Difference Between .AZW and .PDF

hobscrk777 · 03-28-2009, 06:49 PM

Hello all,

I'm a new member here. I just found this great forum in my search to find the best e-reader suited for me. Currently, a Kindle 2 is at the top of my list.

My question has to do with having the same book in two different formats - .azw and .pdf. I have a few e-books that I've purchased in pdf format over the years. I understand that Kindle support for pdf documents is spotty at best, because pdf's format the page pretty rigidly. What if I were to re-purchase some of these books through the Kindle store? What sort of difference would I see? Would the .azw version be noticeably easier to read than the .pdf (either because of better formatting, larger text size, etc.)?

susan_cassidy · 03-28-2009, 06:54 PM

The Kindle does not support PDF at all. You have to convert PDF files to Kindle format (.mobi, .prc, or .azw) before reading. Sometimes the files convert well, sometimes they do not. If they are mostly straight text, it is usually not bad, but can have line breaks in odd places.

There are free software tools available to convert PDF to Kindle format, such as Calibre, Mobipocket Creator (Publisher edition), and the service where you can email the document to Amazon for conversion, either straight to your Kindle, or to your regular email address. If to free.kindlename.com (regular email address), you can move the file to the Kindle via USB.

When you buy a new book, buy it in non-Secure Mobipocket format, or from the Amazon Kindle store.

sirbruce · 03-28-2009, 06:56 PM

And if Amazon offers the same book for the Kindle from its store, then it'll be either in AZW or Topaz format. No harm in buying it and seeing if you like the formatting; if not you can always call them up and they'll refund your money.

wallcraft · 03-28-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobscrk777

I have a few e-books that I've purchased in pdf format over the years.

If these are DRM-free PDFs, then one way to see how they will look on the Kindle is to import them into the Windows MobiPocket Reader. This will convert the PDF to MOBI, in a similar way to Amazon's conversion. If you make the Reader's viewing windows about 600x800 pixels this is similar to how the ebook will look on the Kindle. Note that the text size can be changed and the text adapts (reflows) to the screen. You are probably familiar with this already, because most web pages act this way, but with standard PDFs you typically magnify the page without it reflowing.

If these are Adobe PDF ebooks (only currently viewable using Adobe Digital Editions), then they have DRM (encryption) and can't be converted directly to the Kindle. The DRM can be stripped though, see Adobe ADEPT DRM for PDF circumvented. This is generally thought to be illegal in the US, although it is hard to see who is hurt by doing so for personal use on ebooks you bought.

hobscrk777 · 03-28-2009, 07:18 PM

Thanks for the quick replies. I think wallcraft has a good idea. I'm going to try converting the .pdf's to .mobi's to see what the formatting looks like.

JSWolf · 03-28-2009, 07:20 PM

Another suggestion is to download the free samples and see how they look compared to your converted PDF and then decide if you want to purchase from Amazon.

hobscrk777 · 03-28-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Another suggestion is to download the free samples and see how they look compared to your converted PDF and then decide if you want to purchase from Amazon.

I wasn't aware that there were free samples (keep in mind I don't actually own a Kindle yet). Can you see these free samples on a PC or do you have to access them directly from a Kindle?

AnemicOak · 03-28-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobscrk777

I wasn't aware that there were free samples (keep in mind I don't actually own a Kindle yet). Can you see these free samples on a PC or do you have to access them directly from a Kindle?

You can't get them without a Kindle (or a iPhone/Touch w/Kindle App), but for some books you can get samples from Mobipocket.com and view them in their desktop software (if you use Windows) to get a general idea on how they look.

HarryT · 03-29-2009, 10:22 AM

If PDF support is important to you, the Kindle (which doesn't support it at all!) is a very poor choice of device. You'd be better off with a Sony.

zipzip · 04-03-2009, 01:35 AM

The weird thing is I tried having Amazon convert a couple different PDF documents, but once transferred back to the Kindle, they just plain didn't show up. They're not in the list of books and documents at all... however, they are in the Documents folder on the Kindle. with an extension of .pdf.azw.

03-28-2009, 06:49 PM	#1
hobscrk777 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Undecided	Difference Between .AZW and .PDF Hello all, I'm a new member here. I just found this great forum in my search to find the best e-reader suited for me. Currently, a Kindle 2 is at the top of my list. My question has to do with having the same book in two different formats - .azw and .pdf. I have a few e-books that I've purchased in pdf format over the years. I understand that Kindle support for pdf documents is spotty at best, because pdf's format the page pretty rigidly. What if I were to re-purchase some of these books through the Kindle store? What sort of difference would I see? Would the .azw version be noticeably easier to read than the .pdf (either because of better formatting, larger text size, etc.)?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How to convert .pdf to .azw	maxxim88	Other formats	4	09-15-2010 04:00 AM
PDF to prc/azw Batch Conversion	xsolitudex	PDF	2	09-04-2010 10:19 AM
PDF or AZW which looks best?	steffi	Amazon Kindle	1	07-05-2009 11:25 PM
Can Amazon convert PDF to AZW with all features?	steffi	Amazon Kindle	1	06-23-2009 07:32 PM
Difference between displaying PDF and LRF	Burliburd	Sony Reader	0	05-09-2009 11:03 AM

03-28-2009, 06:54 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	The Kindle does not support PDF at all. You have to convert PDF files to Kindle format (.mobi, .prc, or .azw) before reading. Sometimes the files convert well, sometimes they do not. If they are mostly straight text, it is usually not bad, but can have line breaks in odd places. There are free software tools available to convert PDF to Kindle format, such as Calibre, Mobipocket Creator (Publisher edition), and the service where you can email the document to Amazon for conversion, either straight to your Kindle, or to your regular email address. If to free.kindlename.com (regular email address), you can move the file to the Kindle via USB. When you buy a new book, buy it in non-Secure Mobipocket format, or from the Amazon Kindle store.

03-28-2009, 06:56 PM	#3
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	And if Amazon offers the same book for the Kindle from its store, then it'll be either in AZW or Topaz format. No harm in buying it and seeing if you like the formatting; if not you can always call them up and they'll refund your money.

03-28-2009, 07:18 PM	#5
hobscrk777 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Undecided	Thanks for the quick replies. I think wallcraft has a good idea. I'm going to try converting the .pdf's to .mobi's to see what the formatting looks like.

03-28-2009, 07:20 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Another suggestion is to download the free samples and see how they look compared to your converted PDF and then decide if you want to purchase from Amazon.

03-29-2009, 10:22 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If PDF support is important to you, the Kindle (which doesn't support it at all!) is a very poor choice of device. You'd be better off with a Sony.

04-03-2009, 01:35 AM	#10
zipzip Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 2.0	The weird thing is I tried having Amazon convert a couple different PDF documents, but once transferred back to the Kindle, they just plain didn't show up. They're not in the list of books and documents at all... however, they are in the Documents folder on the Kindle. with an extension of .pdf.azw.

Advert

Advert