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Q: Will my ebook reader die with Borders?

3457344992_558cf466c5_b[1]A reader left the following question on my contact page yesterday. While I normally try to answer questions like this by email, I thought this one needed to be answered on the blog. James probably isn’t the only with this problem, and I’d like to help everyone at once.

I don’t have the specific details of James' situation, so I’m going to try to cover all possible solutions. But let me give the short answer first:

  • Don’t worry. All tablets and ebook readers that were tied to the Borders ebookstore will also work with the Kobo ebookstore (as well as other ebookstores, but that’s a later post).

James writes:

I just purchased my Slick E book. Since border is going out of business, will books still be available? (As soon as I figure out how to download them for my wife. She averages 5 romance novels per week.)

-THANKS

Here are some of the situations that might apply to you.They’re not complete instructions, but they are enough to point you in the right direction. Please read them all; you might have to follow more than one set of instructions.

I have a Borders E-reader – You can just as easily buy ebooks from Kobo and they will work on your ebook reader just fine.

  • All you need to do is download the Kobo Desktop app and install it. The Kobo app is the exact same software as the Borders app and it will work with your ebook reader.

I have a Borders Tablet – There are still some of these out there, so I thought it deserved a mention. The tablet owner is in even a better situation that the ebook reader owner.

  • All of the tablets sold at Borders run on Android, which means you can get reading apps from other ebookstores and shop in those other ebookstores. But it will take some jumping through hoops to get the apps. Click here and read the section about finding and installing apps.

I have ebooks from Borders – Have you moved them over from Borders to Kobo?

  • If not, go to Borders.com, log in to your account, and follow the instructions on how to transfer the ebooks to a new account at Kobo.
  • After you’ve moved the ebooks, you might want to download the Kobo Desktop app and install it.You can use Kobo Desktop to manage your ebooks.

I have a Borders reading app – Which one? It’s a complicated question, but generally there you will need to download a replacement Kobo app.

  • If the app is on your iPhone or iPad, go to the appstore on your device and download the Kobo app.  Set up an account and your ebooks should also work with the new app (assuming you already moved them over from Birders to Kobo).
  • If the app is on your computer, then go download the Kobo Desktop app and install it.
  • If the app is on your Android tablet then you might have to jump through some hoops to get the Kobo app. If you know where you got the app, go back to the same place and look for a Kobo app. If that doesn’t help, click here and read the section about finding and installing apps.

I think I covered all the bases. If I missed something please ask your question in the comments.

image by brewbooks

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Comments


KLeRosier August 3, 2011 um 10:07 am

What an excellent resource you’ve provided.

I’m putting a link on my blog to your post. Why reinvent a very thorough wheel.

Thank you for such an informative blog.


Lola August 6, 2011 um 3:57 pm

I just found your site–good info! Will bookmark.

I bought a few books through Borders with a desktop Adobe ereader and a slick ereader. I buy epubs when at all possible. I’ve moved the few books on Borders to my slick using Adobe, and have the epub files backed up to calibre. Will I be okay when Borders disappears? I really don’t want to download Kobo.

Thanks!

Nate Hoffelder August 6, 2011 um 4:18 pm

Yes, your ebooks should be fine. But you will still need to move your account over to Kobo just to keep them safe..


linda nolin August 7, 2011 um 8:39 am

Now that Borders book stores are going out of business would it be worth buying the Slick 7″ color ereader from Borders

Nate Hoffelder August 7, 2011 um 8:45 am

The death of borders won’t matter much to your Slick ebook reader; you’ll still be able to buy and read ebooks from Kobo.

Right now you should be deciding whether to buy it based on price and abilities. Do you like the price and does it do what you need?


Borders ereaders and ebooks after bankruptcy | Science Thriller Book Reviews August 10, 2011 um 2:33 pm

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Borders Closing Sale Enters Final Weeks – eBookNewser August 25, 2011 um 4:11 pm

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dee September 9, 2011 um 2:21 am

Today is 9/8/11. Just now reading about the closings. I have a gift card that has NOT been used. The store in Springfield, Missouri is closed. I am wondering about using at an online site. Could you help with a specific address and an expiration date for gift cards? Or is it worth nothing now? Such a shame for my friend who used her hard-earned money on a birthday gift card at Borders for me!!


rosie December 6, 2011 um 10:22 pm

Here is my problem. I have not had access to an older laptop for a number of months. It has the border’s desktop on it, of which i had purchased a few books on. I now can not locate the books i purchased on the computer, and borders just updated to Kobo and I do not have an account with them, and to complicate matters i am now divorced and no longer use or even can use the e-mail address the border’s books were purchased through. and that software used a username not a e-mail for sign in…

am i just screwed?
Rosie

Nate Hoffelder December 8, 2011 um 11:15 pm

Yes, sorry.


