the Mountain Lion release that I'd be able to play games & read books (my mistake) just like she has on her iTouch and iPad. I was as happy as a pig in a poke, the reason.... I mistakingly assumed that the abilty to read digital downloads purchased from iTunes/Apple would be part of Mountain Lion.

If what you say:

"you just need them to release an app."

is all it will take, why don't they? 😕