Do you load pdfs on K2, or convert to mobi?

Sydney's Mom · 01-19-2010, 03:27 PM

I have been converting everything to mobi, using Mobipocket Creator. But I recently got a K2 and know K2 can read non-DRMd PDF. So does it look any better? I know I could do it myself, but I am at work. I thought I remembered reading that text size doesn't work in PDF.

So do you still convert, or read pdfs?

Americanchild · 01-19-2010, 03:35 PM

I use Mobi to convert. Looks much better and you can adjust the text size which you can't do with a native PDF on Kindle 2. I tried using Calibre to convert the PDFs but Mobi professional just does a better job and it is free too.

daffy4u · 01-19-2010, 03:36 PM

I don't read PDF books. The PDFs I prefer to put on my Kindle (99%), are those I've made myself. I make them with MS Word and make the page size the dimensions of the screen with a larger font. Then I use CutePDF to print to PDF.

If it's a document with links, I use the CutePDF software to add them in after the PDF is created. There may be software better suited for this but this is software I use for work and am more familiar with.

Zorz · 01-21-2010, 02:11 AM

PDF to EPUB to Mobi is much better on the kindle than PFD to Mobi.

Americanchild · 01-21-2010, 10:01 AM

What converter are you using to go from PDF to EPub to Mobi?

AnemicOak · 01-21-2010, 10:06 AM

I usually export the PDF to HTML using Acrobat Pro and then depending on the results use Book Designer and then Sigil or just Sigil to create an ePub, then convert to Mobi using Calibre. Can take some time, but I'm kinda picky about how things look.

I have a couple of PDFs that, after trimming the margins, are close enough to screen size that I've read them as PDFs, but while they read fine I still prefer Mobi.

daffy4u · 01-21-2010, 10:15 AM

I just converted a book from pdf to epub with Calibre. It had no chapters, so I used Sigil to create them. It's all so time consuming but it was a great learning exercise.

Americanchild · 01-21-2010, 12:23 PM

Oh no, a new application I haven't tried, Sigil! I feel like a junior programmer. LOL. Ok, I guess I will try some new things this weekend. Thanks everyone, you are all wonderful.

gatorfan · 01-21-2010, 02:09 PM

I converted one of my reference books from pdf to mobi so far.

Basic Radiation Protection Technology Rev 5.

Zorz · 01-21-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Americanchild

What converter are you using to go from PDF to EPub to Mobi?

calibre does it,

thorn · 01-23-2010, 06:58 PM

If a pdf is a single huge column/normal-looking textblock, I convert so I can have the note-taking, underlining, and integrated dictionary functionality.

I'm reading heaps of articles for a class, right now, and all of those available as pdf-only are 2-or-more columns. Like the New Yorker or New York Times in print. In my experience, those don't convert *at all*. If something's changed on that, someone Please Let Me Know.

The last time I tried converting multi-column pdf's with Mobipocket Creator and Calibre, it strung line 1 of columns 1-3 (and lines 2, 3, etc.) all together into a single line that made no sense read on the Kindle.

These days, I just move any multi-column pdf's directly onto my K2, and read in landscape mode. For my life, it's better than spring semester last year (from Feb. on). Back then, the only practical means I had to avoid printing my pdf readings, was to read them on my iPod touch -- first via Evernote (sync, 'favorite' everything for offline reading... better than printing, but a hassle); then using GoodReader (which was 5 bucks, but worth it). GoodReader and Evernote don't allow note-taking on pdf's any more than Kindle does; I'm just glad to have everything on one device.

Sydney's Mom · 01-26-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Americanchild

What converter are you using to go from PDF to EPub to Mobi?

I just go PDF to Mobi using Mobipocket Creator.

Ea · 01-27-2010, 02:49 PM

I only put PDFs I created myself on my Kindle, so I can create them with a page size that matches the screen.

The PDF viewer on Kindle can't - as far as I'm aware - zoom, but only display the PDF fit-to-width, and most PDFs are created with a larger page size. It makes the PDF viewer very limited - but I'm still glad it's there. With some documents, such as recipes or travel itineries, it's nice to be sure that a certain set of information is displayed on one page.
Edit: almost wrote 'time travel itineries'

- when will technology catch up?

