I agree with everything in this article, but I also gave up. I accept that when I buy an ebook, it’s not mine, I’m just renting cloud storage for it until the company decides I can’t have it anymore.
This is mostly because the value I extract from it (the format) is the convenience and formatting. I want it now, everywhere, and well formatted for my device, and I want to do as little work as possible to make that happen. I have money and not much time.
Is this short sighted? Probably. But I have come to accept that media is ephemeral, like most things. I just don’t have the time or inclination to be an archivist, much as I wish I did.
Calibre trivializes removing DRM on import, collects your ebooks in a simple directory structure, sharing them on the web to yourself or others, moving books to your device plugged in or wirelessly on your iphone or android with an easy to use app.
It's been around for about 17 years and will probably hang around until the author dies.
Calibre is great! I’ve donated a few times. Alas, I simply don’t have the time or patience to maintain a library like this. It just isn’t worth it to me. I am grateful that the option exists.
Fine if "everywhere" you go is somewhere the DRM allows. For people who cross region borders, it can remove the right you thought you paid for, with no justification. If you want it 'now', read it 'now', then you're also somewhat the DRMed item being 'revised' against your will (happens) or removed by actions of or failure of the publisher (also happens).
This is mostly because the value I extract from it (the format) is the convenience and formatting. I want it now, everywhere, and well formatted for my device, and I want to do as little work as possible to make that happen. I have money and not much time.
Is this short sighted? Probably. But I have come to accept that media is ephemeral, like most things. I just don’t have the time or inclination to be an archivist, much as I wish I did.