questions on Kindle 3

[sereniteit]

Hi all,

I have ordered a Kindle 3G and I am awaiting its arrival.

I have a few questions which I hope you can help me with...


* I have a great number of pocket books in PDF format. I know that Kindle can handle PDF.
Is it useful to convert the PDF files to .mobi (with calibre) beforehand or is the PDF format sufficiently well handled?

* Same question for HTML, Word, etc. formats. Better to convert or is it OK to view them in Kindle in the native format?

* I have read that outside the US (I am in Flanders, Europe) the Kindle browser can only access the Amazon shop site and Wikipedia. However, is that also true when one is accessing the internet via the own home wifi connection?

* Any chance of turning DRM protected epub books into .mobi?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by sereniteit

* I have a great number of pocket books in PDF format. I know that Kindle can handle PDF.
Is it useful to convert the PDF files to .mobi (with calibre) beforehand or is the PDF format sufficiently well handled?

The problem with most PDF documents is that they are formatted for a page size much larger than the Kindle 3's screen. The Kindle does not support PDF reflow, meaning that the page will probably be too small to view without zooming in and panning around it, which really doesn't work terribly well. Generally speaking, PDF is an extremely poor choice of format for eBooks.

* Same question for HTML, Word, etc. formats. Better to convert or is it OK to view them in Kindle in the native format?

The Kindle cannot display these in their native format; you'll have to convert them.

* I have read that outside the US (I am in Flanders, Europe) the Kindle browser can only access the Amazon shop site and Wikipedia. However, is that also true when one is accessing the internet via the own home wifi connection?

Whether or not you get full web access depends on which country your Kindle is registered in. Eg, in the UK we do have full web access. I think, though, you'll find that web browsing on the Kindle is not a very rewarding experience; eInk screens, with their slow refresh rate, are far from ideal for the purpose. If you're connected via WiFi you'll have full web access no matter where you are.

* Any chance of turning DRM protected epub books into .mobi?

Yes, there are tools which will do it. However, we have a site policy of not providing detailed assistance with DRM removal. Google for "Apprentice Alf's Blog" and you'll find all the information you need.

[RexGalore]

Originally Posted by sereniteit

Hi all,

I have ordered a Kindle 3G and I am awaiting its arrival.

I have a few questions which I hope you can help me with...


* I have a great number of pocket books in PDF format. I know that Kindle can handle PDF.
Is it useful to convert the PDF files to .mobi (with calibre) beforehand or is the PDF format sufficiently well handled?

* Same question for HTML, Word, etc. formats. Better to convert or is it OK to view them in Kindle in the native format?

* I have read that outside the US (I am in Flanders, Europe) the Kindle browser can only access the Amazon shop site and Wikipedia. However, is that also true when one is accessing the internet via the own home wifi connection?

* Any chance of turning DRM protected epub books into .mobi?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

1: I'd say it's generally better to convert to mobi, since PDF won't reflow. So all to often I find the PDFs hard to read. But on the other hand not all PDFs will convert and still look good. So it's a bit of a hit and miss. But I say try. Because if it works it's a better experience.

2: Here you have to. The Kindle won't display those formats. So you have no choice but to convert them.

3: I don't have the 3G version. But I do live in Europe (Sweden) and can tell you that there is no problem going to other sites with the Wifi-version. So shouldn't be a problem for you either.

4: Not really discussed on this forum... But short answer yes. You'll have to look other places for tutorials though.

[edit]
Darn, I was just a little to slow. I need to write faster...
[/edit]

[NoWorthWhile]

@HarryT, your answer serves me as well

@sereniteit, last time I checked, we still don't have a government, but Flanders still isn't a country. ^^

[sereniteit]

Thank you all for your answers! It helps a lot!

@NoWorthWhile:
I did not say Flanders was a country. If I had said I was from Wales, Bavaria, Siberia, ... would you also have reacted stating it was not a country? So please don't use this double standard...

[NoWorthWhile]

Lol, it was just a joke on our (stupid) country ^^ Chill out, as I'm in Flanders as well ^^

[Mike L]

Regarding HTML ...

In fact, you can read HTML files on a Kindle. You just need to change the extension to TXT. Not all HTML features are supported, but - depending on the quality of the original - it's not a bad reading experience.

[HarryT]

Thanks, Mike - I didn't know that.

[FF2]

I learned that html can display when the extention is changed to TXT. I was able to use a "homepage" I created for my Blackberry on the kindle with a number of mobile site links. Why Amazon can't just fix that issue is beyond me. I mean, if it can display it (and links work) then why not just tweak the code to handle its true file type. I guess it is another experimental feature.

[mayoi]

Originally Posted by FF2

I mean, if it can display it (and links work) then why not just tweak the code to handle its true file type. I guess it is another experimental feature.

Good to know that about the links. I'm new to the Kindle.

[FF2]

Yup, just checked again. I opened my "blackberry" home page on the k3. I 5-way-ed to a link to Compuserve email and when I clicked on the link, it opened the browser and went to that page.

I have my "html" "books" in my Non-fiction collection.

[Mike L]

I've used the HTML / TXT trick to download HTML books from Guthenberg for reading on my Kindle. Works pretty well, with all the basic formatting retained.