01-19-2010, 03:27 PM	#1
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,895 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Do you load pdfs on K2, or convert to mobi? I have been converting everything to mobi, using Mobipocket Creator. But I recently got a K2 and know K2 can read non-DRMd PDF. So does it look any better? I know I could do it myself, but I am at work. I thought I remembered reading that text size doesn't work in PDF. So do you still convert, or read pdfs?

01-23-2010, 06:58 PM	#11
thorn Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 7940 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: currently: ipod touch	If a pdf is a single huge column/normal-looking textblock, I convert so I can have the note-taking, underlining, and integrated dictionary functionality. I'm reading heaps of articles for a class, right now, and all of those available as pdf-only are 2-or-more columns. Like the New Yorker or New York Times in print. In my experience, those don't convert at all. If something's changed on that, someone Please Let Me Know. The last time I tried converting multi-column pdf's with Mobipocket Creator and Calibre, it strung line 1 of columns 1-3 (and lines 2, 3, etc.) all together into a single line that made no sense read on the Kindle. These days, I just move any multi-column pdf's directly onto my K2, and read in landscape mode. For my life, it's better than spring semester last year (from Feb. on). Back then, the only practical means I had to avoid printing my pdf readings, was to read them on my iPod touch -- first via Evernote (sync, 'favorite' everything for offline reading... better than printing, but a hassle); then using GoodReader (which was 5 bucks, but worth it). GoodReader and Evernote don't allow note-taking on pdf's any more than Kindle does; I'm just glad to have everything on one device. Last edited by thorn; 01-23-2010 at 07:01 PM.

01-27-2010, 02:49 PM	#13
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I only put PDFs I created myself on my Kindle, so I can create them with a page size that matches the screen. The PDF viewer on Kindle can't - as far as I'm aware - zoom, but only display the PDF fit-to-width, and most PDFs are created with a larger page size. It makes the PDF viewer very limited - but I'm still glad it's there. With some documents, such as recipes or travel itineries, it's nice to be sure that a certain set of information is displayed on one page. Edit: almost wrote 'time travel itineries' - when will technology catch up? Last edited by Ea; 01-27-2010 at 02:51 PM.

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01-19-2010, 03:35 PM	#2
Americanchild Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 150 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2	I use Mobi to convert. Looks much better and you can adjust the text size which you can't do with a native PDF on Kindle 2. I tried using Calibre to convert the PDFs but Mobi professional just does a better job and it is free too.

01-19-2010, 03:36 PM	#3
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I don't read PDF books. The PDFs I prefer to put on my Kindle (99%), are those I've made myself. I make them with MS Word and make the page size the dimensions of the screen with a larger font. Then I use CutePDF to print to PDF. If it's a document with links, I use the CutePDF software to add them in after the PDF is created. There may be software better suited for this but this is software I use for work and am more familiar with.

01-21-2010, 02:11 AM	#4
Zorz Zealot Posts: 134 Karma: 36 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kindle 2i	PDF to EPUB to Mobi is much better on the kindle than PFD to Mobi.

01-21-2010, 10:01 AM	#5
Americanchild Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 150 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2	What converter are you using to go from PDF to EPub to Mobi?

01-21-2010, 10:06 AM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I usually export the PDF to HTML using Acrobat Pro and then depending on the results use Book Designer and then Sigil or just Sigil to create an ePub, then convert to Mobi using Calibre. Can take some time, but I'm kinda picky about how things look. I have a couple of PDFs that, after trimming the margins, are close enough to screen size that I've read them as PDFs, but while they read fine I still prefer Mobi.

01-21-2010, 10:15 AM	#7
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I just converted a book from pdf to epub with Calibre. It had no chapters, so I used Sigil to create them. It's all so time consuming but it was a great learning exercise.

01-21-2010, 12:23 PM	#8
Americanchild Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 150 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2	Oh no, a new application I haven't tried, Sigil! I feel like a junior programmer. LOL. Ok, I guess I will try some new things this weekend. Thanks everyone, you are all wonderful.

01-21-2010, 02:09 PM	#9
gatorfan Member Posts: 20 Karma: 28 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle, Jetbook	I converted one of my reference books from pdf to mobi so far. Basic Radiation Protection Technology Rev 5.

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