Christopher December 11, 2011 um 7:06 pm

Im new to the whole ereader business. Bought a slick from dollar generals website for $55 because I wanted to see if I liked the whole nonpaper books. Any advice at all before I get it? Any help will do. Thank you in advance.


New Grandma December 25, 2011 um 6:01 pm

I need to find instructions for the Borders Slick ereader. Can you help?

Nate Hoffelder December 25, 2011 um 6:09 pm

First, here’s the customer service email for the Slick:
[email protected]

And here is the user guide:
http://www.slickusa.com/support/downloads/ER-700.pdf

What are trying to do, exactly?


dorothy January 14, 2012 um 2:47 pm

i JUST BOUGHT A SLICK FOR 40$–jUST TO TRY OUT THE EREADER. I found the kobo desktop for the vox–will that desktop work properly with the slick? Also, I downloaded about 39 books from the kobo site. They appear on my desktop, but no matter how many times I sync to the slick, I can only get 21 books to download. Any ideas?


Deborah McLain February 2, 2012 um 7:03 pm

I’m totally stupid about installing apps and downloading materials. Is there any place like a bookstore that would do this or help me do it ?


val March 9, 2012 um 12:07 am

I am looking for ereader apps that will download free books directly to my NOOK COLOR? I have already downloaded all the free barnes n noble free books that has over 2,000,000 books on it. Don’t want to go thru my computer. I downloaded one app already that went directly to my Apps and it gives me free books every coupke days. I have searched to the point of frustation. Can u help me? Thank u


Jaime March 25, 2012 um 6:45 pm

I recieved a Borders E-Reader (Cruz) for christmas and it is no longer working. The person who purchased it for me got the insurance for it. Since Borders is no longer in business who is handling the warranty for the readers? How can I get hold of them?

Nate Hoffelder March 25, 2012 um 7:48 pm

The Cruz tablet was developed by Velocity Micro:
http://www.velocitymicro.com/

I’d look on their site for warranty info. Tell them you got it on Christmas. Amazon is still selling it, so that’s not unreasonable.

Tammie Roller September 24, 2012 um 6:42 pm

I also have a cruz and purchased the 2 year warranty plan thru borders. Now the cruz is has failed and is covered under the 2 year service warranty. When I called them it goes to Barnes and Noble and they said they did not have to cover Borders warranties. I could not file a claim. Is this true? On the service contract there was another number for disputed claims so I sent them all the information per instructions given on a recording. Am I out of luck or is the warranty purchased still valid even though there is no longer a Borders ? Name of warranty is Borders Protection pack Level 1 Velocity Reader.

Tammie Roller September 26, 2012 um 4:10 pm

I was contacted by Service Net who the protection plan was provided by and advised me they do still honor valid warranties purchased at Borders. They have solved and in the process of satisfying my claim. Just wanted to update on here there is after market coverage for warranties bought at borders provided by Service Net!!!
Thanks!


Angela April 1, 2012 um 1:26 am

I had a Borders account that held books I’d purchased. Didn’t access it during the changeover to B&N though. How can I still get may books? Did I lose them forever?

Nate Hoffelder April 1, 2012 um 10:18 am

It changed to Kobo, not B&N.

And I don’t know if it changed or if your account simple vanished. Try logging in to the Kobo website with your old Borders account and let’s see what happens.

Angela April 1, 2012 um 11:34 am

Found the info in Kobo’s customer care. I’m out of luck.

Jenn May 23, 2012 um 10:51 pm

I don’t think they notified everyone that there was a deadline. Every time I’ve logged into my Borders app on my phone – including today – it tells me to migrate. "To enjoy continued support, transfer your Borders eBooks to Kobo. Keep your books…" I had tried numerous times with no luck, but didn’t think anything of it because I wasn’t in a rush to read those books. Now I’m out about $50. I think Kobo is scamming us suckers to try to get us to re-purchase all those books, but I won’t do business with them ever again. I’ve been arguing with their useless support desk via e-mail for a few days now. I want to know why my app is still telling me to migrate if I can’t.


Gene February 19, 2016 um 12:25 pm

can amazon books be used on my ER 700?

Nate Hoffelder February 19, 2016 um 12:37 pm

Only if you remove the DRM first, and sometimes the ebook still can’t be read on your ereader.

Sorry.


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