this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2024
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149
How to make an Amazon-free Kindle (notes.ghed.in)
submitted 1 month ago by ghedin@lemmy.eco.br to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml 45 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (6 children)

  1. Buy a Kobo EReader.

  2. Hack the EReader so you don't have to sign up with Walmart.

  3. Install Calibre on your PC.

  4. Install Kobo Driver Extension for Calibre.

  5. Use a VPN (I prefer Mullvad), and go to your favorite Book piracy website for epubs.

  6. Download epub books.

  7. Connect Kobo device to your PC via USB.

  8. Use Calibre to upload epub books to Kobo.

  9. Disconnect Kobo from PC.

  10. Profit.

[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I have a kobo but I don’t remember having to do anything with Walmart. Rest is spot on though.

[–] DharkStare@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Kobo was sold exclusively through Walmart in the US (at least when I bought my Kobo). I think they recently ended the partnership.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I thought they've been available directly from Kobo since they launched in the US.

As for other retail stores, they used to be exclusive to Walmart, but I now see them elsewhere (e.g. Target and Amazon both have them).

[–] DharkStare@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Not sure when things changed but all I know is that when I bought mine years ago the Kobo site redirected me to Walmart and that's where I had to buy it. My e-reader even displays the Walmart logo on it when I power it off.

[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 1 points 1 month ago

Got mine off Amazon in 2021, am Murican

[–] teuto@lemmy.teuto.icu 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Bought a kobo recently. Bought it direct from Kobo, Walmart wasn't involved at all in any step. Worked perfectly out of the box with Caliber too. Nice little device, library interface could use some work but it's functional.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

Nice to know. I thought about buying from Walmart so I'd have recourse w/ retail, but if they have any change in firmware, I'll just buy straight from Kobo.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago

Or just:

  1. buy a Kobo eReader from Kobo directly
  2. connect Overdrive w/ your local library

No need for piracy, read a bunch of library books if you don't want to pay for books.

[–] tofubl@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 1 month ago

I recommend installing calibre web on a home server, installing koreader on the Kobo, and accessing your eBook library over your WiFi and OPDS.

Koreader is such a good reading experience, I never want to go back to stock firmware (well, except for the dictionaries maybe, those are better.)

[–] JustARaccoon@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

"make" usually implies already having one, advising to just go out when given the option to recycle an existing kindle with a debloated experience to instead go and buy something else is encouraging ewaste