hello ... did i buy the wrong reader?

jpjoeph · 01-14-2010, 07:46 PM

Hi there,
I just received my shiny new Kindle 2. I love/hate it already. My goal is to not spend $10 every time I want to read a book. I have found some nice free classics from Amazon. BUT what I really want to do is access ebooks from my library. My library offers ebooks in Adobe PDF, EPUB, and Mobipocket formats. I was under the impression before I bought the kindle that these formats could be converted to be usable on the kindle, but now that I've spent several hours trying to figure out how, I realize that either 1) it really isn't possible and I'm doomed to spend lots of money I don't really have on content from Amazon (or cultivate a love of free classics) or 2) I'm just not smart or tech-savvy enough to understand how to accomplish the conversions.

If it's #1, I'd appreciate just knowing that for sure (and getting a recommendation for the best reader that will allow me to use my library). If it's #2, could someone point me to a comprehensive step-by-step guide for people who don't really know what they're doing?

Thanks!
Jenn

happy_terd · 01-14-2010, 10:43 PM

WELCOME TO MR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not own a kindle 2 but to be honest with ya I think that they are all pretty good. I did a bit of research before I purchased mine and they all have their good points and bad points. I think the best place to start looking for more info on the kindle 2 would be here:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=140

after you check there go to the main display area here

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/

and check out some of the free ebooks and other forums regarding maintaining a library and format conversion.

once again welcome to the site.

omk3 · 01-15-2010, 06:24 AM

Welcome!
You should be able to read the mobipocket format on your kindle.
Epub books are much more common in libraries though. If you want to borrow epub books, any epub supporting reader (like the sony, but many others, most actually) will do.
To convert you would have to remove the drm. While I always liberate my purchased books, I would never do this for a library book, it just doesn't seem right

ShortNCuddlyAm · 01-15-2010, 07:03 AM

Welcome to MR!

I can't help with Kindle queries, but the Sony readers will reader PDF and epub if you do decide to get another reader to make use of your local library

Nathan Campos · 01-15-2010, 08:13 AM

Welcome to MobileRead!
You haven't buyed the wrong e-reader, it's a very nice one

Mike L · 01-15-2010, 12:13 PM

Jenn,

You should have no problem at all reading books in Mobi format. You can download them from this forum, or from sites such as Feedbooks, and transfer them directly on the Kindle via a USB cable. No conversion of any kind is necessary.

If that doesn't work for you, let us know what is going wrong. I'm sure the folk here will put you on the right road.

Welcome to the forum, by the way.

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01-14-2010, 07:46 PM	#1
jpjoeph Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle 2	hello ... did i buy the wrong reader? Hi there, I just received my shiny new Kindle 2. I love/hate it already. My goal is to not spend $10 every time I want to read a book. I have found some nice free classics from Amazon. BUT what I really want to do is access ebooks from my library. My library offers ebooks in Adobe PDF, EPUB, and Mobipocket formats. I was under the impression before I bought the kindle that these formats could be converted to be usable on the kindle, but now that I've spent several hours trying to figure out how, I realize that either 1) it really isn't possible and I'm doomed to spend lots of money I don't really have on content from Amazon (or cultivate a love of free classics) or 2) I'm just not smart or tech-savvy enough to understand how to accomplish the conversions. If it's #1, I'd appreciate just knowing that for sure (and getting a recommendation for the best reader that will allow me to use my library). If it's #2, could someone point me to a comprehensive step-by-step guide for people who don't really know what they're doing? Thanks! Jenn

01-14-2010, 10:43 PM	#2
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	WELCOME TO MR!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do not own a kindle 2 but to be honest with ya I think that they are all pretty good. I did a bit of research before I purchased mine and they all have their good points and bad points. I think the best place to start looking for more info on the kindle 2 would be here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=140 after you check there go to the main display area here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/ and check out some of the free ebooks and other forums regarding maintaining a library and format conversion. once again welcome to the site.

01-15-2010, 06:24 AM	#3
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	Welcome! You should be able to read the mobipocket format on your kindle. Epub books are much more common in libraries though. If you want to borrow epub books, any epub supporting reader (like the sony, but many others, most actually) will do. To convert you would have to remove the drm. While I always liberate my purchased books, I would never do this for a library book, it just doesn't seem right

01-15-2010, 07:03 AM	#4
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	Welcome to MR! I can't help with Kindle queries, but the Sony readers will reader PDF and epub if you do decide to get another reader to make use of your local library

01-15-2010, 08:13 AM	#5
Nathan Campos Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 250000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brazil Device: Kindle DX & Kindle (2011)	Welcome to MobileRead! You haven't buyed the wrong e-reader, it's a very nice one

01-15-2010, 12:13 PM	#6
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Jenn, You should have no problem at all reading books in Mobi format. You can download them from this forum, or from sites such as Feedbooks, and transfer them directly on the Kindle via a USB cable. No conversion of any kind is necessary. If that doesn't work for you, let us know what is going wrong. I'm sure the folk here will put you on the right road. Welcome to the forum, by the way.