Can the Kindle .AZW books be read on Win XP?

oski24601 · 11-19-2007, 06:37 PM

I just want to know if Amazon is going to let us purchase and view kindle ebooks on our computers (in my case, an XP tablet). Anyone know? (Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere)

From my point of view, the value of the Kindle is (hopefully) that ebooks will become more available and less expensive. The software and infrastructure matter to me, not the hardware.

Thanks!

Zoot · 11-19-2007, 06:42 PM

I'm pretty sure the answer is currently no, since there's no discussion of a PC reader program anywhere that I've seen.

Z.

ajju · 11-20-2007, 04:35 PM

I read some posts suggesting that an AZW is just a PRC with a new extension. If that is true then you MAY be able to use the Mobipocket Reader to read this. Haven't tried it myself though.

Nate the great · 11-20-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajju

I read some posts suggesting that an AZW is just a PRC with a new extension. If that is true then you MAY be able to use the Mobipocket Reader to read this. Haven't tried it myself though.

No. AZW files cannot be read by the current version of Mobi Desktop. Renaming the file does not change that.

JSWolf · 11-20-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

No. AZW files cannot be read by the current version of Mobi Desktop. Renaming the file does not change that.

If they are Mobipocket format, then you'd have to figure out a way to get the computer's PID inside the file somehow which you won't be able to do.

sshekels · 11-21-2007, 04:00 PM

_Some_ azw files can be read by mobi-reader. I downloaded the azw version of the kindle users guide, and renamed it *.prc, and it opened just fine in the XP reader. Perhaps DRM is optional, depending on the title?

Anyone have a "true" book from Amazon? I dont see any way to buy one and download it anyplace other than wirelessly to a kindle...

S.

DaleDe · 11-21-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshekels

_Some_ azw files can be read by mobi-reader. I downloaded the azw version of the kindle users guide, and renamed it *.prc, and it opened just fine in the XP reader. Perhaps DRM is optional, depending on the title?

Anyone have a "true" book from Amazon? I dont see any way to buy one and download it anyplace other than wirelessly to a kindle...

S.

turn off the wireless and buy one. You will see that it shows up on the download page at Amazon. Actually all of your purchases should be there already.

Dale

sshekels · 11-21-2007, 04:26 PM

That did not work. It indeed did show up, but says:

We're sorry, this title is not currently available for download.

We are investigating the difficulty with this title and ask that you try again in 24 hours. If after that time you are still unable to access this title, please contact us for further assistance. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com!

Same for a second book I tried. Unfortunately, the option of using USB is out, as my kindle has not yet arrived.

DaleDe · 11-21-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshekels

That did not work. It indeed did show up, but says:

We're sorry, this title is not currently available for download.

We are investigating the difficulty with this title and ask that you try again in 24 hours. If after that time you are still unable to access this title, please contact us for further assistance. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com!

Same for a second book I tried. Unfortunately, the option of using USB is out, as my kindle has not yet arrived.

Others have been successful in doing this and the manual clearly says that the files would be made available from their web site. Many folks, even in the US, are not able to receive EVDO signals. My house gets no reliable cellphone reception from anybody. Most are able to download their stuff just fine. Perhaps it is an overload of demand or perhaps if you try later you will find them.

Dale

TallMomof2 · 11-21-2007, 04:44 PM

I've been able to load books from Amazon via EVDO and USB.

Nate the great · 11-21-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshekels

That did not work. It indeed did show up, but says:

We're sorry, this title is not currently available for download.

We are investigating the difficulty with this title and ask that you try again in 24 hours. If after that time you are still unable to access this title, please contact us for further assistance. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com!

Same for a second book I tried. Unfortunately, the option of using USB is out, as my kindle has not yet arrived.

They are having some trouble with device registration. I had that problem, but they fixed it.

sshekels · 11-21-2007, 05:14 PM

it appears that documents converted via the kindle.com email are DRM less as well. Renaming them .PRC works just fine.

DaleDe · 11-21-2007, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshekels

it appears that documents converted via the kindle.com email are DRM less as well. Renaming them .PRC works just fine.

Great. I suspect they are just running them through a command line version of MobiPocket Reader for windows code and the process is totally automated.

Dale

HarryT · 11-23-2007, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Great. I suspect they are just running them through a command line version of MobiPocket Reader for windows code and the process is totally automated.

Dale

I'm certain it's automated. I don't imagine they have someone sitting there running a manual conversion tool on each file received

.

kgian · 11-23-2007, 11:52 AM

I guess if you copy the azw file to the pc,rename it to prc and then using a mobi decrypting tool (in countries where it is legal) , then you could have a readable file.

11-19-2007, 06:37 PM	#1
oski24601 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Tablet pc	Can the Kindle .AZW books be read on Win XP? I just want to know if Amazon is going to let us purchase and view kindle ebooks on our computers (in my case, an XP tablet). Anyone know? (Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere) From my point of view, the value of the Kindle is (hopefully) that ebooks will become more available and less expensive. The software and infrastructure matter to me, not the hardware. Thanks!

11-21-2007, 04:00 PM	#6
sshekels Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: kindle	azw files _Some_ azw files can be read by mobi-reader. I downloaded the azw version of the kindle users guide, and renamed it *.prc, and it opened just fine in the XP reader. Perhaps DRM is optional, depending on the title? Anyone have a "true" book from Amazon? I dont see any way to buy one and download it anyplace other than wirelessly to a kindle... S.

11-21-2007, 04:26 PM	#8
sshekels Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: kindle	sadly... That did not work. It indeed did show up, but says: We're sorry, this title is not currently available for download. We are investigating the difficulty with this title and ask that you try again in 24 hours. If after that time you are still unable to access this title, please contact us for further assistance. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com! Same for a second book I tried. Unfortunately, the option of using USB is out, as my kindle has not yet arrived.

11-21-2007, 05:14 PM	#12
sshekels Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: kindle	converted documents are DRM free it appears that documents converted via the kindle.com email are DRM less as well. Renaming them .PRC works just fine.

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11-19-2007, 06:42 PM	#2
Zoot Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Amazon Kindle	I'm pretty sure the answer is currently no, since there's no discussion of a PC reader program anywhere that I've seen. Z.

11-20-2007, 04:35 PM	#3
ajju Veteran mobile reader Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle 1.0	I read some posts suggesting that an AZW is just a PRC with a new extension. If that is true then you MAY be able to use the Mobipocket Reader to read this. Haven't tried it myself though.

11-21-2007, 04:44 PM	#10
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	I've been able to load books from Amazon via EVDO and USB.

11-23-2007, 11:52 AM	#15
kgian Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2007 Device: EBW-1150	I guess if you copy the azw file to the pc,rename it to prc and then using a mobi decrypting tool (in countries where it is legal) , then you could have a readable file.

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